South African HIV/AIDS researchers are grappling with the harsh reality of substantial grant funding cuts from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). These cuts, resulting from a shift in NIH priorities, threaten to derail decades of progress in combating HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) in a region central to global health efforts.
The extent of the terminations and holds on grants is still unfolding. Both direct NIH grants and sub-awards from US universities are impacted. Notable cases include:
- A $3.1 million NIH grant for a clinical trial unit in Soweto, led by Professor Glenda Gray, is now in a “pending” status.
- The termination of a $2.5 million grant to the Wits Research Group Clinical Unit.
Stop-work orders and potential further cuts
Reports indicate that some universities receiving sub-grants from US institutions have received “stop-work” orders. Further termination notifications are anticipated in the coming week.
Professor Glenda Gray estimates that South Africa receives approximately $250 million annually from the NIH for medical research. This funding supports crucial projects at the South African Medical Research Council (MRC) and numerous top universities.
The loss of these grants poses a severe threat to South Africa’s established clinical trial infrastructure, impacting scientists, doctors, nurses, laboratories, and the training of future researchers.
Global implications and scientific setbacks
South Africa has been a cornerstone in global efforts to develop HIV prevention tools and improve treatments, owing to its high disease prevalence and robust regulatory system.
Gray warned that disinvesting in SA would mean we wouldn’t have the answers that could contribute to global and local science. The cuts would also jeopardise ongoing trials that have shaped international guidelines and led to drug approvals.
MRC President Ntobeko Ntusi emphasised the need to explore alternative funding sources, including European, Asian, private sector, and philanthropic partners.
The NIH grant cancellations are not limited to South Africa. Similar cuts have been reported in the US, such as the cancellation of the $400 million grant to Columbia University.