When is henrietta lacks day

This was the first recorded discovery of an immortal cell line. Gey had cell samples removed from Ms. He named the cell line, the HeLa cells, after the first and last initials of their subject.

The HeLa cells proved extremely valuable to the field of medical research. Tuskegee University created a facility where the HeLa cells were created en masse to meet the demand for them. The cells would continually be used for research into cancer, AIDS, the effects of radiation and toxic substances, gene mapping, and countless other scientific pursuits.

Medical suppliers contacted the Lacks family for blood samples but did not give a reason for their request. Curious and alarmed, the family looked further into the matter and discovered the phenomenal legacy Ms. Lacks had left behind. At the time, consent for cells to be taken for research purposes was not the norm nor required by law or medical ethics. Another major topic was the legal issue of commercialization and royalties.

This was the best medical treatment available at the time for this terrible disease. A sample of her cancer cells retrieved during a biopsy were sent to Dr. George Gey's nearby tissue lab. For years, Dr.

Gey, a prominent cancer and virus researcher, had been collecting cells from all patients - regardless of their race or socioeconomic status - who came to The Johns Hopkins Hospital with cervical cancer, but each sample quickly died in Dr.

What Dr. Gey would soon discover was that Mrs. Lacks' cells doubled every 20 to 24 hours. Today, these incredible cells— nicknamed "HeLa" cells, from the first two letters of her first and last names — are used to study the effects of toxins, drugs, hormones and viruses on the growth of cancer cells without experimenting on humans.

They have been used to test the effects of radiation and poisons, to study the human genome, to learn more about how viruses work, and played a crucial role in the development of the polio and COVID vaccines. Although Mrs. Community Calendar. About Us. Contact Us. NBC12 Jobs. Local Steals and Deals. Latest Newscasts.

Investigate TV. Gray DC Bureau. On this day: Henrietta Lacks, the immortal woman, was born. By NBC12 Newsroom. Updated: Aug. Share on Facebook.