Health

H.H.S. Scraps Studies of Vaccines and Treatments for Future Pandemics

Published

1 year ago

March 27, 2025

H.H.S. Scraps Studies of Vaccines and Treatments for Future Pandemics

The Trump administration has canceled funding for dozens of studies seeking new vaccines and treatments for Covid-19 and other pathogens that may cause future pandemics.

The government’s rationale is that the Covid pandemic has ended, which “provides cause to terminate Covid-related grant funds,” according to an internal N.I.H. document viewed by The New York Times.

But the research was not just about Covid. Nine of the terminated awards funded centers conducting research on antiviral drugs to combat so-called priority pathogens that could give rise to entirely new pandemics.

“This includes the antiviral projects designed to cover a wide range of families that could cause outbreaks or pandemics,” said one senior N.I.H. official who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

The vaccine research also was not focused on Covid, but rather on other coronaviruses that one day might jump from animals to humans.

Describing all the research as Covid-related is “a complete inaccuracy and simply a way to defund infectious disease research,” the official said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, has said that the N.I.H. is too focused on infectious diseases, the official noted.

The funding halts were first reported by Science and Nature. The cancellations stunned scientists who had depended on the government’s support.

“The idea that we don’t need further research to learn how to treat health problems caused by coronaviruses and prevent future pandemics because ‘Covid-19 is over’ is absurd,” said Pamela Bjorkman, a structural biologist at Caltech who had been studying new vaccines.

The goal of the projects was to have vaccines and drugs ready if a new pandemic hit, rather than spending precious months developing them from scratch.

“In the last pandemic, we really were caught with our pants down,” said Paul Bieniasz, a virologist at Rockefeller University who was collaborating with Dr. Bjorkman.

“And if we don’t learn that lesson and prepare better for the next pandemic, we are unlikely to do better than we did last time.”

Dr. Bieniasz, Dr. Bjorkman and their colleagues were developing a vaccine that might protect against a wide range of coronavirus species.

The researchers discovered new strategies to coax the immune system to learn how to recognize molecular features common to more than just one type of virus. Results from animal experiments were promising.

But now, with their funds abruptly cut, the scientists said they doubted they could build on those results. Dr. Bieniasz said that the termination had left him “angry, disappointed, frustrated.”

Other scientists had been working on antiviral treatments, part of a program started in 2021.

With $577 million in support from the N.I.H., a nationwide network of labs had been studying how viruses replicate, and then searching for drugs that could block them.

The researchers focused on viral families that include some of the most worrisome pathogens known, such as Ebola and Nipah virus. Scientists had discovered a number of promising molecules and were advancing toward clinical trials.

Reuben Harris, a molecular virologist at UT Health San Antonio, said that the promising compounds uncovered by the program included an antiviral drug that stops Ebola and related viruses from entering cells.

“It could be deployed to help a lot of people fast,” Dr. Harris said.

It looked as if some compounds might work against a number of virus families. “It’s some of the most exciting science I’ve seen in my career,” said Nevan Krogan, a systems biologist at the University of California, San Francisco.

On Wednesday morning, Dr. Krogan and dozens of his colleagues gathered in a campus meeting room to review those results. And they also discussed what, if anything, they could do now.

“One student asked me, ‘Well, I have an experiment booked on this microscope tomorrow — can I do it?’” Dr. Krogan said. “And I’m like, ‘Well, I don’t know.’”

Dr. Harris said that, without ongoing support, the promising drugs he and others had found would not move into clinical trials. “It’s tragic — I don’t have too many words to describe that right now,” he said.

In 2023, Mr. Kennedy said that he wanted to take “a break” from infectious disease research to focus instead on chronic disease.

Jason McLellan, a virologist at the University of Texas at Austin who worked on the antiviral program, saw the cancellations of pandemic research as following through on that promise.

Dr. McLellan, whose earlier research was fundamental to the creation of Covid vaccines in 2020, said this week’s cuts made him wonder if he could continue studying pandemics in the United States.

“We’ve had conversations and are beginning to put plans into motion to gather more information,” he said, referring to the possibility of moving abroad.

“My lab is a structural virology lab that focuses on structure-based vaccine design,” he added. “If the focus is on chronic diseases, that doesn’t leave much funding for us.”

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Health

This 1-Minute Senobi Breathing Trick Curbs Cravings and Boosts Weight Loss

Published

7 hours ago

April 17, 2026

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This 1-Minute Senobi Breathing Trick Curbs Cravings and Boosts Weight Loss

Senobi Breathing for Weight Loss Helps Burn Fat Fast

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Health

RFK Jr. backs easier peptide access for wellness as doctors raise red flags

Published

8 hours ago

April 17, 2026

Press Room

RFK Jr. backs easier peptide access for wellness as doctors raise red flags

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Interview of the week

→ Dr. Wendy Troxel shares relationship tips for chronic snorers and their tired partners

Unexpected threats

→ Doctor warns wearable fitness trackers could backfire

→ Where you live could shape your risk of cancer mortality

→ Lead contamination exposed in public parks across major city

The city previously applied for a lead prevention grant prior to the recent investigation of local parks. (iStock)

Conversation starters

→ Dementia risk could be tied to your mindset and outlook on life

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This article was written by Fox News staff.

Health

Doctors warn of ‘looksmaxxing’ dangers after influencer’s livestream emergency

Published

20 hours ago

April 17, 2026

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Doctors warn of ‘looksmaxxing’ dangers after influencer’s livestream emergency

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“Clavicular,” the controversial “looksmaxxing” influencer, was reportedly hospitalized due to a suspected overdose Tuesday night during a livestream.

The Miami content creator, 20, posted a photo of his bloody face and commented on X Wednesday.

“Just got home, that was brutal. All of the substances are just [to] cope, trying to feel neurotypical while being in public, but obviously, that isn’t a real solution. The worst part of tonight was my face descending from the life support mask.”

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The influencer, whose real name is Braden Peters, was hospitalized after his livestream was cut short when he began slurring his words and repeating phrases, according to reports.

What is ‘looksmaxxing’ and why is it trending?

Looksmaxxing is a social media trend focused on enhancing appearance, ranging from basic skin care to extreme practices like hitting cheekbones with hammers to alter facial structure.

Looksmaxxing is a social media trend focused on enhancing appearance, ranging from basic skin care to extreme practices like hitting cheekbones with hammers to alter facial structure. (iStock)

The potentially dangerous trend has been popular with young males, plastic surgeons told Fox News Digital.

“In my practice, we’ve seen it primarily in young men in their 20s,” Dr. Josef Hadeed, a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California, told Fox News Digital. “We have had a few women, but I’d say by and large, it’s been mostly men who have come into our office wanting these various looksmaxxing procedures.”

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“Patients are increasingly seeking to align how they look with how they feel,” he said. “The difference today is that the tools and technologies available to achieve that have never been more advanced or more accessible.”

Looksmaxxing can be divided into two categories: “softmaxxing” and “hardmaxxing,” according to Hadeed. Softmaxxing is a more simple, non-invasive approach to improving one’s looks.

The potentially dangerous trend has been popular with young males, plastic surgeons told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

“It’s really like self-care or grooming – things like going to the gym on a regular basis to try to improve your body composition, or using various skincare products to try to improve your skin texture,” the surgeon said.

Softmaxxing techniques – which can also include teeth whitening, beard grooming, or upgrading a wardrobe or hairstyle – are not usually a problem, according to Hadeed. Hardmaxxing, which involves more extreme measures, can have riskier consequences.

“Even minimally invasive treatments carry real risks if performed incorrectly or by an untrained provider.”

Some individuals in the looksmaxxing online community do things like “bone smashing,” Hadeed said.

“[It’s] literally what it sounds like, where you smash the bones to change the facial structure, and that is obviously not recommended because it can lead to potential complications,” he warned.

“Once you cross that line and start getting into more extreme things, I feel like that’s where most plastic surgeons should draw the line.”

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Dr. C. Bob Basu, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, said the biggest safety risks with the looksmaxxing trend come from pursuing treatments without proper medical guidance.

Looksmaxxing can be divided into two categories: “softmaxxing” and “hardmaxxing.” Softmaxxing is a more simple, non-invasive simple approach to improving one’s looks. (iStock)

“Social media can make procedures seem easy or risk-free, but even minimally invasive treatments carry real risks if performed incorrectly or by an untrained provider,” the Houston-based plastic surgeon told Fox News Digital.

To achieve quality results, it is critical to be treated by a board-certified plastic surgeon who understands both safety and anatomy, Basu advised.

What’s driving the trend?

The convergence of social media, constant digital visibility and “unprecedented access to aesthetic treatments” – along with a cultural shift toward optimizing wellness and longevity – are fueling the looksmaxxing trend, according to Basu.

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Hadeed agreed, noting that social media puts pressure on individuals to look perfect.

“People are constantly comparing themselves to other people online,” he told Fox News Digital. “It can quickly develop into body dysmorphia for a lot of people, and that’s when they start pursuing more and more procedures that they don’t need by any stretch – it’s kind of like keeping up with the Joneses.”

Both plastic surgeons emphasized the importance of taking a responsible approach when considering the looksmaxxing trend. (iStock)

Dr. Nancy Frye, a professor in the psychology department at Long Island University in Brookville, New York, also weighed in on what’s driving the looksmaxxing craze.

“We figure out how attractive we might be by comparing what we see in ourselves to what we see in others,” she told Fox News Digital. “This social comparison is especially problematic with social media and filters, as people compare themselves to filtered versions of others.”

Healthier approach

While experts warn of the risks of looksmaxxing, they say a thoughtful approach can have some benefits, including pride in one’s appearance and health.

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The most tangible benefits are associated with the softmaxxing approach, which includes following a fitness routine, eating a clean diet and following regular skin care routines, according to Hadeed.

“The goal should always be thoughtful self-improvement, not perfection.”

With healthy guidance, aesthetic care can “enhance confidence and self-esteem, helping patients feel more aligned with their sense of self,” Basu added.

Both plastic surgeons emphasized the importance of taking a responsible approach when considering the looksmaxxing trend.

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“The goal should always be thoughtful self-improvement, not perfection,” Basu said. “It should never be about looking like someone else or a filtered version of yourself, but rather about becoming a confident, natural and authentic version of you.”

Anyone considering this trend should consult a licensed healthcare professional rather than relying on advice from social media influencers, the doctors advised.

Amy McGorry is a contributing health writer for Fox News Digital. Follow her on Twitter @amymcgorry.