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At Johns Hopkins Hospital, Henrietta Lacks' tumor cells were taken during her cervical cancer treatment. These cells became known as "HeLa" cells. Representing the first two letters of her first and last name. -
HeLa cells become recognized for growing an abundance of poliovirus, which causes the polio disease. Scientists were able to better understand how the polio virus infected the cells. -
HeLa cells contributed to discovering how radiation affected cells. It was determined that x-rays may have negative effects on human cell growth. -
Studies were done to figure out how radiation and travel to space would impact astronauts and their human cells. HeLa cells went on capsules as people explored the outer space. -
Hydroxyurea is a drug fighting against blood cancers, to slow the rate at which cancer cells grow. HeLa cells helped scientists determine potential benefits of treatment. -
HeLa cells enabled scientists to quickly test exactly how salmonella spreads throughout the body. If scientists know how the body is infected, there will be greater plans for treating the disease. -
HeLa cells allowed scientists to understand how HPV, or the Human Papilloma Virus, can lead to different cervical cancer types. -
HeLa cells were found to be not easily infected by HIV, also known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Researchers could use this information to understand how HIV infects the body. Led to development of limiting infection from spreading. -
HeLa cells were used to see how Tuberculosis caused people to become sick. The development of treatments and vaccines wouldn't be made possible without discovering how the disease works. -
It is discovered that Ebola and HIV enter the cells and cause disease in similar ways. This information leads to the development of more effective vaccines against Ebola. -
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to this man for his research in viruses. Dr. Harald zur Hausen demonstrated how certain types of viruses can cause cancer by using human papilloma virus-infected HeLa cells. - This discovery also leads to the development of a cervical cancer vaccine. -
HeLa cells were used to research how birth defects had been caused by thalidomide, which is an anti-morning sickness drug. The information gained was applied to stop the progression of certain cancers. -
NIH, or the National Institutes of Health, reached an agreement with Henrietta Lacks' descendants. This understanding had allowed biomedical researchers to have controlled access to the entire genome data of her cells. This poses as a valuable tool for researchers to study causes and effects of diseases to create effective treatments. -
Each of these men were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for making advancements in watching cellular growth occur live. Using mostly HeLa cells, their work involved developing a microscope technique allowing them to view cellular processes in real time. -
HeLa cells had been used to study the effect SARS-CoV had on humans. This greatly benefited researchers during the pandemic to create a Covid -19 vaccine.