The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Inspector General has initiated an inquiry into the University of Pittsburgh following allegations that the university illegally harvested fetal tissue from abortions for research purposes. These claims surfaced in recently disclosed emails, obtained through a public records request by Judicial Watch and the Center for Medical Progress (CMP).
The CMP, known for its 2015 release of videos showing Planned Parenthood officials discussing the procurement of fetal body parts, has been a vocal critic of the university’s practices. CMP President David Daleiden, in a statement to The Daily Wire, referred to the University of Pittsburgh as a site of “barbaric, government-funded experiments” on the remains of late-term aborted fetuses. The university’s controversial research reportedly included transplanting fetal scalps onto rodents and distributing fetal kidneys for scientific study.
Senior Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Rob Rutenba, confirmed the federal investigation in an email exchange with NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research Dr. Michael Lauer. In the email, dated November 2021, Rutenba acknowledged receipt of a subpoena from the HHS Office of Inspector General, requesting documents related to the university’s fetal tissue projects.
The exact status and findings of the HHS Office of Inspector General’s investigation remain undisclosed. Daleiden expressed uncertainty about whether the investigation has been escalated to the FBI or the Department of Justice and criticized the university’s handling of the situation.
The HHS Office of Inspector General, equipped with the authority to make arrests and conduct searches, has not publicly acknowledged the investigation, stating they can “neither confirm nor deny” any ongoing probes.
Central to the controversy is the University of Pittsburgh’s GenitoUrinary Development Molecular Anatomy Project (GUDMAP), alleged to have been active from 2016-2021. This program, as described by Daleiden, was an NIH-funded initiative for collecting and distributing late-term aborted fetal organs for research purposes nationwide.
In response to these allegations, the University of Pittsburgh commissioned an external law firm to review its fetal tissue research program. The subsequent report concluded that the university complied with state and federal laws, a claim the university stands by, emphasizing the importance of fetal tissue research in advancing medical science.
Republican lawmakers, however, remain unconvinced and have called for a thorough audit of the university’s practices by the HHS inspector general. Daleiden believes the investigation signifies a persistent issue within the abortion industry regarding the handling of fetal remains.
The University of Pittsburgh has yet to respond to requests for comment on these developments.