It's the Firefly's Recorder in the University artifact, and then somewhat reaffirmed with the Surgeon's Recorder as an artifact. It bluntly states that they've not had any new breakthroughs in years, and that they've had previous test cases before.
It does however note she seems unique compared to those cases due to a few unique immune response compared to other subjects. So technically, there is a figleaf of legitimacy on Cuckman's idiocy; she does have the keys to immunity somehow and they have some level of moral standing.
The problem is that they come off as retarded regardless, since they're actively cutting open the golden goose and their prior track record is garbage. They also have no guarantees that her dissection will do shit all too. Add the conditions of the hospital, the flight of expertise via death and disillusionment and I just don't buy the take they're in the right.
Especially given how hard Cuckman is trying to force it, especially since you can't actively let her FUCKING DIE in even the remake.