New restrictions on fetal tissue research by the NIH
The Trump administration announced Thursday that human fetal tissue derived from abortions can no longer be used in research funded by the National Institutes of Health, reports BritPanorama.
This policy, long urged by anti-abortion groups, expands restrictions issued during President Donald Trump’s first term.
For decades, the government has funded research involving fetal tissue under both Republican and Democratic administrations. This tissue, typically disposed of after abortions, has been critical for research into diseases such as HIV and cancer. While opponents argue that adequate alternatives exist, many scientists contend that suitable substitutes are not always available.
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya acknowledged in a statement that the agency “has long maintained policies governing the responsible and limited use of human fetal tissue in biomedical research.”
Usage of fetal tissue has seen a decline since 2019, with the $47 billion agency counting only 77 projects funded in 2024 that involved such materials.
The first Trump administration had already curtailed the use of fetal tissue on the NIH campus and imposed additional barriers for non-government scientists seeking NIH funding. These restrictions were later lifted by the Biden administration. The new policy issued Thursday applies to all NIH-funded research.
According to NIH documents, the new guidelines do not end the use of “cell lines” created years ago from fetal cells, which are cloned copies, like embryonic stem cells, adapted for continuous growth in laboratories. Bhattacharya noted that NIH will soon seek public comment on potential measures “to reduce or potentially replace reliance on human embryonic stem cells.”
The implications of this policy shift are significant for various research initiatives and underscore ongoing debates about the ethics and utility of fetal tissue in scientific studies.
