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NIH ends support for most human fetal-tissue research – dismaying some scientists

The US biomedical funding agency also hints at future restrictions on research involving human embryonic stem cells.
By
  1. Heidi Ledford

    1. Heidi Ledford reports for Nature from Seattle, Washington.

  2. Edward Chen

The world’s largest public funder of biomedical research will no longer support studies that use human fetal tissue derived from elective abortions.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-00251-2

Updates & Corrections

  • Update 26 January 2026: This story has been updated with a response from the NIH and new information about the scope of the ban on federally funded fetal-tissue research. This story has also been updated wtih additional information about the the utility of fetal tissue from non-elective abortions.

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