NIH Ends Funding for Human Fetal Tissue Research

Move could impact studies on diseases like HIV, Ebola, and Parkinson's

Jan. 29, 2026 at 7:07pm

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The Trump administration has announced a ban on the use of human fetal tissue from some abortions in federally funded medical research. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) said the policy would go into effect immediately, but scientists warn the ban could prevent groundbreaking discoveries and stop the development of life-saving therapies.

Why it matters

Human fetal tissue has been crucial for studying serious diseases and disorders, including AIDS, cancer, Parkinson's, and Ebola. Cell lines created from fetal tissue have led to the development of vaccines for diseases like rubella, rabies, and hepatitis A. The research has also contributed to drugs for treating HIV, hemophilia, and sepsis. Ending NIH funding could significantly impact this important area of medical research.

The details

The Trump administration first instituted a ban on all human fetal tissue research at NIH in 2019, but it was reversed by the Biden administration in 2021. The current ban stops NIH funds from supporting grants, agreements, and contracts related to this research. Some groups praised the move, but scientists say it will affect ongoing and future work, as the NIH was the largest funder of this type of research. Finding alternative funding sources will be a challenge, as private donations cannot make up for the loss of federal support.

  • The Trump administration announced the ban on human fetal tissue research in 2019.
  • The Biden administration reversed the ban in 2021.
  • The current ban on NIH funding for this research went into effect immediately in 2026.

The players

Jayanta Bhattacharya

Director of the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Lawrence Goldstein

A professor emeritus of cellular and molecular medicine at the University of California, San Diego, who says the ban is a "moral decision that places the rights of fetal tissue that would be discarded above the rights of sick people who will benefit from that research."

Anita Bhattacharyya

An associate professor of cell and regenerative biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who says the loss of NIH funding will affect her research on Down syndrome and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Joseph Varon

President and chief medical officer of the Independent Medical Alliance, a group that praised the Trump administration's new policy, saying "there is no ethical justification for performing experiments on tissue derived from aborted human beings."

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What they’re saying

“It's not a scientific decision. It's a moral decision that places the rights of fetal tissue that would be discarded above the rights of sick people who will benefit from that research.”

— Lawrence Goldstein, Professor Emeritus (ABC News)

“My reaction was, 'How are we going to do some of our research if we can no longer use human fetal tissue?' In particular, my lab studies Down syndrome and so we know that in Down syndrome, the brain develops differently to lead to the intellectual disability that people with Down syndrome have.”

— Anita Bhattacharyya, Associate Professor (ABC News)

“There is no ethical justification for performing experiments on tissue derived from aborted human beings. The fact this practice continued for years within federally funded research institutions shows just how far removed parts of HHS had become from foundational medical ethics. This correction is long overdue.”

— Joseph Varon, President and Chief Medical Officer (Independent Medical Alliance)

What’s next

The researcher with knowledge of the matter said that finding alternative funding sources will be a challenge, as private donations cannot make up for the loss of federal support from the NIH, which was the largest funder of this type of research.

The takeaway

The ban on NIH funding for human fetal tissue research could have significant impacts on important medical studies and the development of life-saving therapies, as this tissue has been crucial for understanding and treating diseases like HIV, Ebola, and Parkinson's. The decision has been criticized as a moral one that prioritizes the rights of fetal tissue over the potential benefits to patients, raising concerns about the future of this critical area of medical research.