Henrietta Lacks

Henrietta Lacks (August 1, 1920 – October 4, 1951) was an African American woman whose cervical cancer cells were taken without her knowledge or consent in 1951 and became instrumental to modern medicine. Her cells, known as HeLa cells, became the first immortal human cell line and have been used in countless medical breakthroughs, including the development of the polio vaccine, cancer research, and gene mapping. Despite the enormous scientific and financial benefit derived from her cells, Lacks and her family received no compensation or recognition during her lifetime. Her story exemplifies the historical exploitation of Black patients in medical research and sparked a broader conversation about medical ethics, patient rights, and informed consent. In 2013, the National Institutes of Health reached an agreement with the Lacks family to recognize her contributions. Henrietta Lacks's legacy transcends science; she became a symbol of patient advocacy and social justice, inspiring the 2010 book and subsequent HBO film 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' that brought her remarkable story to mainstream awareness.