HENRIETTA LACKS

In 1951, Henrietta Lacks, a young Black mother from
Virginia, went to hospital with cervical cancer. During
her treatment, doctors removed a small sample of her
tumour without her knowledge. Those cells became the
first human cells ever successfully grown outside the
body. Named HeLa cells, they multiplied endlessly in
laboratories and quickly became one of the most
important tools in medical research. Scientists used
them to develop the polio vaccine, study viruses, test
new medicines and unlock vital discoveries about how
human cells work.
This illustrated biography introduces young readers to
the extraordinary story behind one of medicine’s most
important breakthroughs. It explores Henrietta’s life,
explains the science of cells and shows how HeLa cells
transformed medical research around the world