RFK Jr. Is Supporting mRNA Research—Just Not for Vaccines
1 min read
Summary
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has cancelled 22 contracts and investments worth almost $500m as it winds down funding for mRNA vaccine research.
The move is part of a wider strategy to scale down research into RNA-related infectious diseases, which has been promoted by HHS secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who cancelled a $590m contract with Moderna for a bird flu vaccine in May.
However, the Biden administration has said it remains open to research into mRNA treatments for cancer and other genetic disorders.
mRNA vaccines were developed and authorised during the Trump administration as part of Operation Warp Speed, and offered a faster route to vaccination than traditional methods.
The technology’s success in fighting COVID-19 sparked interest in using it against other diseases, but it has also faced scrutiny in the wake of rare cases of heart inflammation in young people who received the shots.
Despite the scaling down of research into RNA-related infectious diseases, HHS continues to invest in ongoing research on applications for oncology and other complex diseases.
