In a puzzling move this week, NIH officials told senior vaccine scientists that references to mRNA vaccines should be removed from future funding applications.
This new directive is downright bizarre considering how crucial mRNA technology has become in recent years. Despite its growing promise in treating diseases like cancer and speeding up vaccine development, the NIH, under the leadership of Mr. Kennedy, is bailing on its support of this innovative approach despite its promise.
One of the major benefits of mRNA vaccines and therapies is their speed. Having the ability to develop a vaccine on a much faster time schedule has the potential to save millions of lives.
Traditional methods for producing vaccines—like the flu vaccine, which relies on growing viruses in chicken eggs—can be slow and cumbersome. mRNA technology, on the other hand, can be adapted much more quickly to respond to emerging threats, ensuring we’re always prepared for the next wave.
mRNA technology is also being used to develop new cancer treatments, potentially revolutionizing how we fight diseases like pancreatic cancer (just one example) by teaching the immune system to target and destroy tumor cells more effectively.
So, why the sudden shift at the NIH?
According to sources at KFF the move is part of a larger political and ideological struggle as the MAHA/MAGA movement is against mRNA technology because most of the COVID vaccines were developed using mRNA technology.
The NIH’s latest stance will hinder critical breakthroughs for the next 4 years, slowing down our ability to make vaccines more safe, effective and faster to manufacture – and squelching cancer treatment.
I don’t really have a call to action here. This NIH decision is discretionary and it’s unlikely judges can or will overturn this depressing decision by HHS.