Federal officials had not publicly disclosed the Trump administration’s recent shutdown of HIV research involving fetal tissue, which was being conducted by the National Institutes of Health. An NIH spokeswoman said that when HHS began its review of fetal tissue in September, the NIH put in place a “pause” in the procurement of that kind of tissue. The officials said that no decision would be made until HHS completes the audit of the government’s fetal tissue funding. The reconsideration is focused on examining whether adequate alternatives exist — as fetal tissue opponents contend and researchers dispute. Humanized mice are created by implanting fetal thymus tissue that can develop a humanlike immune system and be infected with HIV.

Source: Washington Post December 09, 2018 23:22 UTC