Henrietta Lacks, often called the ‘Mother of Modern Medicine,’ has left a legacy that transcends generations and continues to save millions of lives.
She was born in Roanoke on Aug. 1, 1920, to Eliza and Johnny Pleasant and moved to Clover, Virginia in Halifax County following her mother’s death. In 1951, Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and her cancerous cells were sampled during a biopsy and sent to Dr. George Gey’s Lab. She passed soon after in her fight against the disease, but while observing her cells, the doctor discovered something never seen before.
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Her cells, referred to as HeLa cells, reproduced at a much quicker rate than normal cells and were able to reproduce indefinitely, marking the first immortal human cells ever grown. Her cells fueled decades of medical breakthroughs and allowed us to develop vaccines for various viruses, including polio and COVID-19.
It’s important to note that Lacks’ cells were harvested without her family’s consent. In 2023, 70 years later, her descendants reached a settlement with a biotechnology company that they accused of reaping billions of dollars from a racist medical system. The terms are confidential.
Her legacy continues to thrive in the Star City and beyond. In 2023, Roanoke unveiled a 6-foot bronze statue in her honor in the Henrietta Lacks Plaza, right in the heart of downtown Roanoke. It was designed by local artist Bryce Cobbs and sculpted by Blacksburg-based sculptor Larry Bechtel.
“Henrietta Lacks’ contribution to medical research is simply immeasurable. Her cells paved the way for countless medical breakthroughs, saving millions of lives,” said Francis Collins, former director of the NIH.