Women’s History Month Part 11: Henrietta Lacks: She Did Not Choose to Change Medicine. Medicine Took That Choice From Her – Footnotes

  1. Embryo Project Encyclopedia. “Henrietta Lacks (1920–1951).” Arizona State University. Accessed March 17, 2026. https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/henrietta-lacks-1920-1951.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Henrietta Lacks: American Woman and Medical Legacy. Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. Accessed March 17, 2026. https://britannica.com/biography/Henrietta-Lacks.
  3. OncoDaily. “Henrietta Lacks and the Origin of HeLa Cells.” Accessed March 17, 2026. https://oncodaily.com.
  4. National Center for Biotechnology Information (PMC). “HeLa Cells and Their Impact on Biomedical Research.” U.S. National Library of Medicine. Accessed March 17, 2026. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3516052.
  5. Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR). “Henrietta Lacks Memorial Lecture and Community Engagement.” Accessed March 17, 2026. https://ictr.johnshopkins.edu/community-engagement/programs/henrietta-lacks-memorial-lecture.
  6. Stanford Blood Center. “The Complicated History of HeLa Cells.” Accessed March 17, 2026. https://stanfordbloodcenter.org/the-complicated-history-of-hela-cells.
  7. Association for Women in Science (AWIS). “Ethical Challenges in Medical Research: Henrietta Lacks and HeLa Cells.” Accessed March 17, 2026. https://awis.org/resource/ethical-challenges-medical-research-henrietta-lacks-hela-cell-line.
  8. NPR. “Henrietta Lacks’ Legacy and the Impact of HeLa Cells.” August 1, 2023. Accessed March 17, 2026. https://npr.org/2023/08/01/1191283359.
  9. STAT News. “The Ongoing Scientific and Ethical Impact of HeLa Cells.” Accessed March 17, 2026. https://statnews.com/2023/08/01.
  10. Food and Drug Law Institute (FDLI). “Lacks v. Thermo Fisher Scientific and the Future of Biotech Liability.” August 2023. Accessed March 17, 2026. https://fdli.org/2023/08/lacks-v-thermo-fisher-scientific-inc.
  11. CNN. “Henrietta Lacks Estate Reaches Settlement with Thermo Fisher Scientific.” August 1, 2023. Accessed March 17, 2026. https://cnn.com/2023/08/01.
  12. NBC News. “Settlement Reached in Henrietta Lacks Case.” August 2023. Accessed March 17, 2026. https://nbcnews.com.
  13. United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Testimony and Records on Biomedical Ethics and Equity. Accessed March 17, 2026.
  14. Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Henrietta Lacks: Acknowledgment and Institutional Statement.” Accessed March 17, 2026. https://hopkinsmedicine.org/henrietta-lacks.
  15. Morehouse School of Medicine. “HeLa Women’s Health Conference and Legacy Initiatives.” Accessed March 17, 2026.
  16. WTTW News. “Henrietta Lacks’ Legacy and Continued Recognition.” August 4, 2023. Accessed March 17, 2026. https://news.wttw.com/2023/08/04.