The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced an immediate ban on funding research that uses human fetal tissue obtained from elective abortions. The decision, announced on Thursday, represents the Trump administration's most significant move yet to restrict such research, a long-standing goal of anti-abortion advocates.
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya stated the ban aims to modernise the agency by investing in alternative technologies. 'Under President Trump’s leadership, taxpayer-funded research must reflect the best science of today and the values of the American people,' he said. The NIH noted that the number of funded projects involving fetal tissue from abortions has declined since 2019, with 77 projects receiving nearly $60m in fiscal year 2024.
Researchers can still use fetal tissue from miscarriages, but scientists often prefer tissue from abortions because miscarriages may involve genetic abnormalities that make the tissue unusable. Fetal tissue has been crucial in advancing research into diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and infertility, and has contributed to vaccine development for polio, hepatitis A, and rabies.
This policy reverses a 2021 change under President Joe Biden that ended a similar ban imposed during Trump's first term. The new directive takes effect immediately.
