2024 Henrietta Lacks Memorial Lecture | Saturday, October 5 at 9:00 am
View the 2024 Henrietta Lacks Memorial Lecture
Saturday, October 5 marked the 14th anniversary of the annual Henrietta Lacks Memorial Lecture, an event dedicated to honoring the life and legacy of Mrs. Henrietta Lacks and her profound contributions to medicine and science.
Henrietta Lacks, an African-American woman from the Turner’s Station community, sought treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1951. During her care, a sample of her cells was taken—without her knowledge—which later became the first human cells to reproduce outside the body in a laboratory setting. Known today as HeLa cells, they revolutionized biomedical research, enabling breakthroughs in understanding and treating numerous diseases.
This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Eliseo Pérez-Stable, Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Pérez-Stable emphasized that race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status are fundamental drivers in the science of health equity. Under his leadership, NIMHD continues to advance research aimed at improving minority health and eliminating health disparities.
The event also recognized outstanding community engagement through the presentation of the Urban Health Institute’s Henrietta Lacks Memorial Award. This year’s awardees were New Song Community Learning Center and Johns Hopkins SOURCE. Additionally, Katia Arias Valle was honored as the recipient of the Henrietta Lacks Dunbar Health Sciences Scholarship.
Thank you, Henrietta!
Images by Howard Korn
The goal of the Henrietta Lacks Memorial Lecture is to describe the reach and complexity, both biomedically and ethically, of the story of Mrs. Henrietta Lacks and HeLa cells, as well as to provide some insight into the past, present, and future of the conduct of clinical research. By honoring Mrs. Lacks and the positive global impact of HeLa cells through this lecture series, the Johns Hopkins ICTR hopes to acknowledge, thank and honor everyone who participates in the clinical research process.
