Use of Human Fetal Tissue in research

All use of human fetal tissue at UCI or UCSB will require hSCRO review. 

Per CIRM regulations:

    • [100020] – Definitions
    • [100085] – Use of Fetal Tissue - Review the linked document for detailed guidance on required documentation including:
      • Statement signed by donor (can be in the form of a sample Informed Consent document)
      • Statement signed by attending physician (can be in the form of a sample Informed Consent document)
      • Statement related to use of Human Fetal Tissue signed by Principal Investigator( PI Statement related to use of Fetal Tissue )
    • For CIRM funded research, CIRM Regulations for fetal tissue research apply regardless of whether the research involves transplantation or is purely in vitro.
    • Fetal tissue shall be procured in accordance with 17 Cal. Code Regs. section 100080, subdivision (a)(2).

 

NIH funded fetal tissue research:

NIH updated its policy on the use of human fetal tissue (herein referred to as HFT) in biomedical research.

Applicability:

Effective January 22, 2026, NIH funds will not be permitted for research using HFT from elective abortions. This Policy applies to the NIH Intramural Research Program and all extramural research including competitive applications for grants and cooperative agreements, other transaction awards, and R&D contract proposals submitted to solicitations issued after the effective date of this Notice.

For currently funded research projects, organizations may re-budget released funds to support research under the same project that is not unallowable under this Policy. This Notice supersedes the previous HFT research requirements outlined in NOT-OD-19-128 and NOT-OD-21-111.

NIH funds are permitted for use of research involving HFT obtained from miscarriage or stillbirth, which remain subject to requirements outlined in NOT-OD-15-143 and NOT-OD-16-033.