The US has been a global leader in HIV vaccine research, but the Trump administration’s latest cuts have put this progress at risk. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced it will be terminating funding for a promising HIV vaccine project, valued at over $258 million.
Immunologist Dennis Burton had been working on an HIV vaccine for nearly 15 years with a seven-year grant from the NIH. However, he was told that his work would end next year due to the administration’s decision to cut funding for such research programs.
Designing an effective HIV vaccine has proven challenging for researchers, as the virus evolves faster than any other known virus. The current approach aims to coax the immune system into producing broadly neutralizing antibodies capable of attacking many forms of the virus. Clinical trials were slated to start soon, but without funding, they won’t proceed.
Mark Feinberg, president and CEO of IAVI, believes that international collaborations in HIV vaccine research will continue despite these restrictions. However, researchers are worried about the prospect of getting vaccine-related grants accepted in the current climate, with over 2,500 individual grants already cancelled or delayed.
The US has traditionally been a leader in scientific research, but the administration’s actions have left many feeling pessimistic about the prospects of developing an HIV vaccine anytime soon. Philanthropy can help fill the funding gap, but it may not be enough to reverse the damage caused by extended cuts.
Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/06/10/g-s1-71561/hiv-vaccine-trump-cuts