Consider This from NPR How HIV researchers overcame setbacks and kept a vaccine trial going
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Jan 22, 2026 NPR reporter Ari Daniel brings insights from Cape Town’s HIV vaccine trial, highlighting the resilience of researchers despite setbacks from funding cuts. Virologist Penny Moore shares how long-term sample collections have fueled critical discoveries. Listeners will learn about the journey from halted trials to a scaled-down version backed by local funders, and hear about the quest for broadly neutralizing antibodies vital for vaccine development. The community's role is showcased as first vaccinations begin, showcasing hope and perseverance in the face of adversity.
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Federal Funding Underwrites HIV Progress
- U.S. federal funding historically underpinned steady HIV research that produced treatments and prevention tools. Cuts to research and global AIDS programs threatened that steady progress and specific trials.
Zanzibar Momentum Then Sudden Halt
- Penny Moore recounts the Zanzibar meeting where excitement shifted to panic after funding was frozen. She describes returning to Johannesburg and receiving stop-work orders just weeks before trials were to begin.
Funding Cross-Country Research Enabled Relevance
- A $45 million USAID grant aimed to coordinate vaccine efforts across Africa to address diverse regional HIV strains. When that funding was cut, researchers lost the capacity to study how vaccines work against different local viruses.