Fetal Tissue Research

Research using fetal tissue has been used to develop vaccines for polio, rubella, mumps and measles. Grants administered through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have funded potentially lifesaving research using fetal tissue to try and cure diseases like HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s and Zika. But Trump’s HHS — under pressure from anti-abortion groups — cancelled a contract for fetal tissue research in September 2018 and opened an audit of all federally funded fetal tissue research. At least one government-run study of the sort was quietly shut down prior to health officials’ final decision on the audit — halting active research on AIDS in the process.