Federal funding cuts are reverberating through Vermont’s growing mRNA vaccine sector, as the U.S. Health and Human Services Department announced about $500 million in reductions to mRNA vaccine contracts. The changes are being felt at Vernal Biosciences in Colchester, a company that develops mRNA for research and clinical trials and also manufactures lipid nanoparticles that help deliver the mRNA into cells.
Vernal’s founder and chief scientific officer, Christian Cobaugh, said the reductions shrink the total pool of public funds available for early-stage work, hitting the company in multiple ways. In the short term, contracts were paused or halted mid-project, costing Vernal in the six figures, with potential seven-figure effects down the line. Cobaugh emphasized that the current funding environment comes after a boom period in the mRNA field, which has led to a crowded market with many new entrants.
“The public is a part of the process, and we have to constantly try to do better to bring the public in,” said Dev Majumdar, an immunologist at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine who studies RNA biology. He stressed that the scientific consensus remains that mRNA vaccines are safe and effective, noting that the platform enables rapid development and adaptation of vaccines to emerging diseases. He also urged scientists to be transparent about both past mistakes and future successes to maintain public trust.
Cobaugh pointed out that the most recent set of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) mRNA vaccine contracts appear to be pulling funds away from research into infectious diseases—an area central to pandemic preparedness. He warned that the reductions could have broader implications for readiness, saying, “We will be less prepared for the next pandemic, and I don’t want people to think we’re not going to be ready—we’re just not going to be as ready as we could be.”
In Vernal’s Colchester lab, researchers such as Senior Manufacturing Associate Drew Voter and Quality Control Specialist Adam Blair continue to work with mRNA and lipid nanoparticles, underscoring the company’s role in supporting clinical trials and next-generation therapies. The field beyond vaccines—cancer therapies and gene-editing approaches—also relies on public funding, though those applications have not faced the same recent funding cuts as infectious disease vaccine work.
Cobaugh said the funding squeeze comes at a time when the industry is still navigating a post-pandemic landscape, with demand for mRNA technologies fluctuating as new competitors enter the market. He and Majumdar stressed that the scientific consensus remains that mRNA vaccines have saved lives during COVID-19 and should be a key tool in future public health responses.
Despite the naysayers who question aspects of mRNA technology, many in Vermont remain convinced of the science and the path forward. Majumdar argued that the way the public understands and engages with vaccines is as important as the science itself, and he encouraged ongoing dialogue to address concerns openly. Cobaugh, while acknowledging the financial headwinds, remains hopeful that continued investment, collaboration, and stable funding will sustain innovation and help maintain pandemic preparedness in the years ahead.
Key takeaways
– Federal cuts to mRNA vaccine funding are affecting Vernal Biosciences and similar companies in Vermont, with immediate contract disruptions and potential long-term impacts on projects and growth.
– Experts emphasize that mRNA vaccines are effective and play a critical role in pandemic preparedness, while noting public skepticism is often politically charged.
– The broader challenge facing the field is balancing tight public funding with the need to sustain innovation in vaccines, cancer therapies, and gene editing—areas considered vital to public health.
Summary and outlook
The funding gaps created by recent cuts pose challenges for small and mid-sized biotechs focused on mRNA, potentially delaying certain research milestones and slowing progress toward future vaccines and therapies. Yet scientists and industry leaders remain confident in the science of mRNA technology and call for renewed investment and clear communication to keep momentum going for research, development, and pandemic readiness. A hopeful path forward rests on maintaining strong collaboration between public funding, private investment, and scientific leadership to translate robust science into practical health advances.