Safe RESEARCH Act

To amend the Public Health Service Act to prohibit research with human fetal tissue obtained pursuant to an abortion, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Safe Responsible Ethical Scientific Endeavors Assuring Research for Compassionate Healthcare Act Safe RESEARCH Act 2. Prohibition on research with human fetal tissue obtained pursuant to an abortion (a) In general Section 498A of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 289g–1 (1) in the section heading, by striking Research on transplantation of fetal tissue Research with fetal tissue (2) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: (a) Establishment of program (1) In general The Secretary may conduct or support research with human fetal tissue, or research on modern, efficient alternatives to human fetal tissue such as organoids, induced pluripotent stem cells, and adult stem cells. The Secretary shall conduct or support any such research in accordance with this section. (2) Source of tissue Human fetal tissue may be used in research carried out under paragraph (1) only if the tissue is obtained pursuant to a stillbirth. ; (3) in subsection (b)(2)— (A) by striking subparagraph (A); and (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; (4) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking may have been obtained pursuant to a spontaneous or induced abortion or pursuant to a stillbirth has been obtained pursuant to a stillbirth (5) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) Human fetal tissue obtained for research In research carried out under subsection (a), human fetal tissue may be used only if such tissue was obtained in accordance with applicable State law regulating anatomical gifts. ; and (6) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows: (g) Definitions In this section: (1) Human fetal tissue The term human fetal tissue (2) Stillbirth The term stillbirth . (b) Technical amendment Paragraph (1) of section 498B(e) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 289g–2(e)(1) (1) The term human fetal tissue . (c) Revision of regulations Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall revise such regulations as necessary, including section 46.206 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, to incorporate the requirements of this section. (d) Repeal Section 113 of the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993 ( 42 U.S.C. 289g–1

Summary: Safe Responsible Ethical Scientific Endeavors Assuring Research for Compassionate Healthcare Act or the Safe RESEARCH Act This bill prohibits the use of tissue from an induced abortion in research conducted or supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Research with human fetal tissue or alternatives to human fetal tissue (e.g., stem cells) conducted or supported by the NIH must meet requirements currently applied only to research on the transplantation of human fetal tissue for therapeutic purposes, including requirements for the informed consent of the donor and researcher. Research conducted or supported by the NIH may use human fetal tissue only if the tissue was obtained in accordance with state law regulating anatomical gifts. Currently, executive branch officials may not prohibit the NIH from conducting or supporting research on the transplantation of human fetal tissue for therapeutic purposes. The bill repeals that limitation on executive branch officials. The bill repeals a requirement that the NIH fund certain proposals for research on the transplantation of human fetal tissue for therapeutic purposes.