Lawrence Lacks

Lawrence Lacks was the son of Henrietta Lacks, whose cancer cells were taken without her permission in 1951, leading to the creation of the HeLa cell line. These cells became vital for medical research, helping develop vaccines, cancer treatments, and understanding human biology. Despite their significance, Henrietta's family was initially unaware of the use of her cells and did not benefit from their scientific value. Lawrence Lacks played a role in preserving his family’s story and advocating for ethical research and recognition of Henrietta’s contributions.