A groundbreaking African-led initiative dedicated to developing an effective HIV vaccine is facing a crisis following abrupt funding cuts from the United States. The BRILLIANT Consortium, spearheaded by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), unites top researchers from eight African countries in an ambitious effort to advance vaccine candidates from pre-clinical studies to human trials. However, the sudden withdrawal of financial support due to the Trump administration’s suspension of U.S. foreign aid has placed the consortium’s pioneering research at risk.

The BRILLIANT Consortium is at the forefront of HIV vaccine development, aiming to create a long-term solution to the epidemic beyond current antiretroviral treatments. The initiative had set an ambitious target of conducting at least one clinical trial per year, seeking to overcome long-standing barriers in HIV vaccine research. However, the impact of the funding cuts has been swift and severe, forcing the indefinite postponement of a promising vaccine candidate that was scheduled to enter Phase I clinical trials in January 2025. Two additional candidates, originally slated for trials later in the year, now face an uncertain future.

With years of scientific progress at stake, the BRILLIANT Consortium is now scrambling to secure alternative funding. The organization has issued an urgent appeal for support from African governments, philanthropic organizations, and the private sector to ensure that its most advanced studies can proceed. Of immediate concern is the BRILLIANT 001 trial, which risks cancellation due to the impending expiration of vaccine stocks.

“If our last participant doesn’t receive their first dose by July, we won’t be able to complete their vaccination because the vaccine will expire next year,” warned Professor Glenda Gray, a leading investigator with the consortium.

In response to the crisis, researchers are now redesigning BRILLIANT 001 to cut costs, reducing the number of participants, limiting trial locations, and focusing on fewer study endpoints. However, these compromises could significantly impact the depth and reliability of findings, delaying progress in HIV vaccine development.

Despite three decades of research failing to yield a definitive vaccine, critical scientific advancements have been made in understanding how HIV evades the immune system. The BRILLIANT Consortium’s work builds on this knowledge, refining new approaches that could lead to a breakthrough.

“We are at a crucial juncture. The momentum we’ve built is at risk of being lost, and once these trials stop, restarting them will be exponentially harder,” said Professor Linda-Gail Bekker, director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre and a co-principal investigator for BRILLIANT.

Undeterred by the financial setback, the BRILLIANT Consortium remains committed to pushing forward. It continues to engage potential funders and explore ways to sustain research efforts, even in a scaled-down capacity. The immediate priority is ensuring that BRILLIANT 001 proceeds before vaccine stocks expire, while simultaneously safeguarding the broader pipeline of research initiatives.

“We committed to one clinical trial a year. People thought it was impossible, but we were making it happen. We cannot let these setbacks derail decades of progress,” Bekker emphasized.

As the consortium fights to sustain its work, the outcome of its funding search will determine whether Africa remains a key player in the global fight against HIV or faces yet another major research setback.

 

Article by RB Reporter

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https://www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2025/03/10/us-funding-cuts-imperil-search-for-hiv-vaccine/