FAUCI DIARY ARCHIVE — Wednesday, December 12, 2001
https://faucisdiary.com/diary/2001-12-12

Text below is verbatim from the released PDFs, with the original line breaks.
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DIARY ENTRY — Wednesday, December 12, 2001
Source: Diary Prequel, p. 40 of 2026.07.27_Diary-Prequel-.pdf
Words: 290
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Met with Sen. Brownback and his aide Rob Wassinger. Brownback was
concerned about statements that I made 13 years ago! Concerning the then new SCID
mouse that could be reconstituted with fetal tissue to regenerate a human immune system
in a mouse. I stated at an ACT-UP meeting in NYC that this was a promising area of
research and that it would require the use of fetal tissue. At the time there was the
beginning of a moratorium by President Reagan and later Bush on the use of fetal tissue
for transplantation into humans. I apparently (reported in the press) urged the ACT-UP
people to make their concerns known so that this could be taken into consideration by the
administration and lawmakers. Brownback and Wassinger said that several “right-to-
lifers” had called them very concerned that I was being considered for NIH Director
when I had been a vocal advocate for the use of fetal tissue.
         I had a lengthy (1 ½ hour) discussion with Sen. Brownback about embryonic stem
cells, fetal tissue, etc. I believe that the conversation went as well as could be expected.
He was very cordial, but concerned about “how I would advise the President if I were
NIH Director”. I told him that I do not advise the President on Ethical or Moral issues
since I trust that the President has his own strong moral compass. I mentioned that I am a
scientists and that I merely give him accurate scientific facts and he can make up his own
mind within the framework of his own values. I think that Brownback respected that
answer. We left with his still being concerned about me, but I do not think that he will
try to block me.