Human Embryo Research and Cloning Prohibitions

• NIH funds may not be used for (1) the creation of a human embryo or embryos for research purposes; or (2) for research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death greater than that allowed for research on fetuses in utero under 45 CFR 46.204(b) and subsection 498(b) of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 289g(b)). The term “human embryo or embryos” includes any organism not protected as a human subject under 45 CFR 46, as of the date of enactment of the governing appropriations act, that is derived by fertilization, parthenogenesis, cloning, or any other means from one or more human gametes or human diploid cells.
• Furthermore, per the NIH Director’s Statement of April 28, 2015, NIH will not fund any use of gene-editing technologies in human embryos.
• By Presidential memorandum of March 4, 1997, NIH is prohibited from using Federal funds for cloning of human beings.
• General policy information may be found on the NIH Office of Science Policy (OSP) - Stem Cell and Developmental Biology Policy page.
• Questions from intramural investigators can be sent to Dr. Kathy Partin (kathryn.partin@nih.gov).
• Please also contact Dr. Partin if you are an intramural investigator considering conducting the following research:
  • Research creating or using human stem cells that may have the ability to develop into all embryonic and extra-embryonic cell types.
  • Research creating or using models of human embryos, sometimes referred to as “human embryoids” or “human gastruloids.”