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Breakthroughs are stalling. In 2025, U.S. aid freezes paused malaria vaccine trials led by Johns Hopkins and Oxford, halting mid-stage research (The Guardian). That same year, $46 million was pulled from an HIV vaccine trial in South Africa, cutting staff and disrupting care for thousands (AP News).
STEM access is still unequal. Black, Hispanic, and low-income students remain underrepresented in labs and policy. Without mentors or exposure, their voices are kept out.
One example is the tuberculosis vaccine, just years from release before funding dried up. That was more than a scientific setback, It was a missed chance to save lives.
Cuts to U.S. foreign aid disrupted TB programs in high-burden countries. Clinical trials and outreach stalled. One expert called it “a disaster out there” USAID funding freeze disrupts global tuberculosis control efforts.
Modeling predicts that without U.S. support, up to 10.7 million more TB cases and 2.2 million deaths could occur by 2030 in 26 countries, with up to 69 million excess cases by 2040 Status of U.S. Global Tuberculosis Efforts.
When late-stage vaccine development needed funding most, emergency financing had to be proposed just to restart progress TB vaccine R&D financing initiative.
This is just one example of how current policies are shaping the future for communities that could benefit most from scientific progress. When funding disappears or priorities shift, it’s the neighborhoods waiting for better care that face the true loss. The students whose questions never reach the table. The voices excluded from deciding what matters, and what gets left behind.
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