1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

The decision to wind down mRNA vaccine development projects and halt nearly $500 million in investments from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is misguided and will undermine America's ability to rapidly respond to future viral threats. mRNA technology was instrumental in the unprecedented speed at which Covid-19 vaccines were developed, going from genetic sequence to human trials in under 70 days. These vaccines saved an estimated 20 million lives globally, including over 1 million in the United States alone. mRNA is a flexible, rapid-response platform that can be adapted quickly for new or mutating viruses. It reduces reliance on fragile global supply chains and is being explored for personalized cancer treatments, autoimmune therapies, and protecting against threats like Nipah, Lassa fever, and Chikungunya that could spark the next pandemic. Abandoning this revolutionary medical breakthrough jeopardizes the immense progress made and America's preparedness for emerging biological dangers. I urge you to reconsider this shortsighted decision and reinstate funding for mRNA vaccine research and development. Continued investment in this technology is vital for safeguarding public health, driving biomedical innovation, and maintaining U.S. leadership in pandemic preparedness on the global stage. We cannot afford to sideline one of the most significant scientific advances of the 21st century.