The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced a policy change that ends the use of NIH funds for research involving human fetal tissue obtained from elective abortions. The update applies across all NIH-supported research activities and takes effect immediately.
Under the revised NIH research funding policy, federal funds may no longer be used to support human fetal tissue research through the NIH intramural research program or through extramural mechanisms, including grants, cooperative agreements, other transaction awards, and research and development contracts. The policy supersedes prior NIH guidance governing the use of human fetal tissue in federally funded studies.
Scope of the NIH fetal tissue research policy
The policy states that NIH funding will no longer be available for research involving human fetal tissue derived from elective abortions. According to NIH, federally supported human fetal tissue research has declined in recent years, with 77 NIH-funded projects involving such materials during fiscal year 2024.
NIH framed the change as part of a broader reassessment of how federal research dollars are allocated and which experimental approaches are prioritized within NIH-supported programs. The update affects both ongoing funding considerations and future NIH funding opportunities tied to human fetal tissue research.
Shift toward alternative research models
NIH cited advances in alternative research models as a key factor in the policy decision. These models include organoids, tissue chips, and computational biology platforms that support disease modeling and drug discovery without requiring certain biological materials.
In a statement accompanying the announcement, NIH director Jay Bhattacharya said the agency intends to direct funding toward research approaches that reflect current scientific capabilities. NIH also indicated that it will continue evaluating emerging technologies to determine whether additional federally funded research areas could transition to alternative research models.
Implications for laboratories and research planning
For laboratories conducting or planning NIH-funded work, the updated NIH fetal tissue research policy may require changes to experimental design, model selection, or funding strategy. Labs with active awards, pending proposals, or long-term research programs that previously relied on human fetal tissue may need to reassess eligibility and compliance requirements under the new policy.
Laboratory leaders and research administrators may also need to evaluate whether alternative research models can adequately support their scientific objectives, timelines, and regulatory obligations. While NIH highlighted the growing availability of alternative research models, the suitability of these approaches may vary by research area and application.
Next steps for NIH-funded labs
NIH has not announced a formal transition period or exemptions associated with the policy change. The agency stated that it will continue engaging the scientific community and plans to seek public comment on the robustness of emerging biotechnologies that could further reduce reliance on sensitive biological materials in federally funded research.
Laboratories affected by the NIH research funding policy update are encouraged to monitor NIH communications, funding opportunity announcements, and agency guidance for additional clarification.
This article was created with the assistance of Generative AI and has undergone editorial review before publishing.
