Could Cancer Vaccines Become a Reality Within the Next Decade?

The future of vaccine development in America is a hot-button topic after U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kenney Jr. announced that the federal government would cancel $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine research, according to the Associated Press.

However, Kristen Dahlgren, a cancer survivor who is the founder and CEO of the Cancer Vaccine Coalition, said she remains hopeful for the future of cancer vaccine development.

“I'm remaining optimistic that with incredible science and with the pace of discovery, we could see cancer vaccines within a decade for various cancers,” Dahlgren told CURE.

Dahlgren sat down for an interview with CURE to discuss her hopes for cancer vaccine development in the coming years.

Transcript

Where do you see the future of cancer vaccines heading, and how close are we to having effective vaccines for different types of cancer?

I think cancer vaccines and the science behind them are on an incredible path, with developments coming fast and furious. According to the researchers I'm working with, we now have the science to make a cancer vaccine for any tumor, and that hasn't changed. With developments in AI, genomics, and a better understanding of the immune system and what parts to target, cancer vaccines are still very close; they are still a reality. We are seeing them in clinical trials.

The bottom line is that the science is still there. I believe we just heard from the Director of the NIH that cancer vaccines and mRNA development in cancer vaccines are still very promising and moving forward. I remain optimistic that with this incredible science and the pace of discovery, we could see cancer vaccines for various cancers within a decade.

So, while I know people are reading the news and thinking the sky is falling and everything's on fire, I think if you continue to follow the science and support the research (and the Cancer Vaccine Coalition is doing that) and continue to build these coalitions and work with the government to spark interest in this incredible discovery and make it a national priority, I am still very hopeful.

This transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

References

1. “RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for vaccine development,” the Associated Press, Aug. 6, 2025; https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-vaccines-mrna-pfizer-moderna-1fb5b9436f2957075064c18a6cbbe3c9
2. “Cancer Vaccines Are a ‘Marvel,’” CURE, June 18, 2024; https://www.curetoday.com/view/cancer-vaccines-are-a-marvel-
3. “Breast Cancer Vaccines Could Possibly Make a Change for ‘So Many,’” CURE, May 13, 2024; https://www.curetoday.com/view/breast-cancer-vaccines-could-possibly-make-a-change-for-so-many-

For more news on cancer updates, research and education, don’t forget to subscribe to CURE®’s newsletters here