NIH Axes Funding for Fetal Tissue Research from Abortions, But Not Miscarriage Cases
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced that it will no longer fund research using human fetal tissue obtained from "elective" abortions. The decision marks a significant shift in the agency's stance on funding, following years of efforts by anti-abortion advocates to restrict such research.
Under the new policy, NIH-funded projects involving fetal tissue from elective abortions are expected to cease immediately. However, researchers will still be able to use tissue obtained from miscarriages, a practice that is often considered less reliable due to potential genetic or chromosomal abnormalities.
The move has sparked mixed reactions in the scientific community, with some hailing it as a modernization of the agency's research priorities and others expressing concern about the implications for medical breakthroughs. According to the NIH, the number of agency-backed projects involving fetal tissue from abortions had declined significantly since 2019, from $60 million invested in 77 projects last year.
The decision reflects ongoing tensions between anti-abortion groups and researchers who rely on fetal tissue to advance our understanding of diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, and infertility. Fetal tissue has also played a crucial role in the development and production of vaccines for various illnesses.
While some have welcomed the move as an effort to reflect "the best science of today" and the values of the American people, others fear that it may hinder progress in medical research and limit access to life-saving treatments.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced that it will no longer fund research using human fetal tissue obtained from "elective" abortions. The decision marks a significant shift in the agency's stance on funding, following years of efforts by anti-abortion advocates to restrict such research.
Under the new policy, NIH-funded projects involving fetal tissue from elective abortions are expected to cease immediately. However, researchers will still be able to use tissue obtained from miscarriages, a practice that is often considered less reliable due to potential genetic or chromosomal abnormalities.
The move has sparked mixed reactions in the scientific community, with some hailing it as a modernization of the agency's research priorities and others expressing concern about the implications for medical breakthroughs. According to the NIH, the number of agency-backed projects involving fetal tissue from abortions had declined significantly since 2019, from $60 million invested in 77 projects last year.
The decision reflects ongoing tensions between anti-abortion groups and researchers who rely on fetal tissue to advance our understanding of diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, and infertility. Fetal tissue has also played a crucial role in the development and production of vaccines for various illnesses.
While some have welcomed the move as an effort to reflect "the best science of today" and the values of the American people, others fear that it may hinder progress in medical research and limit access to life-saving treatments.
. It's already super hard to get grants without a gazillion hoops to jump through... now we're taking away even more options? 
This is exactly why I think platforms like this are so frustrating - everyone gets all worked up about something, but nobody actually talks about the bigger picture 
. And honestly, who gets to decide what's "best science"? It feels like it's just a bunch of bureaucrats playing politics instead of actual scientists doing their thing 
. This is gonna hurt research, plain and simple...
... NIH just cut off funding for research using fetal tissue from abortions, but they're still good with using tissue from miscarriages? That doesn't add up, fam! What's really going on is that someone or a group is trying to control the narrative and limit access to medical advancements. I mean, think about it, if we can't study fetal tissue from abortions, how are we supposed to understand diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer's? It's like they're playing us like pawns in some twisted game... 
their Korean BBQ tacos were on point! I was thinking, what's next for humanity? Are we going to be running out of caviar and foie gras too because of some moral dilemma? Like, can't we just have a world where scientists can use fetal tissue without people getting all worked up about it? 
and on a completely unrelated note, has anyone tried that new coffee shop downtown? Their cold brew is giving me life 
️
... why do we always have to choose between saving lives or doing "research"? Like, can't we just find another way to study stuff without killing human babies? I mean, I get that it's been a long-standing debate and all, but come on, there's gotta be a better way to advance medical knowledge than using dead fetuses 
- Albert Einstein (the reason why they are changing this policy is because of new info that can help people with better treatment options, but we dont know yet)
, not to mention all the other diseases that affect ppl worldwide, like diabetes and alzheimers... what's next gonna axe funding for cancer research 
, i hope those scientists can figure out a way to still do their work without the NIH backing tho 
. But on the other hand, it's like we're gonna lose out on some super valuable research that could lead to major breakthroughs 
. What if those researchers just switch to using tissue from miscarriages? It might not be as reliable 
I hope we can find a way to make this policy work without hurting medical research too much 
.
like, isnt research into fetal tissue a way to actually find cures & treatments for these things? 