Henrietta Lacks

Henrietta Lacks was an African American woman whose cancer cells were taken without her consent in 1951, leading to the development of the HeLa cell line, the first immortal human cell line, which has been pivotal in medical research and advancements, including the development of vaccines and cancer treatments. Despite her cells being used extensively in research, Lacks and her family received no compensation for decades, prompting a long struggle for justice and recognition for her contributions to science.