#nih-policy

#nih-policy

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) will continue to fund research on fetal tissue from miscarriages and stillbirths, according to an announcement made on 22 January. But researchers say the new restrictions, which were applauded by opponents of abortion, will make it more difficult to study fetal development and stem cell biology, and will slow the hunt for new medical treatments.

January 22, 2026 2 min read Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAm The National Institutes of Health's move to end support for research using fetal human tissue is clearly a political decision, not a scientific one, one expert says By Dan Vergano edited by Claire Cameron National Institutes of Health director Jay Bhattacharya speaks at the National Conservatism Conference in Washington, D.C., in 2025.