US government drastically reduces mRNA vaccine research funding

Petersen E, Ippolito G, Maeurer M, Ntoumi F, Nachega JB, Hui DS, Zumla A. Protecting the future of vaccine development amidst US funding withdrawal for mRNA vaccine research. Lancet Microbe. Published online August 2025. doi:10.1016/S2666-5247(25)00172-9 In August 2025, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a coordinated scale-down of mRNA vaccine development programs funded through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). This decision led to the cancellation or reduction of 22 projects, representing approximately US $500 million in research contracts. Affected initiatives included advanced research on pandemic influenza viruses (H5N, H7N9), respiratory syncytial virus, new coronavirus vaccine candidates, COVID-19 boosters, and other early-stage vaccine programs. The withdrawal has had significant consequences for the progression of innovative vaccine platforms, particularly at a time when scientific momentum was strong following the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding cuts occurred against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny and debate over the safety,...