Numerous universities in Connecticut are grappling with substantial losses in federal research funding, totaling tens of millions of dollars. Significant cuts to grants have disrupted ongoing projects, including vital research on malaria conducted by Amy Bei, a professor of epidemiology at Yale University.
On May 1, Bei received notice that her $300,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) had been canceled. The funding was intended for a project tracking the spread of malaria within communities. This cancellation was not an isolated incident; in January, Bei faced a stop-work order on another project in Chad. This initiative aimed to enhance local laboratories’ capabilities for genomic surveillance, but the funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was also halted.
The financial woes extend beyond Bei’s projects. According to Lindsay DiStefano, the interim vice president for research at the University of Connecticut, the institution has lost approximately $41 million due to canceled grants and non-renewals as of mid-October. In response, the university has allocated about $1.6 million of its own funds towards critical projects.
At Yale, Michael Crair, the vice provost for research, reported that 50 grants had been canceled as of August 12, with an additional 22 either partially canceled or paused, resulting in “tens of millions of dollars” in lost research funding. Crair emphasized the detrimental impact of these cancellations, stating, “The loss of federal funding has delayed, halted, and put at risk research essential to advancing life-saving medical breakthroughs, scientific discovery, humanitarian aid, and technological innovation.”
The tangible effects of these funding cuts are evident in ongoing research efforts. Bei has dedicated her career to studying malaria since the early 2000s, focusing on drug resistance and potential vaccine candidates in Tanzania. Her firsthand experiences have profoundly shaped her understanding of malaria’s devastating impact on communities. “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,” she stated.
Despite advancements in medical interventions, the malaria parasite continues to evolve, complicating efforts to develop effective vaccines and treatments. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Senegal reported approximately 1.2 million malaria cases and 200 deaths in 2023. The parasite’s complex life cycle and genetic variations make it particularly challenging to target with a single vaccine approach.
Bei’s project involves researching biomarkers found in mosquito saliva, which can indicate the effectiveness of government interventions, such as the distribution of mosquito nets. These markers are crucial in regions where asymptomatic transmission occurs, allowing the parasite to spread undetected among populations. “We have areas where there’s sustained transmission that is going under the radar,” Bei noted, highlighting the urgency of continuing her research.
In the wake of grant cancellations, Bei has secured funding from the philanthropic arm of Tito’s Handmade Vodka to sustain parts of her NIH-funded work. Additionally, internal Yale grants have allowed her team to proceed with the USAID project in Chad, including training local researchers in genomic surveillance techniques. However, the disruption has significantly affected project timelines.
Ph.D. student Natasha Turyasingura, involved in the Chad project, faced delays in her planned trip to train local researchers due to the halt in funding. The team aimed to investigate how the malaria parasite might evolve in response to new vaccines. With new funding now in place, they are set to travel to Chad in December.
The funding landscape has also affected Turyasingura’s visa, which has been shortened from one year to three months, complicating her ability to conduct research outside the United States. Furthermore, community engagement efforts in Chad, aimed at educating locals about vaccination benefits, have been severely restricted.
Amid these challenges, Bei continues to receive additional NIH funding for developing a “next generation” malaria vaccine. Although the WHO has approved two malaria vaccines in recent years, their efficacy remains relatively low, with protection rates between 45% and 75%, depending on the vaccine and time elapsed since administration. In contrast, the measles vaccine boasts an efficacy rate of 97% after two doses.
Research collaborations are ongoing, with Laty Gaye Thiam, a postdoctoral fellow from the Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal, working alongside Bei. Their goal is to develop a vaccine targeting different stages of the malaria parasite’s life cycle. This involves examining the immune responses of individuals who have naturally developed immunity to the disease.
Another researcher, Cyrianne Keutcha, a postdoctoral fellow at the Yale School of Public Health, reflects on her own experience with malaria as a child. She is investigating whether a potential new malaria vaccine from the United Kingdom is effective against local parasite strains. Keutcha emphasized the broader implications of their research, noting its potential applications for understanding other diseases prevalent in the United States.
“Investing in this knowledge can significantly improve the well-being of a group of people that you may not know. However, that same technology can also enhance your well-being for another disease that is to come or that’s already present,” she concluded.
The ongoing challenges faced by Connecticut universities underscore the critical need for reliable funding in research that addresses pressing global health issues.
