Overview

• Scientists report being instructed by NIH officials to exclude mRNA vaccine references from grant applications, signaling a potential shift in research priorities.
• The NIH is reviewing all grants and collaborations involving mRNA vaccines, with oversight from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the White House.
• Researchers fear imminent funding cuts to mRNA vaccine studies, which have been pivotal in combating COVID-19 and advancing treatments for other diseases.
• The Trump administration's broader scrutiny of NIH spending aligns with state-level legislative efforts to ban or limit mRNA vaccines.
• Kennedy's handling of public health issues, including a measles outbreak, has drawn criticism, intensifying concerns about his stance on vaccine research.