Morgan State University and the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum have joined forces to honor Henrietta Lacks with a commemorative wax figure. The unveiling ceremony will take place on March 15 at Morgan State University’s Behavioral and Social Sciences Center. This tribute celebrates Lacks’ enormous yet long-unrecognized contributions to medical research and scientific advancement worldwide.
The official unveiling is scheduled for 1 p.m., followed by educational programming about Lacks and her enduring legacy. After the ceremony, the wax figure will find its permanent home at the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, ensuring her story continues to educate and inspire future generations.
The Immortal HeLa Cells That Revolutionized Medical Research
Henrietta Lacks forever changed medicine in 1951 when doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore treated her for cervical cancer. During her treatment, doctors harvested her cells without her knowledge or consent. These cells, later named “HeLa cells,” became the first immortal human cell line.
Unlike other human cells that quickly die outside the body, HeLa cells can grow and divide indefinitely in laboratory conditions. This unique property made them invaluable for scientific research. HeLa cells have since enabled countless medical breakthroughs and advancements in biotechnology, becoming foundation material for research worldwide.
From Turner Station Resident to Scientific Pioneer
Lacks was a resident of Turner Station, Maryland, when she died from aggressive cervical cancer at just 31 years old. Her cells lived on long after her death, though her identity remained unknown to the scientific community for decades.
The Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group (HLLG) has worked tirelessly to ensure her contributions receive proper recognition. “The Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group is dedicated to extending the legacy of Mrs. Lacks and that of historic Turner Station where she lived at the time of her death,” the organization stated in a press release. Their fundraising efforts made the creation of this wax figure possible.
Community Fundraising Brings Recognition to Hidden Figure
The wax figure creation represents a grassroots effort to honor Lacks properly. “With the help of the public, HLLG raised the funds necessary to create a wax figure of Mrs. Lacks that will be housed in the National Great Wax in Blacks Museum,” the Legacy Group explained.
This achievement marks an important step in acknowledging Lacks’ involuntary yet monumental contribution to science. “We are proud of the accomplishment and the enduring legacy that will be on full display in the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum,” the HLLG added, highlighting the significance of this permanent memorial.
HeLa Cells: The Foundation of Modern Biotechnology
The significance of HeLa cells in modern medicine cannot be overstated. These resilient cells have contributed to numerous scientific breakthroughs. They’ve been instrumental in developing vaccines, cancer treatments, and understanding the effects of radiation.
HeLa cells have traveled to space, been exposed to nuclear testing, and helped researchers develop in-vitro fertilization techniques. Scientists have grown roughly 50 million metric tons of her cells. Over 11,000 patents involve HeLa cells, showing their continued importance in medical innovation around the world.
Addressing Medical Ethics and Historical Injustice
The story of Henrietta Lacks raises important questions about medical ethics and informed consent. Doctors took her cells without permission, a practice that was common but problematic, especially when involving marginalized communities.
For decades, Lacks received no recognition while pharmaceutical companies profited from research using her cells. The wax figure represents one step toward acknowledging this historical injustice. It serves as a reminder of both scientific progress and the importance of ethical standards in medical research today.