In a win for anti-abortion groups, HHS terminated funding for National Institutes of Health research that uses fetal tissue, a move that scientists say will have major implications for patients.
The decision was made by President Donald Trump himself, a White House spokesperson told The Washington Post.
The decision immediately effects funding for research at UC San Francisco, which was using fetal tissue to find a cure for HIV, according to the Post. About 200 other projects currently using fetal tissue can continue until their contracts run out, according to a report from The New York Times. Any new proposals involving fetal tissue will need to be reviewed by an ethics advisory board.
Fetal tissue helps scientists develop drugs and vaccines, as well as find new treatments for cancer and other diseases like AIDS and Parkinson's, according to The New York Times. It is also used for research on birth defects, blindness and dementia. Much of this research cannot be conducted with an alternative, scientists said.
More articles on leadership and management:
Michigan health system launches 'amazing' brand
Payers & providers, watch out: Patients want a spot at the negotiating table
VA to roll out new private care options June 6