Contact: J.P. Duffy or Macie Malone, 866-FRC-NEWS, 866-372-6397

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- In a recent interview with Science Magazine, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins said that fetal tissue research "will continue to be a mainstay" and claimed those who are pro-life can support funding research involving tissue from aborted babies.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement:

"Dr. Francis Collins seems to have forgotten that he no longer works for President Obama and is now working for a pro-life president. His advocacy for using aborted baby parts in research is more reflective of the previous administration rather than the Trump administration, which has consistently advanced the sanctity of human life.

"Taxpayers expect their tax dollars to go to ethical and effective science. The fact is aborted baby parts haven't been used to treat any person of a single disease. However, tax dollars are contributing to an industry that fosters the trafficking of body parts from aborted children. We must instead pursue the alternatives, and testimony before Congress in the House Government Reform hearing last week demonstrated the availability of noncontroversial approaches. We applaud Secretary Azar for holding roundtable discussions with stakeholders and then announcing HHS is issuing new grants to pursue these ethical alternatives.

"Being pro-life means supporting the lives of both the born and unborn – not sacrificing one to potentially save the other. Collins has espoused a utilitarian stance that does not reflect the president or HHS's pro-life and pro-science views. Despite Dr. Collins' preemptive statements, apparently designed to influence HHS' review of fetal tissue research contracts, we anticipate HHS will continue to review and adopt policies that are consistent with the pro-life principles of the Trump administration," concluded Perkins.