Former PA judge, Pitt alum calls for investigation into university's fetal tissue research

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A former judge on the Pennyslvania Superior Court is calling for an investigation into her alma mater's fetal tissue practices, saying she felt "horror" at recent reports.

"I join with so many Pennsylvanians in a collective response of horror to these recent reports," said Cheryl Lynn Allen, who currently works at the Pennsylvania Family Institute. 

"As an alumnus of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, I am extremely troubled and call for an urgent investigation into what appears to be illegal, inhumane and taxpayer-funded practices at this public university." 

Besides Allen, state Rep. Kathy Rapp and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sean Parnell are also calling for investigation. 

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Allen's comments came after multiple outlets reported on documents showing Pitt's intentions for a federally-funded research project. Pitt told the National Institutes of Health (NIH) it sought to "develop a pipeline to the acquisition, quality control and distribution of human genitourinary [urinary and genital organs and functions] samples obtained throughout development (6-42 weeks gestation)." According to NIH, 40 weeks is considered full term while after 42 weeks is considered "post-term" or "overdue."

Fetal tissue research has been a controversial subject for Pitt as it recently attracted scrutiny over an experiment that involved grafting fetal scalps onto rodents. 

On Wednesday, Fox News reported on the opinion of several physicians that Pitt could be collecting organs from live fetuses – something the school has vehemently denied. 

"These allegations are irresponsible and false. The University of Pittsburgh does not perform abortions. The University has a long history of providing vital, life-saving research, using techniques that are common at universities and medical institutions throughout the world," said David Seldin, who serves as assistant vice chancellor for news.

"Fetal tissue research is tightly regulated, ethically and legally, at the state and federal level—as it should be," he said. "The University of Pittsburgh complies with all laws—and requires its partners do the same."

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Seldin added: "As we have repeatedly noted, the University of Pittsburgh does not perform medical procedures and is not part of the tissue collection process."

Still, many have raised questions about the university's ties to its medical center, which it says is a separate entity but also contains labs for the university's tissue bank.

It's unclear how authorities will proceed. Rapp is requesting the state's auditor general probe the university's activities, as it receives state funds.

"While I recognize the limitation of the Auditor General's duties to investigate the potential criminal violations, I respectfully request that your office engage in a thorough investigation of all state and federal funds which have been obtained by the University," said Rapp in a letter to Auditor General Timothy DeFoor.

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"These funds should be reviewed to determine if they were used to support the education of Pennsylvania residents as is required in the funding legislation passed each legislative term that provides them their non-preferred allocation."

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro notably tweeted "abortion is health care" as news reports surfaced last week. His office and Gov. Tom Wolf's did not immediately respond to Fox News' requests for comment. The district attorney's office referred Fox News to Shapiro's office and U.S. Attorney Stephen Kaufman's office, which declined to comment. 

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Mike Manko, a spokesperson at the DA's office, said he "was not aware of any communication with either University of Pittsburgh Police or City of Pittsburgh Police by individuals claiming that crimes have been committed."