There is a vocal minority in the United States who is intent on stopping federal funding for research using human fetal tissue, citing stem cell–based or other alternatives as adequate. In an editorial in Science on 18th January 2019, it was pointed out that life-saving advances, including the development of vaccines against rubella, rabies, and hepatitis A viruses, and antiviral drugs that prevent HIV/AIDS, required fetal tissue research. Today, fetal tissue is being used to develop new medicines including vaccines for HIV/AIDS, preventives for Zika virus, and immunotherapies to battle untreatable cancers.
"Although research into alternatives is worthwhile, there are several aspects of fetal tissue research for which alternatives do not and will not exist."
DOI: 10.1126/science.aaw6299
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