The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for effective vaccines and treatments to combat infectious diseases. However, despite these advances, the tide is turning against progress in immunology. Anti-vaccination sentiments are on the rise, and funding for research into infectious diseases is dwindling.
In recent years, measles was declared eliminated in the US, but the disease has made a comeback, with more reported cases than in 1992. Researchers are scrambling to develop new vaccines and treatments, but they face an uphill battle due to lack of funding.
One researcher, Erica Ollmann Saphire, is working on a vaccine that doesn't use live virus - a safer option for immunocompromised people. Her team has made significant progress in understanding how the human immune system responds to measles, and they're now exploring new treatments using antibodies. But with funding dwindling, their work is under threat.
The same challenge faces researchers working on solutions for tuberculosis and polio. The science looks promising, but support is waning. This is a worrying trend, as infectious diseases are a major global health concern. Without adequate funding, research into these diseases will stall, putting lives at risk.
The erosion of public trust in vaccines has serious consequences, not just for individuals, but also for public health as a whole. Vaccines have been instrumental in controlling outbreaks and saving countless lives. But if the momentum is lost, we risk losing hard-won gains.
It's time to recommit to funding research into infectious diseases. We need more than just good science - we need sustained support to drive forward progress. The stakes are high, but with collective action, we can protect our communities from the devastating impact of infectious disease.
In recent years, measles was declared eliminated in the US, but the disease has made a comeback, with more reported cases than in 1992. Researchers are scrambling to develop new vaccines and treatments, but they face an uphill battle due to lack of funding.
One researcher, Erica Ollmann Saphire, is working on a vaccine that doesn't use live virus - a safer option for immunocompromised people. Her team has made significant progress in understanding how the human immune system responds to measles, and they're now exploring new treatments using antibodies. But with funding dwindling, their work is under threat.
The same challenge faces researchers working on solutions for tuberculosis and polio. The science looks promising, but support is waning. This is a worrying trend, as infectious diseases are a major global health concern. Without adequate funding, research into these diseases will stall, putting lives at risk.
The erosion of public trust in vaccines has serious consequences, not just for individuals, but also for public health as a whole. Vaccines have been instrumental in controlling outbreaks and saving countless lives. But if the momentum is lost, we risk losing hard-won gains.
It's time to recommit to funding research into infectious diseases. We need more than just good science - we need sustained support to drive forward progress. The stakes are high, but with collective action, we can protect our communities from the devastating impact of infectious disease.