National Institutes of Health Axes Funding for Abortion-Based Fetal Tissue Research Amid Trump Administration Revival
In a significant shift, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced that it will no longer fund research utilizing human fetal tissue obtained from "elective" abortions. This ban marks the culmination of efforts by anti-abortion advocates to eliminate such studies, which had been implemented during President Donald Trump's first term in office.
The policy change was welcomed by NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, who stated that this decision would modernize the agency and align it with the best science of today. The move is seen as a victory for pro-life groups, who have long opposed research using tissue from abortions.
While fetal tissue obtained from miscarriages can still be used in NIH-funded research, scientists generally prefer to use tissue from abortions due to concerns over genetic abnormalities and usability issues associated with tissue collected during miscarriages.
The decision comes after the Biden administration reversed a similar policy implemented by the Trump administration. However, the NIH reports that funding for projects involving fetal tissue from abortions has decreased significantly since 2019, with only 77 projects receiving agency backing in fiscal year 2024 at a cost of $60m.
Fetal tissue research has contributed to breakthroughs in diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, and infertility. It also played a role in the development and production of vaccines for polio, hepatitis A, rabies, and other illnesses.
In a significant shift, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced that it will no longer fund research utilizing human fetal tissue obtained from "elective" abortions. This ban marks the culmination of efforts by anti-abortion advocates to eliminate such studies, which had been implemented during President Donald Trump's first term in office.
The policy change was welcomed by NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, who stated that this decision would modernize the agency and align it with the best science of today. The move is seen as a victory for pro-life groups, who have long opposed research using tissue from abortions.
While fetal tissue obtained from miscarriages can still be used in NIH-funded research, scientists generally prefer to use tissue from abortions due to concerns over genetic abnormalities and usability issues associated with tissue collected during miscarriages.
The decision comes after the Biden administration reversed a similar policy implemented by the Trump administration. However, the NIH reports that funding for projects involving fetal tissue from abortions has decreased significantly since 2019, with only 77 projects receiving agency backing in fiscal year 2024 at a cost of $60m.
Fetal tissue research has contributed to breakthroughs in diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, and infertility. It also played a role in the development and production of vaccines for polio, hepatitis A, rabies, and other illnesses.
. Like I get that there are different opinions on abortion, but come on - fetal tissue research has led to so many life-saving breakthroughs! 
Scientists were making progress on diseases we didn't even know what they were yet... now it's like they're being forced to slow down because of politics 
. I mean, can't we just stick to science? 
Can't we figure out a way to make vaccines and treatments without using tissue from abortions? 
It's not that hard, right? 
this is literally heartbreaking... like they're taking away something that could be so life-changing 
all those scientists working towards cures for diseases and they're just being forced to stop because of some politics... what about the potential lives saved or improved? 
how's that gonna affect the progress on those diseases though?
? so now we're saying that science gotta take a backseat to politics 
. like what's next? funding for cancer research from cancer patients or something 
. it's crazy how pro-life groups are getting more power in gov. meanwhile, scientists are stuck with limited funds and options 
. but hey, who needs scientific progress when we can just ban a few abortions 
... anyway, the thing is, fetal tissue research has already led to some huge breakthroughs 
. I've seen those vaccines being mentioned and it's crazy to think that they might not have been possible without this kind of research 
.
. But seriously, losing access to fetal tissue from abortions could be a major blow to scientists studying diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer's 
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. We used to think that using tissue from abortions was weird, but now we know it's actually helped us create life-saving vaccines 
. And what's the point of having scientists if they can't do their job? They're not gonna make a difference in the world without this kind of research, right?