The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced the cancellation or reduction of numerous research grants aimed at understanding the reasons behind vaccine hesitancy and promoting greater acceptance of vaccines. This decision was revealed in an internal email acquired by The Washington Post on Monday, titled “required terminations — 3/10/25.” The email indicated that on Monday morning, the agency received a new list of awards designated for termination, as they were deemed misaligned with NIH’s funding priorities concerning vaccine hesitancy and vaccine uptake.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly appointed secretary of the NIH's parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has a controversial history regarding vaccines. Over the past two decades, he has been widely criticized for disseminating misinformation about vaccines and promoting a disputed link between vaccines and autism. While it remains unclear whether Kennedy influenced this recent move to cancel grants related to vaccine research, his leadership has already sparked significant concern within the research community.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), another entity within HHS, was reportedly asked by the Trump administration to investigate a supposed connection between vaccines and autism, despite extensive research disproving any such link. Representatives from both NIH and HHS did not immediately respond to inquiries for clarification on this matter.
The email from Michelle Bulls, director of the Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration, instructed NIH officials responsible for funding distribution to issue termination letters by the end of the business day. Notably, the email did not specify the origin of this directive. For studies that partially address vaccine hesitancy, officials have the option to defund only the sections related to vaccine acceptance, according to the correspondence.
The email included a mandate stating: “It is the policy of NIH not to prioritize research activities that focus on gaining scientific knowledge on why individuals are hesitant to be vaccinated and/or explore ways to improve vaccine interest and commitment… Therefore, the award is terminated.” Reports indicate that more than 40 grants were flagged for termination, based on information from anonymous sources familiar with the situation.
Experts have raised alarms regarding the timing of these cancellations, particularly given the resurgence of measles cases—over 200 reported in 12 states—and two fatalities linked to the disease. Manoj Sharma, a professor of social and behavioral health at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, emphasized the urgent need to improve vaccine acceptance, particularly with the ongoing threat of measles and lingering concerns about COVID-19.
Delesha Carpenter, a professor at the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina, has been conducting research on coronavirus vaccine hesitancy supported by an NIH grant for the past three years. While she has been preparing for potential disruptions to her work, she had not received confirmation regarding the status of her funding by Monday afternoon. Carpenter stated, “If we take away research on vaccine hesitancy, we’re also going to be taking away the ability to provide people with the best information about whether the vaccine is in their best interest.”
Michael Bronstein, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School, noted that his grant from the National Institute of Mental Health remains unaffected, as far as he is aware. He argued that from a public health standpoint, preventing fatalities should be a paramount government objective, highlighting that vaccine hesitancy presents a significant obstacle to achieving this goal.
As the world's largest sponsor of biomedical research, NIH has already terminated more than a dozen grants associated with research on China and transgender issues. Recent social media posts from Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service revealed that NIH staff received guidance on terminating funding related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, which included examples of research activities no longer supported by NIH.
The language utilized in the termination notices has reportedly caused distress within NIH, as indicated by several individuals familiar with the situation. Among the grants listed in NIH’s database, two are currently active grants to Chinese universities.
