Proposed Bill Would Ban Federal Funding for Research Using Fetal Tissue from Induced Abortions

A new bill, titled the "Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act of 2025," aims to fundamentally change how federally backed medical research utilizes human fetal tissue. The core action is straightforward: Section 2 prohibits any federal department or agency – think NIH, CDC – from conducting, funding, or even approving research that uses fetal tissue obtained after an induced abortion. This marks a significant shift in federal policy regarding this specific type of research material.

Red Light for Certain Fetal Tissue Research

The bill draws a clear line: federal resources cannot support studies involving human fetal tissue if that tissue came from an induced abortion. This prohibition covers the entire lifecycle of federal involvement, from direct research conducted by government agencies to grants awarded to universities and private labs. The goal stated implicitly through its actions is to halt federal involvement with this specific source of fetal tissue.

Green Light for Some: Miscarriage & Stillbirth Tissue Research

While shutting the door on tissue from induced abortions, Section 2 explicitly keeps it open for research using fetal tissue obtained following a miscarriage (defined as the involuntary death of an unborn child under 20 weeks gestation) or a stillbirth (involuntary death at 20 weeks or more). The bill amends the Public Health Service Act to permit the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct or support research using tissue from these sources, provided certain conditions for donation are met. It also allows federal agencies to support the development of new cell lines, like those for vaccine production, as long as they aren't derived from fetal tissue obtained via induced abortion.

Cutting Off the Supply Chain & Rewriting the Rules

Beyond just funding, Section 3 tackles the acquisition pipeline. It prohibits anyone from soliciting or knowingly acquiring, receiving, or accepting a donation of human fetal tissue if they know it was obtained through an induced abortion. This aims to prevent the transfer of such tissue for research purposes, even if federal funds aren't directly involved in that specific transfer. Additionally, the bill repeals Section 113 of the 1993 NIH Revitalization Act, removing a prior framework that governed federal funding for fetal tissue research, signaling a move towards a more restrictive approach.

What This Means for Labs and Lifesaving Discoveries

The practical impact hits researchers and institutions currently using fetal tissue from induced abortions, often utilized in studies targeting conditions like Parkinson's disease, HIV, or developmental disorders. These labs would face a cutoff of federal support and potentially need to pivot their research models, perhaps focusing solely on tissue from miscarriages/stillbirths or investing more heavily in alternative methods like induced pluripotent stem cells or organoids. While the bill permits research on tissue from miscarriages and stillbirths, the availability and suitability of this tissue might differ, potentially slowing progress in fields reliant on the specific properties of fetal tissue currently sourced from induced abortions. This shift could affect the pace of developing certain therapies and vaccines, impacting patients awaiting breakthroughs.