Henrietta Lacks

The woman whose cells changed medicine forever.

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.

Discover the story of the woman behind modern medicine, and the scientific legacy that continues to save millions of lives today.