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NIH Rescinds Fetal Tissue Research Funding, Critics Cry Politics

1/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

The National Institutes of Health will halt funding for research using human fetal tissue from elective abortions, reinstating a Trump-era ban.
Critics say the move is politically motivated rather than scientifically driven.
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya stated the move aims to modernize biomedical research by investing in alternatives such as organoids and computational models.
Funding for fetal tissue research has declined since 2019, with only 77 projects funded in 2024.

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Story summary

The National Institutes of Health will halt funding for research using human fetal tissue from elective abortions, reinstating a Trump-era ban.
Critics say the move is politically motivated rather than scientifically driven.
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya stated the move aims to modernize biomedical research by investing in alternatives such as organoids and computational models.
Funding for fetal tissue research has declined since 2019, with only 77 projects funded in 2024.