World Health Organisation Gives Posthumous Award To Henrietta Lacks
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One of the most important people to modern medicine and the source of the first “immortal” cell line that has been a vital part of medicine, pharmaceutical research and life science marketing ever since has been given a posthumous award in honour of her contribution to medical history.
The award was bestowed upon Henrietta Lacks, who unwittingly became one of the most important people in the modern history of medication when she sought treatment for cervical cancer in 1951.
Researchers, without her knowledge or consent and defying the Common Rule of informed consent, took biopsies from her, which led to the HeLa cell line, a cloned cell line that continues to be used to this day.
The number of breakthroughs Mrs Lacks enabled is almost too many to count, but includes breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatments for human papillomavirus (HPV), the development of a vaccine for polio, multiple drugs used to treat various cancers and HIV, and research into Covid-19.
The WHO Director-General’s Award attempts to right the historic wrongs that were caused to Mrs Lacks and her legacy, particularly the way the global scientific community attempted to hide the real story behind Mrs Lacks and the cell line.
The award was given to Lawrence Lacks Sr, Mrs Lacks’ son and one of the last people in her family to know her personally. Mr Lacks, 87, received the award surrounded by other family members, which included many of Mrs Lacks’ grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He said that the family was moved to receive the award, and are thankful that her contributions to society are finally being honoured given the impact she has had on the world in the 70 years since her death.