Short Wave

Could this vaccine trial mean a future without HIV?

February 16, 2026

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  • A promising, multi-national HIV vaccine trial, funded by a $45 million USAID grant, was abruptly halted due to a U.S. executive order freezing foreign aid, nearly derailing decades of preparatory research. 
  • South African researchers, led by figures like Penny Moore, salvaged the trial by securing significantly reduced funding ($2.2 million) from the South African Medical Research Council and the Gates Foundation, forcing them to narrow the scope to South Africa only. 
  • The research is focused on developing a vaccine that can elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs), rare immune responses found in some HIV-infected individuals, to proactively defend against the virus before infection. 

Segments

HIV Vaccine Trial Backstory
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(00:00:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Decades of blood sample collection from 117 South African women underpin critical HIV research.
  • Summary: The research relies on two decades of blood and cell samples donated by the same group of 117 South African women living in HIV-ravaged communities. These samples have provided detailed portraits of the virus, aiding research into HIV, COVID-19, RSV, and cancer. This foundational work was nearly jeopardized by funding cuts.
Funding Crisis and Resolve
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(00:02:49)
  • Key Takeaway: A U.S. executive order froze foreign aid, immediately halting a $45 million USAID-funded HIV vaccine trial just before launch.
  • Summary: The impending innovative HIV vaccine trial faced collapse when President Trump’s executive order froze foreign aid, cutting off the $45 million grant from USAID. Researchers cycled through grief but resolved to continue, eventually securing $2.2 million from the South African Medical Research Council and the Gates Foundation. This reduced funding necessitated scaling back the trial’s scope to South Africa only, costing valuable time.
Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies
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(00:09:23)
  • Key Takeaway: The vaccine research aims to coax the immune system into producing rare, highly effective broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) before infection.
  • Summary: Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) found in a few infected individuals can neutralize up to 90% of global HIV viruses due to their unique structures, such as having very long or short arms. Normally, these antibodies emerge too late to help the infected person. The vaccine trial’s goal is to stimulate the immune system to produce these ‘super antibodies’ preemptively.
Trial Commencement and Hope
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(00:11:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite delays, the scaled-back Pan-Africa HIV vaccine trial officially began administering the first shots in January.
  • Summary: The vaccine trial finally commenced in January outside Cape Town, involving young women from impoverished townships like Felipe Village. Participants, such as Nandeep Hamongo, expressed pride in contributing to research that could lead to a world free of HIV. The researchers are committed to finding a solution, even with reduced resources.