Henrietta Lacks, the Mother of Modern Medicine, changed the world with the gift of her immortal HeLa cells. From gene mapping, in vitro fertilization, the polio vaccine, and cancer treatments to space travel, Henrietta’s cells are responsible for some of the greatest scientific advancements of our time.
The HeLa100 Symposium marked what would have been Henrietta’s 100th birthday on 1 August 2020, bringing the Lacks family together over three days to celebrate her contributions. Helen Wilson Roe, whose portraits and sculpture have done so much to bring Henrietta’s story to public attention, was invited as a featured speaker.
