New Rules: No More Federal Cash for Fetal Tissue Research

The Trump administration has put an end to federal funding for research projects that use tissue from aborted fetuses. This decision was announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and took effect right away. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will no longer use its funds for such research, just before the annual March for Life event. The NIH said this change is a big step in updating biomedical science and speeding up innovation. They believe this move will push American science into the 21st century. The NIH Director, Jay Bhattacharya, said the decision is about using the best science available today and respecting the values of the American people. Since 2019, the number of NIH-funded research projects using fetal tissue has gone down. In the fiscal year 2024, only 77 projects were funded. The NIH says new technologies like organoids, tissue chips, and computational biology can now support scientific research while addressing ethical concerns.The March for Life is an annual event in Washington, D. C. It brings together pro-life supporters and marks the anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, which was overturned in 2022. This year, Vice President JD Vance will speak at the event, as he did last year. Recently, Vance and his wife announced they are expecting their fourth child. The White House congratulated them and called the Trump administration the most pro-family administration in history. Critics argue that this decision could slow down important medical research. They say that fetal tissue has been crucial in developing vaccines, treatments for diseases like Parkinson's, and understanding human development. On the other hand, supporters of the decision believe it is a step towards more ethical scientific practices.