NIH Reveals Plan to Fund Human-Animal Chimeras

The public gets to weigh in before the US government lifts its ban on such research.

kerry grens
| 2 min read

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FLICKR, ENGINEERING AT CAMBRIDGEThe US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has outlined a proposal to lift a ban on funding human-animal chimera research—with conditions. “The policy proposes prohibiting the introduction of certain types of human cells into embryos of nonhuman primates, such as monkeys and chimps, at even earlier stages of development than what was currently prohibited,” NPR’s Shots reported today (August 4). Additionally, a committee would review certain experiments that involved, say, human brain tissue.

Last September, NIH placed a moratorium on research that incorporated human pluripotent stem cells into early-stage animal embryos. Earlier rules from the agency don’t allow for human stem cells to contribute to the germ line of animals.

According to a blog post from Carrie Wolinetz, the associate director for science policy at the NIH, a steering committee would decide whether to fund research in two areas: human stem cells incorporated into nonhuman embryos at particular stages of development, and human cells that contribute to animal brain function.

“NIH is seeking public comment on the proposed scope of the chimera research to be considered by the NIH steering committee,” Wolinetz wrote. She added that the agency is also looking to strengthen its ban on breeding animals ...

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  • kerry grens

    Kerry Grens

    Kerry served as The Scientist’s news director until 2021. Before joining The Scientist in 2013, she was a stringer for Reuters Health, the senior health and science reporter at WHYY in Philadelphia, and the health and science reporter at New Hampshire Public Radio. Kerry got her start in journalism as a AAAS Mass Media fellow at KUNC in Colorado. She has a master’s in biological sciences from Stanford University and a biology degree from Loyola University Chicago.

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