Randomized trials show no evidence of non-specific vaccine effects

A new Danish analysis of more than 25 years of research on non-specific vaccine effects shows that prominent researchers have systematically over-interpreted the findings from their randomized trials

Aarhus University

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For more than three decades, researchers Christine Stabell Benn and Peter Aaby from the Bandim Health Project have conducted randomized trials involving thousands of children in Guinea-Bissau and Denmark to demonstrate so-called non-specific vaccine effects – that is, whether vaccines also protect against diseases other than the one they are designed to prevent.

A new comprehensive Danish review now shows that the trials have been unable to demonstrate non-specific effects for the widely used vaccinations against measles, tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough.

“It is concerning that such a prominent research group has conducted so many randomized trials over such a long period without finding real results. Randomized trials are normally considered the gold standard in medical research, so if they do not show anything, one should be very cautious about presenting it as convincing evidence,” says Henrik Støvring from Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus and Aarhus University, who led the new review.

Comprehensive analysis across all studies

The new study is the first to systematically analyze all of Benn and Aaby’s randomized trials. While others have previously criticized individual studies, the researchers behind the new review examined the full body of work.

“We find indications that the researchers systematically selected and highlighted results that supported their theories, while downplaying the fact that they did not confirm the primary hypothesis the trials were actually designed to test. When you look at the overall picture, there are almost no real findings left,” explains Henrik Støvring.

Benn and Aaby have claimed that their results meant it was time to change the global approach to vaccination – all new vaccines should routinely be assessed for non-specific effects, and vaccination programmes should be revised worldwide.

When the gold standard does not hold

The new review is based on 13 randomized trials presented in 26 articles containing more than 1,400 separate statistical analyses. Only one of the 13 randomized trials demonstrated the effect it was designed to detect – and that trial was stopped early and was considered unsuccessful by the researchers themselves.

The review showed that only about 7% of the many hypotheses tested by the researchers could be expected to be correct. Notably, this did not apply to the researchers’ own primary hypotheses – these were not supported by the corrected results.

“In 23 out of 25 articles, the researchers highlighted secondary findings as support for their theories, but in 22 of these cases the evidence disappeared after proper statistical handling. Overall, the researchers’ interpretation did not take into account how many analyses they had conducted, and they did not focus on the main outcomes of the trials,” says Henrik Støvring.

Not a rejection of the field

The researchers stress that the purpose was not to determine whether non-specific vaccine effects exist, but to examine Benn and Aaby’s research practices.

“We hope that others in the field will now re-evaluate the evidence – what do we actually know about non-specific vaccine effects? Although Benn and Aaby have contributed about one-third of all research in the area, others have also studied the question, and this should be included to form a complete picture,” says Henrik Støvring.

The study was conducted in collaboration between Henrik Støvring (Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus and Aarhus University), Claus Thorn Ekstrøm (University of Copenhagen), Jesper Wiborg Schneider (Aarhus University), and Charlotte Strøm (SharPen). The study has just been published in the leading international journal Vaccine.

 

Behind the research result

Study type: Meta-analysis

Collaborators: The study was conducted in collaboration between Henrik Støvring (Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus and Aarhus University), Claus Thorn Ekstrøm (University of Copenhagen), Jesper Wiborg Schneider (Aarhus University), and Charlotte Strøm (SharPen).

External funding: None

Potential conflicts of interest: None of relevance to this study. 

Link to scientific article: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127937

 

 

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Journal

Vaccine

DOI

10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127937 

Method of Research

Meta-analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

What is actually the emerging evidence about non-specific vaccine effects in randomized trials from the Bandim Health Project?

Article Publication Date

12-Nov-2025

 

Pusan National University researchers reveal how sea ice decline intensifies ocean mixing in warming polar regions

Sea ice loss in polar regions increases ocean turbulence and stirring, altering heat and nutrient transport and impacting marine ecosystems

Pusan National University

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Melting sea ice strengthens ocean stirring, altering heat flow, nutrient transport, and polar marine ecosystems

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Credit: Professor June-Yi Lee from Pusan National University, Korea

“Shaken, not stirred” — it is widely known how James Bond prefers his martinis. In physics, stirring stretches a fluid into thin streaks, creating turbulence and mixing its properties. In the ocean, a similar process occurs as winds and other forces move seawater. When this happens horizontally over tens to hundreds of kilometres, it is called mesoscale horizontal stirring (MHS).

MHS plays a crucial role in redistributing heat, nutrients, and dissolved substances in the upper ocean, shaping plankton distribution and influencing the movement of fish eggs, larvae, and pollutants such as microplastics. However, studying small-scale ocean currents in polar regions has long been a challenge due to their remoteness and harsh conditions. Ship-based observations and satellite data provide limited detail, while most climate models lack the resolution needed to capture fine-scale turbulence and horizontal mixing accurately.

To address this gap, a team of researchers led by Professor June-Yi Lee, Mr. Gyuseok Yi, and Professor Axel Timmermann from the IBS Center for Climate Physics (ICCP) at Pusan National University, South Korea, conducted ultra-high-resolution simulations using the Community Earth System Model version 1.2.2 (CESM-UHR). These simulations, performed on the Aleph supercomputer at the Institute for Basic Science in Daejeon, enabled the team to examine how ocean stirring responds to greenhouse warming. Their findings, published in Nature Climate Change on November 5, 2025, show how this fully coupled model—integrating atmosphere, sea ice, and ocean components—captures the dynamic interactions that drive MHS under present-day, CO₂-doubling, and CO₂-quadrupling conditions.

“Our results indicate that mesoscale horizontal stirring will intensify considerably in the Arctic and Southern Oceans in a warming climate,” said Mr. Yi.

The team found that this intensification is primarily driven by stronger ocean flow and turbulence resulting from sea ice loss. Using a diagnostic tool known as the finite-size Lyapunov exponent (FSLE), which measures how neighboring parcels of water drift apart, the researchers observed a clear increase in horizontal stirring across both polar oceans. In the Arctic, sea ice loss exposes open water to wind, stirring the water column more vigorously and increasing eddy activity. In Antarctic coastal regions, melting and freshening enhance density gradients, strengthening currents such as the Antarctic Slope Current.

As ocean turbulence intensifies, nutrient cycles, plankton distribution, and the movement of microplastics could change substantially. Prof. Lee noted, “This study highlights important implications of global warming and associated ocean changes on the ocean ecosystem and the dispersal of pollutants such as microplastics. This type of research will be crucial for developing climate policies, including adaptation measures.”

Further research at ICCP will integrate biological models of plankton and fish into next-generation simulations. “Currently, at the IBS Center for Climate Physics in South Korea, we are developing a new generation of Earth system models that better integrate the interactions between climate and life,” added Prof. Timmermann. “This will deepen our understanding of how polar ecosystems respond to global warming.”

 

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About Pusan National University

Pusan National University, located in Busan, South Korea, was founded in 1946 and is now the No. 1 national university of South Korea in research and educational competency. The multi-campus university also has other smaller campuses in Yangsan, Miryang, and Ami. The university prides itself on the principles of truth, freedom, and service and has approximately 30,000 students, 1,200 professors, and 750 faculty members. The university comprises 14 colleges (schools) and one independent division, with 103 departments in all.

Website: https://www.pusan.ac.kr/eng/Main.do

About Mr. Gyuseok Yi

Mr. Gyuseok Yi, the leading author, is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Climate System, Pusan National University, and a student researcher at the Center for Climate Physics, Institute for Basic Science. His work is to better quantify and understand the polar ocean responses to greenhouse gas warming.

About Prof. Jun-Yi Lee

Professor June-Yi Lee, the co-corresponding author, is a Professor at the Research Center for Climate Sciences, Pusan National University, and a project leader at the IBS Center for Climate Physics (ICCP). She leads a research group investigating Earth system sensitivity and predictability, focusing on how atmospheric, oceanic, and cryospheric processes interact under changing climate conditions. Her work combines advanced modelling and data analysis to improve understanding of global and regional climate variability, contributing to more accurate long-term climate projections and informed adaptation strategies for a warming world.

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2567-2973

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Journal

Nature Climate Change

DOI

10.1038/s41558-025-02471-2 

Method of Research

Computational simulation/modeling

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Future mesoscale horizontal stirring in polar oceans intensified by sea ice decline

Article Publication Date

15-Nov-2025

 

Scientists unveil the world's most comprehensive AI-powered tool for neuroscience

Massive, first-of-its-kind data resource aims to accelerate medical breakthroughs in brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson's

Allen Institute

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Different populations of cells in the mouse brain, each one targeted with high specificity by one of the many new genetic tools developed at the Allen Institute.

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Credit: Allen Institute

SEATTLE, WASH. —NOVEMBER 13, 2025— Imagine if every neuroscientist in the world could suddenly speak the same language and share their discoveries instantly.  Allen Institute researchers and engineers have now unlocked that potential and the vast discoveries it could lead to through the new Brain Knowledge Platform (BKP).   

This first-of-its-kind database and research tool has just launched with data from over 34 million brain cells. It compiles and standardizes the world’s neuroscience data into a common format and language allowing deep, seamless collaboration between international teams all united in the common goal of finding cures for brain disease.   

The Allen Institute partnered with technology leaders like Amazon Web Services, which built the core computing infrastructure powering Brain Knowledge Platform, and Google to develop AI models for neuroscience. That collaboration and innovation have created a powerful tool designed to transform how we discover treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.   

“This is special because the field has long suffered from fragmentation: different labs working in different species, with different modalities, labeling cell types differently, and with datasets that are difficult to align,” said Shoaib Mufti, senior director of data and technology at the Allen Institute. “I am excited about the way the Brain Knowledge Platform will unite massive, multimodal, high-resolution datasets — including single-cell and spatial transcriptomics — all in one open, navigable environment.”  

The work is also supported by the National Institutes of Health’s Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® Initiative, or The BRAIN Initiative®, aimed at accelerating the development of innovative neurotechnologies and revolutionizing our understanding of the human brain  

Solving the language problem in brain science  

For decades, brain researchers have faced a major communications challenge: Labs around the world have relied on a variety of methods and technology to study the brain and classify its diverse cell populations. These labs have adopted their own terminology and classification systems for their findings and cell types—a diversity that has meant neuroscience lacks a standardized, comprehensive vocabulary to describe and understand the brain and its incredible complexity. This lack of alignment has slowed the pace of discovery because it’s as though research teams are speaking different languages, hindering seamless collaboration  

The Allen Institute is solving this problem by creating a universal translator for brain science. This new platform takes all the different ways scientists describe brain cells and organizes them into one giant, searchable map that everyone can use.  

“The Brain Knowledge Platform is a transformative open resource, giving neuroscience a common language for brain cell types much like the Human Genome Project did for genes,” said Joseph R. Ecker, Ph.D., a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.   

How was artificial intelligence used?  

Brain Knowledge Platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help scientists find patterns and connections they might miss on their own. For example, a scientist studying a brain cell that seems important in Parkinson's disease can search the platform and instantly see how that same cell behaves in healthy brains, in Alzheimer's patients, and in people with other conditions. AI helps them spot similarities and differences that could lead to new treatments.  

The Platform also includes a catalog of genetic tools allowing researchers to immediately begin probing scientific questions that surface. If a researcher finds an interesting brain cell, they can immediately obtain the tools they need to study that cell in their own lab—going from inquiry to action in a single step, with the ultimate goal of discovery.  

From discovery to treatment  

What makes Brain Knowledge Platform transformative is how it connects basic brain research to actual medical treatments. The platform includes data from both healthy and diseased brains, so researchers can see what goes wrong in conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. They can identify which brain cells are affected and then test potential treatments on those specific cells.  

The AI assistant accelerates discovery and insights by allowing user to search for molecules and cell features through natural language queries, similar generative AI search, making the massive datasets more accessible and easier to navigate.  

Breaking down research silos  

One of the most exciting aspects is how the platform reveals connections between different brain diseases, and how it may speed up collaboration and big scientific discovery.  

“We’ve created and shared high-quality brain maps since our first mouse brain atlas in 2007,” says Hongkui Zeng, Ph.D., executive vice president and director of Brain Science at the Allen Institute. “The Brain Knowledge Platform enhances those maps with the novel understanding of cell types we’ve been developing with others in the NIH’s BRAIN Initiative. Like topography on Google Maps, cell type information adds multiple new layers to our maps, helping scientists design better experiments and glean new insights.”  

The platform eliminates wasted effort by making all research discoverable and connected. Instead of spending months rediscovering what someone else already figured out, researchers can build on existing work and focus on the next breakthrough. This could help scientists understand how the brain works as a complete system and develop much more effective treatments for brain diseases.  

About the Allen Institute 

The Allen Institute is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit research organization founded by philanthropist and visionary, the late Paul G. Allen. The Allen Institute is dedicated to answering some of the biggest questions in bioscience and accelerating research worldwide. The Institute is a recognized leader in large-scale research with a commitment to an open science model. For more information, visit alleninstitute.org.  

 

# # # 

 
Media Contact 

Liz Dueweke Media Relations 

206-225-0596 | liz.dueweke@alleninstitute.org  

 

Hidden signatures of ancient Rome’s master craftsmen revealed

Washington State University

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Glass openwork vessel from 300-350 CE with inscription and symbol. Inscription: ΠΙΕ ΖΗCΑΙC ΚΑΛWC ΑΕΙ (Drink, may you live well always!) (photo courtesy of Hallie G. Meredith).

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Credit: Photo courtesy of Hallie Meredith

In the hushed light of a museum gallery, Hallie Meredith discovered something intriguing about ancient Roman glasswork hiding in plain sight.

It was February 2023, and the Washington State University art history professor and glassblower was examining a private collection of Roman glass cage cups at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. These delicate works of luxury were carved from a single block of glass between 300 and 500 CE and have been studied for centuries for their beauty. Meredith’s revelation was not the result of advanced imaging or new technology but rather a simple act of curiosity: turning one of the vessels around.

On the reverse side of the late-Roman object, she found abstract openwork symbols — such as, diamonds, leaves, or crosses — carved alongside an inscription wishing its owner a long life. Previously dismissed as decorative, Meredith’s research suggests these motifs are instead makers’ marks: the signatures of workshops and artisans who carved the empire’s most intricate glass.

“Because I am trained as a maker, I kept wanting to flip things over,” said Meredith, who began glassblowing as an undergraduate in college and has continued to practice ever since. “When that happens, patterns appear that everyone else has literally photographed out of the frame.”

That moment in the museum soon grew into a larger investigation of how Roman artisans worked. In two recent papers — one published in April in the Journal of Glass Studies and another in October in World Archaeology — Meredith traced the same symbols across other carved vessels, linking them to a visual language shared by glassworkers from the fourth to sixth centuries CE. By studying tool marks, inscriptions, and unfinished fragments, she showed that these objects were not made by solitary masters but by coordinated teams of engravers, polishers, and apprentices. What began with a simple turn of the wrist revealed a hidden network of makers whose signatures, overlooked for centuries, are now coming into view.

For more than 250 years, scholars have debated how Roman glass openwork vessels were made — whether they were carved by hand, cast, or blown. Few looked beyond the inscriptions. Meredith’s findings suggest that understanding these vessels requires more than identifying their techniques; it means recognizing the people behind them.

Each cup, known as a diatretum, began as a thick-walled blank, painstakingly carved into two concentric layers linked by delicate glass bridges. The result — a lattice that seems impossibly light — was a feat of both design and endurance. Meredith’s research suggests that the work required multiple specialists collaborating over weeks, months, or even years. The abstract marks, she believes, identified collective workshops, much like a modern studio logo. “They weren’t personal autographs,” she said. “They were the ancient equivalent of a brand.”

She explores this broader world of Roman artisans in her forthcoming monograph, The Roman Craftworkers of Late Antiquity: A Social History of Glass Production and Related Industries, currently in production with Cambridge University Press and expected for release in 2026 or 2027.

Meredith’s background as a glassblower gives her research a practical edge. She knows the feel of molten glass and the discipline it takes to shape it — experience that now guides her approach to ancient craftsmanship. At WSU, she teaches Experiencing Ancient Making, a course where students 3D print versions of ancient artworks, try their hand at making, and use an app she designed to virtually take apart artifacts. “The goal isn’t perfect replication,” she said. “It’s empathy. Ancient craftworkers can be understood differently when their production processes are experienced.”

That empathy drives her larger mission to restore visibility to the anonymous artisans who shaped the ancient world. “There’s been a static picture of people who do the work,” Meredith said. “We presume we understand them because we focus on elites. But when the evidence is assembled, far more is known about these craftworkers than previously thought.”

Her next project bridges art history and data science. Working with WSU computer science students, Meredith is building a searchable database to track non-standard writing — misspellings, mixed alphabets, and coded inscriptions — across thousands of portable objects. What earlier scholars dismissed as gibberish may, she believes, be evidence of multilingual makers adapting scripts for new audiences.

Meredith’s research ultimately challenges scholars to view ancient artifacts from a new perspective. When light glances off a diatretum’s lattice, the glass reveals more than a marvel of engineering — it reflects the hands, skill, and imagination of the people who made it.

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Journal

World Archaeology

DOI

10.1080/00438243.2025.2570270 

Article Title

An approach to craft and craftworkers in process: re-examining late 3rd-6th century CE Roman carvings, inscriptions, and engraved symbols