This program, progressing through three phases over roughly 21 years, has made significant advances in understanding HIV evolution, guiding immune responses, and manufacturing vaccine candidates, bringing it close to developing a prototype suitable for human trials.

As of 2025, the program is nearing its final year with a $258 million grant, and has made enough progress to be on the cusp of testing a prototype HIV vaccine in humans.

Despite the federal funding cut in spring 2025, Duke and Dr. Haynes remain committed to their research, emphasizing the importance of their discoveries in understanding HIV infection, even as HIV infection rates continue to decline globally, with 1.3 million new cases reported in 2023.

In response to the funding loss, Duke is actively seeking private and foundation support to sustain their efforts, highlighting the critical timing of funding for ongoing research and the significant contributions CHAVD has made to understanding how HIV infects humans.

Since 2005, the Duke Human Vaccine Institute, led by Dr. Barton Haynes, has been part of a $300 million, 20-year federal effort modeled after a Manhattan Project to develop an HIV vaccine through the Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Development (CHAVD).

The Trump administration terminated federal funding for CHAVD in 2025, citing concerns over duplicative programs and advocating for more strategic approaches to HIV research.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly opposed the use of mRNA technology, which had been employed to accelerate HIV vaccine research, though its role in the final vaccine remains uncertain.

This effort was part of a broader national initiative, often compared to the Manhattan Project, which made substantial progress over its duration, focusing on understanding HIV's evolution, immune response, and vaccine manufacturing.