Trump’s Aid Cuts Halt Promising South African HIV Vaccine Research

A promising South African-led HIV vaccine project has been forced to a standstill following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze USAID foreign aid, cutting funding for crucial health programs.

The project, known as BRILLIANT, was on the verge of critical breakthroughs when the $45 million grant from USAID was abruptly halted. Now, vaccine samples are sitting untouched in freezers, and trials that could have brought hope to millions have been put on indefinite hold.

A Critical Moment in HIV Vaccine Development

The University of the Witwatersrand’s Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit in Johannesburg was leading the charge in developing an mRNA-based HIV vaccine, the same technology used in successful COVID-19 vaccines.

• Initial tests on rabbits produced an immune response, encouraging further research.
• A separate vaccine candidate was about to enter human trials in South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda.
• The team was working with genetic sequences from two South African patients whose immune systems naturally neutralize HIV—a rare and crucial discovery in vaccine research.

“This was very exciting. We were getting good results,” said lab technician Nozipho Mlotshwa, who had been eagerly awaiting test outcomes when the funding cut order came.

Now, the vaccine samples remain in storage, and researchers are left in limbo.

Why Was USAID Funding Cut?

Trump’s administration initiated a 90-day review of all foreign development aid, assessing whether it aligns with “America First” policies.

• In addition, Trump issued an executive order cutting all U.S. funding to South Africa, citing concerns over the country’s land reform policies and its genocide case against Israel.
• South Africa’s Medical Research Council (SAMRC), which leads much of the country’s HIV and tuberculosis research, receives one-third of its funding from U.S. federal sources—now under threat.

Global Consequences of the Funding Freeze

Trump’s foreign aid freeze has not only affected HIV research but has also:
Stranded shipments of life-saving HIV drugs in affected regions.
Blocked disaster relief teams from responding to global crises.
Halted efforts to fight food insecurity and combat disease outbreaks.

Why South Africa’s HIV Research Matters Globally

With over 8 million people living with HIV, South Africa has been a global leader in HIV research for decades.

“Most of the landmark and groundbreaking studies have been conducted in this country. But these have been good for the whole world,” said Ntobeko Ntusi, CEO of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).

The paused human trial was set to test a vaccine combination developed in the United States and the Netherlands, which had shown potential but was never tested together. Now, the samples remain in storage with no timeline for the project’s revival.

The Future of HIV Vaccine Research in South Africa

Experts fear that alternative funding sources may not be able to fill the gap left by USAID’s withdrawal.

“We had a huge opportunity, good funding. It’s difficult for other funders to fill that gap,” said Nigel Garrett, Chief Scientific Officer at the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation.

Without urgent intervention, the progress made in South African-led HIV vaccine research could be lost, delaying a breakthrough that could save millions of lives worldwide.

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