The first signs of an overhaul came quickly from the newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump. After being back in power just two months, his administration had already slashed funding for more than 30 research projects related to reasons for and measures against vaccine skepticism. This made it clear to scientists that future mRNA research in the US could also be in jeopardy.

At that time, the administration of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is responsible for biomedical research, had also requested a list of all NIH-funded research projects dealing with mRNA technology. These were to be forwarded to the Department of Health and Human Services and the White House. A similar request was also made regarding research projects related to vaccine skepticism — before their funding was cut.

This week, the Department of Health and Human Services — headed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is known for his opposition to vaccines — announced it would cut $500 million in research funding for mRNA vaccines at the NIH.

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