Unfortunately, the Harvard Stem Cell Institute embryo donation program is closed until further notice.
 
As you may know, our embryo donation program was temporarily suspended in July in response to the release of the newest NIH Guidelines on Human Stem Cell Research. Our protocol has now been revised to be compliant with these new Guidelines. However, we are still not able to accept new embryo donations due to staff vacancies. Though the Obama administration has made possible broader funding for work with existing stem cell lines, the federal government is still prohibited by the Dickey-Wicker Amendment from funding any research that involves the destruction of human embryos, including the derivation of new stem cell lines. Although we are actively pursuing private funding to support the embryo donation program, we do not have sufficient dedicated funding at this time.
 
We will continue to transport embryos for donors who have completed the consent process with us and have all of the required paperwork on file. If you would like to check on the status of a particular donation, please call the stem cell donation line at: 617-496-3345. Unfortunately, if you do not already have signed consent forms on file with us, we will not be able to accept your embryos.

The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) is currently accepting embryo donations. For more information, please email hsr@nyscf.org.