The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a new policy ending the use of human fetal tissue derived from abortions in NIH-supported research.
Policy Change:
Effective January 22, 2026, according to the new policy in NOT-OD-26-028:
- NIH funds will not be permitted for research using human fetal tissue (HFT) obtained from elective abortions. This applies to NIH intramural research and all extramural research, including new competitive grants, cooperative agreements, other transactional awards, and proposals submitted after the effective date of the notice.
- Research involving HFT obtained from miscarriage or stillbirth remains allowable and governed by existing requirements outlined in NOT-OD-15-143 and NOT-OD-16-033.
- Currently funded projects that include now-disallowed activities may rebudget funds to support allowable work within the existing scope.
Context and NIH Rationale:
The NIH Director’s statement accompanying the policy outlines the considerations informing this update:
NIH funding for projects involving fetal tissue has decreased substantially over recent years, with only 77 such projects supported in Fiscal Year 2024.
NIH leadership has articulated a strategic emphasis on directing limited resources toward emerging alternative research models and validated technologies. These include human organoid systems, tissue chips, and computational modeling, among others.
According to NIH, investing in validated non-HFT platforms is expected to accelerate innovation and enhance scientific rigor while meeting the agency’s stewardship responsibilities for public funds.
This NYT article also provides background and context for this.