Johns Hopkins begins work on a building in honor of Henrietta Lacks

In her short life, Henrietta Lacks inadvertently modified the face of medicine. Now the girl whose donated cells proceed to tell and advance medical research can even change the face of Johns Hopkins, because the institution begins work on a building named after her. On Monday, several of Lacks’ descendants joined representatives from Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine at a groundbreaking ceremony on the corner of Ashland and Rutland Avenues in Baltimore.

“Today we make a concrete commitment to ensure that Henrietta Lacks’ name is as immortal as her cells,” said Ron Daniels, president of Johns Hopkins University, based on the report from the institution. “When the Henrietta Lacks Building is built, it will be a vibrant, multidisciplinary place of learning, discovery and dialogue that will facilitate community-oriented medical research and support the next wave of progress in research and the promotion of research ethics. We look forward to a building that does justice to the transformative legacy of Henrietta Lacks, and we sincerely thank the members of the Lacks family for their generosity in lending this building her name.”

As documented in the best-selling book “The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks“Lacks’ history with Johns Hopkins is controversial. After starting treatment at this institution, a 31-year-old mother of five children was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Despite treatment, she died in October 1951. However, a sample of cells taken during Lacks’ biopsy proved resistant, and never only survived but additionally multiplied, a previously unseen phenomenon. Intrigued by the rarity of Lacks’ genetic material, biologist and cancer researcher George Gey, who was collecting and studying cells from cancer patients in the hospital on the time, made the samples freely available to other global researchers.

Lacks’ cells, because the cells named “HeLa” (representing the primary two letters of her name) would prove to be the idea for future medical research and innovation. In the years because the tissue was collected, its cells have been used in research on the human genome, in the treatment of cancer and HIV/AIDS, and even in currently available vaccines against polio and Covid-19, Johns Hopkins reports. Yet for all their value in the medical world, for a long time Lacks received no recognition or any compensation for her surviving family; that’s, until researcher and writer Rebecca Skloot uncovered Lacks’ story and investigated, with John Hopkins’ input, the bioethical issues surrounding the unauthorized harvesting of her precious cells.

“At several points over these decades, we discovered that Johns Hopkins could have – and should have – done more to inform and engage with the family members of Henrietta Lacks out of respect for them, their privacy and their personal interests,” he added. the institution finally relentedcommitting to cement Lacks’ legacy along with her family. In 2013, Johns Hopkins partnered with the Lacks family and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to create contract based on consent for the use of Lack’s genetic material in NIH-funded research. Two members of the Lacks family currently serve on the committee, one of whom is Henrietta Lacks’ granddaughter, Jeri Lacks Whye, who attended Monday’s groundbreaking.

“While this building will bear her name, it will also provide a space for further research, learning and inspiration for future generations,” Lacks Whye said in a statement. “We appreciate more than the scientific contributions her cells have made possible. We also acknowledge the story of a Black woman who didn’t live to see the world her cells helped create – a story that has been hidden for too long. We hope this building will continue to shine a light on her legacy.”

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At Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony, Theodore DeWeese, dean of the college of medicine and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to just do that, stating: “Today just isn’t about these immortal cells, necessary as they’re. Today it’s about immortalizing the name of the girl from whom these cells come. The idea is that her name and unconscious role will all the time be remembered by all students, all residents, all other interns, management and staff entering the building that shall be built on this plot.

“(Henrietta Lacks) is undoubtedly one of the most important figures in science and medicine, and we truly hope that this building will be an important reflection on the importance of her life to this world,” DeWeese added.

Designed by Black architect Victor Vines The future building bearing Lacks’ name, situated on the Johns Hopkins campus in East Baltimore, shall be a 34,000-square-foot facility adjoining to the university’s Deering Hall, the longtime home of the Berman Institute of Bioethics. According to Johns Hopkins, the brand new building “will support multiple programs of the Berman Institute, Johns Hopkins University and the School of Medicine, and will house flexible programs and teaching space for educational, research and community use.”

“With the new building, the scope and depth of our work will expand,” said Jeffrey Kahn, director of the Berman Institute, adding, “and the dedication to Henrietta Lacks serves as an important reminder of the need for ethics, equity, responsible science, and community-engaged research.”

As for the inspiration behind the design, architect Vines described the concept as “veil-like (and) delicate, (yet) strong, bold and beautiful, which we thought this person was.” The building’s evocative features include “a grand staircase leading up through the building towards the sky, where I believe Henrietta Lacks is today,” added Vines, who collaborated with each Johns Hopkins and the Lacks family on the design concept.

For JaBrea Rodgers, Lacks’ great-granddaughter, this architectural tribute continues to disclose the complete significance of Lacks’ long-overlooked legacy. “Today we recognize not only her cells, but her humanity,” she said of the laying of the cornerstone. “My great-grandmother was a mother, wife and friend. While we cannot change the injustices of the past, we can make its legacy known and celebrated. As we look to the future of this building, may it be a symbol not only of scientific progress, but also of the continuing journey towards recognizing the humanity behind every discovery.”

Construction on the Henrietta Lacks Building at Johns Hopkins is anticipated to be accomplished in 2026.