Henrietta Lacks

A black woman whose cancer cells originated the Hela cell line,

Henrietta Lacks’ first immortalized cells became among the most important parts of medical research history. Her cells were taken from her without permission when she was treated for cervical cancer in 1951, and she and her family were not compensated for their use. She always wore red nail polish, was nicknamed Hennie, and she had four children. The use of her cells highlights injustices in medical research, commercial research, privacy, and patients’ rights, especially for BIPOC patients. Over the past several decades, this cell line has contributed to many medical breakthroughs, from research on the effects of zero gravity in outer space and the development of polio and COVID-19 vaccines, to the study of leukemia, the AIDS virus and cancer worldwide.

You can visit the foundation created in her honor, The Henrietta Lack Foundation, by heading to http://henriettalacksfoundation.org/

You can also order a copy of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks at the link below.