Trump administration ending fetal tissue research by government scientists

HHS announced yesterday that government scientists will no longer be able to conduct research using fetal tissue. The move is considered a win for anti-abortion activists, since fetal tissue is procured through elective abortions. At the same time, scientists over the years have defended its use, which has formed the basis for many medical discoveries, including vaccines against rabies, chickenpox, and measles, and treatments for diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and cystic fibrosis. External scientists who receive government funding can continue their research, but new grants or those grants that are up for renewal will be subject to an ethics board review. At the same time, the administration also announced that it will fund research into fetal tissue alternatives. For more on these alternatives and the fetal tissue debate, read here.