Minnesota Bill Requesting Audit of University of Minnesota’s Fetal Tissue Research Activities (HF 3130)

The review must include:

• The total number of research activities in which fetal tissue is currently or has been previously used;
• The itemized cost of acquiring fetal tissues for use in research activities,
• The extent to which the conduct of the research activities complies with applicable federal and state laws related to acquisition, sale, handling, and disposition of human tissues, including fetal tissues;
• The extent to which the conduct of the research activities complies with applicable Board of Regents policies and procedures related to acquisition, sale, handling, and disposition of human tissues, including fetal tissues; and
• Whether applicable Board of Regents policies include provisions to ensure fetal tissue is used in research activities only when necessary, and to ensure that the research activities are conducted in an ethical manner, including whether procedures and protocols for oversight have been implemented to verify compliance with these policies.

STATUS

Another bill being considered this session, HF 2865, would prohibit fetal tissue obtained from an abortion from being used in the research activities at the University of Minnesota.