NIH Policy on Research Involving Human Fetal Tissue
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
About this opportunity
NIH is updating its current policy on the use of human fetal tissue (herein referred to as HFT) in biomedical research. This Notice, effective on the date of its publication, supersedes Guide Notices NOT-OD-21-111 and NOT-OD-19-128. NIH has long maintained policies governing the responsible and limited use of human fetal tissue in biomedical research. However, NIH supported research using human fetal tissue has been in sharp decline since 2019, with only 77 projects supported in Fiscal Year 2024. Accordingly, NIH is prioritizing limited resources towards biomedical research models with more relevance to today’s rapidly evolving research ecosystem. Effective the date of this Notice, NIH funds will not be permitted for research using HFT from elective abortions. This Policy applies to the NI...