The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says it will not renew a handful of research grants that an advocacy group identified as involving human fetal tissue – a decision that is setting off alarm bells for some in the scientific community. But it’s not clear whether all of the 17 studies actually involved the controversial material – or whether the move signals the revival of restrictive policies on fetal tissue studies that President Donald Trump imposed during his first term in office to satisfy abortion opponents.

Still, the International Society for Stem Cell Research protested NIH’s pledge, citing the scientific and clinical importance of studies involving human fetal tissue. Not renewing funding for the 17 grants may have little impact on ongoing research. Several researchers whose grants were identified by White Coat Waste tell Science that their studies have been completed and were not up for renewal. And the principal investigators on one project coded as involving human fetal tissue in NIH Reporter say they never used the material in their experiments.

Source https://www.science.org/content/article/scientists-decry-nih-pledge-end-some-human-fetal-tissue-research

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