Honoring the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

In celebration of Black History Month, we're sharing the extraordinary story of Henrietta Lacks, a 31 year-old wife and mother of five children. Though she died of cervical cancer in 1951, Henrietta held the key to unlocking tens of thousands of medical and scientific advancements. 

Unbeknowst to Henrietta and her family at the time, cells from her tumor were cultured, and it was discovered that the cells reproduced quickly and thrived outside of her body - a breakthrough that would change modern medicine.

In the decades since her death, Henrietta's 'immortal' cell line, referred to as HeLa, continues to be a vital tool and biomedical research. Researchers from 142 countries have authored more than 110,000 research publications and active 11,000 patents involving HeLa cells. Additionally, HeLa cells have been used in three - yes, THREE - Nobel Prize-winning discoveries. As inspiring as Henrietta's story seems, it has also raised questions about informed consent and medical racism.

This week, we're honored to bring you the story of the Mother of Modern Medicine, Henrietta Lacks.

Interested in learning more about Henrietta Lacks?

Watch "Henrietta Lacks: Preserving Her Legacy," a TED Talk by Henrietta's grandchildren, David Lacks Jr. and Veronica Robinson.Read the New York Times Best-Seller "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," by Rebecca SklootWatch "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," a film starring and produced by Oprah Winfrey on HBO Max

Stay Risky. Stay Bitchy.