More restrictions on human fetal tissue research.

[Michael Oberdorfer]

The administration has imposed an additional set of requirements on federally funded research using human fetal tissue, including "humanized mice,'" animal models that contain human fetal tissue.  The Washington Post reports that a new ethics advisory board must review all these applications pending funding. However, this panel has not been established and doesn't look like it will be convened any time soon.

The original restrictions on human fetal tissue research were published last June and, the Post reports, have already had a chilling effect on the field.  Will this important area of research survive these restrictions?