Richards said the reimbursements themselves were just to cover the cost of transporting the materials and making sure labs had everything needed in terms of the procedure. And she defended the research, which scientists at Johns Hopkins University and the National Institute for Health engage in. “Look, fetal-tissue research led to the polio vaccine. It’s now being used in research on Parkinson’s, on Alzheimer’s, on almost every major disease that we’re dealing with in America.”