BRIEF—HHS limits use of fetal tissue from elective abortions

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has ended the permitted use of human fetal tissue from elective abortion in agency-funded research, applying the policy across all grants, contracts, and programs it oversees.

The directive, issued by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, said the change reflects ethical concerns and a shift toward alternative research methods. The policy applies uniformly across HHS and replaces earlier guidance.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), which distributes most federal biomedical research funding, will implement the ban across both its intramural programs and all extramural research awards.