Federal funding for research at Connecticut’s universities has been significantly reduced, with many programs facing cancellation or suspension. Notably, Amy Bei, a professor of epidemiology at Yale University, experienced this firsthand when she received a cancellation notice on May 1 for a $300,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health. This grant was intended to support early research on tracking the spread of malaria within communities.
The impact of funding cuts extends beyond Bei. In January, she also faced a stop-work order on a project in Chad aimed at enhancing local laboratories’ capabilities for genomic surveillance. This project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), was put on hold until a formal cancellation notice arrived in June. According to Lindsay DiStefano, the interim vice president for research at the University of Connecticut, the institution has lost approximately $41 million in funding due to cancellations and nonrenewals.
At Yale, Michael Crair, vice provost for research, reported that as of August 12, 50 grants had been completely cancelled, with an additional 22 partially cancelled or paused, while 14 more were informed they would not receive future funding. He noted that these cancellations represent “tens of millions of dollars” in lost research funding.
Consequences for Research and Public Health
The repercussions of these funding cuts are severe, especially for essential research that contributes to medical advancements and public health initiatives. Bei, who has been studying malaria in Africa since the early 2000s, emphasized the significant toll malaria takes on communities. She stated, “It really made me realize, this is not just a problem that we’re trying to tackle in a Petri dish, but this is truly a disease that has an unbelievable toll in communities.”
Malaria remains a critical issue, with the World Health Organization reporting around 1.2 million cases and 200 deaths in Senegal alone in 2023. The challenge in combating this disease lies in the parasite’s ability to adapt and evade medical interventions like vaccines.
Bei’s research focuses on identifying biomarkers from mosquito saliva that can help determine the effectiveness of malaria prevention strategies. These markers are particularly valuable in areas where malaria is asymptomatic, potentially masking ongoing transmission. “We have areas where you think there’s very little transmission going on, but actually there’s sustained transmission that is just kind of going under the radar,” she explained.
Adapting to Funding Challenges
Despite the setbacks, Bei has secured alternative funding from the philanthropic arm of Tito’s Handmade Vodka to continue her malaria research. This support, along with internal grants from Yale, has allowed her team to resume work on the USAID project in Chad, which includes training local researchers in genomic surveillance techniques.
Ph.D. student Natasha Turyasingura, originally from Uganda and involved in the Chad project, expressed disappointment over the postponements caused by funding cuts, which delayed her travel plans to train local researchers. With new funding in place, her team is now set to travel to Chad in December.
The changes in U.S. federal policy have also negatively impacted Turyasingura personally, as the duration of her visa was shortened, complicating her ability to conduct research abroad. Other aspects of the Chad project, such as community education on vaccination benefits, have also been hindered.
Despite these challenges, Bei continues to receive funding for efforts to develop a new generation of malaria vaccines. The WHO has approved two vaccines for use in malaria-affected countries, but their efficacy remains low compared to other vaccines, such as the one for measles. The 2021 vaccine showed an efficacy rate between 45% and 51%, while the 2023 version was between 66% and 75%.
Researchers like Laty Gaye Thiam, a postdoctoral fellow at the Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal, are collaborating with Yale to create a vaccine targeting a different stage of the malaria parasite’s life cycle. Thiam noted that understanding immune responses in individuals who are naturally resistant to malaria could inform future vaccine development.
The collaborative work aims to integrate findings from Thiam’s research with Bei’s biomarker studies, creating a comprehensive approach to malaria research. For researchers like Cyrianne Keutcha, a postdoctoral fellow from Cameroon, the stakes are personal. Having experienced malaria as a child, she understands the devastating impact of the disease on families and communities.
Keutcha is currently assessing the efficacy of a new malaria vaccine developed in the United Kingdom against local parasite variants. She highlighted the broader implications of their research, stating, “You are investing in knowledge that can significantly improve the well-being of a group of people that you may not know.”
As Connecticut universities navigate the challenges posed by federal funding cuts, the dedication to advancing research on malaria remains strong, underscoring the importance of continued support for public health initiatives.
