Human Embryo and Fetal Research: Medical Support and Political Controversy

promise of research involving human embryos and fetuses for the advancement of basic science as well as for the development of lifesaving vaccines and therapies. Such research continues to this day as scientists seek new treatments for a variety of diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, heart disease and kidney failure. But government funding for human embryo and fetal research is another matter altogether, one that as a political issue is inextricably linked to the controversy over abortion. This political linkage has resulted in a confusing patchwork of federal policies that ban federal support for some types of research but endorses it for others (see table).