The Trump administration has canceled the funding for dozens of studies that seek to obtain new vaccines and treatments for Covid-19 and other pathogens that may cause future epidemics.
The logical basis of the government is that the Covid’s pandemic has ended, which “provides a reason to end the Covid grant funds”, according to the NIH Decoration sees by the New York Times.
But the search was not only about Covid. Nine end Centers funding prizes Conducting research on antiviral drugs to combat the so -called pathogens that can completely lead to new epidemics.
“This includes antiviral projects designed to cover a wide range of families that can cause spread or huts,” said one of the senior officials of the National Health Institutes that spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of revenge.
Vaccine research also did not focus on Covid, but rather on other Coronic viruses that may jump one day to humans.
The official said that describing all research as COVID “complete inaccuracy and simply a way to calm infectious diseases.” The official indicated that Robert F. Kennedy Junior, Minister of Health, said that the National Health Institutes are very focused on infectious diseases.
The funding was reported for the first time sciences and nature. The cancellation was amazed by the scientists who relied on government support.
“The idea that we do not need more research to learn how to treat health problems caused by Corona viruses and prevent future epidemics because” Covid-19 has ended “silly,” said Pamela Birkman, a structural biologist in Caltex who was studying new vaccines.
The aim of the projects was to obtain ready -made vaccines and drugs if they hit a new pandemic, instead of spending the precious months in developing them from the zero point.
“In the last epidemic, we were truly arrested with our pants,” said Paul Pinsas, a virus at the University of Rockefeller, who was cooperating with Dr. Burkelman.
“And if we don’t learn this lesson and prepare better for the next epidemic, it is unlikely to do better than we did the last time.”
Dr. Benyas, Dr. Burkman and their colleagues were developing a vaccine that could protect from a wide range of Corona virus.
Researchers have discovered new strategies to persuade the immune system to learn how to identify common molecular features of more than one type of virus. The results of animal experiments were promising.
But now, as their money suddenly reduces, scientists have said they are doubting that they can build on these results. Dr. Benyas said that the termination had left him “angry, disappointed, disappointed.”
Other scientists were working on antiviral treatments, part of a program that started in 2021.
With $ 577 million In support of the National Health Institutes, a network of laboratories at the country level was studying how to repeat viruses, then search for medicines that could prevent them.
The researchers have focused on viral families that include some of the most unknown pathogens, such as the Ebola and Nipah virus. Scientists have discovered a number of promising molecules and were moving towards clinical trials.
Robin Harris, the UT Health San Antonio, said the promising compounds discovered by the program included an antiviral drug that stops Ebola and relevant viruses from entering cells.
“It can be published to help many people quickly,” said Dr. Harris.
It seemed as if some vehicles might work against a number of virus families. “It is some of the most exciting sciences that I have seen in my career,” said Nevan Krajan, a biologist at the University of California, San Francisco.
On Wednesday morning, Dr. Krajan and dozens of colleagues gathered in a meeting room on the campus to review these results. They also discussed what, if any, they can do now.
“One of the students asked me,” well, I have an experience that was booked on this microscope tomorrow – I can do this? “And I am like,” well, I don’t know. “
Dr. Harris said that without continuous support, the promising medications he found and others have found them will not move to clinical experiences. “It is a tragic thing – I don’t have much words to describe that now,” he said.
In 2023, Mr. Kennedy said he wanted to take “break” From infectious diseases research to focus instead on chronic diseases.
Jason McLillan, a virus at the University of Texas at Austin who worked on the anti -virus program, witnessed the abolition of epidemic research as follows on this promise.
Dr. McLillan, whose previous research was essential to creating Covid vaccines in 2020, said that this week’s discounts were wondering whether he could continue to study epidemics in the United States.
He said, referring to the possibility of moving abroad: “We have had talks and started plans to collect more information,” indicating the possibility of moving abroad.
He added: “A laboratory is a laboratory for structural virus that focuses on the design of the structure -based vaccine.” “If the focus is on chronic diseases, this does not leave much funding for us.”
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