A statue of Henrietta Lacks is set to be unveiled at its new home, the University of Bristol, in a ceremony later.
Lacks, a young mother born in the US in 1920, died from an aggressive form of cervical cancer in 1951. However, shortly before her death, a sample of cells was taken from the tumour inside her body. It was then sent to a laboratory where they were found to be the first living human cells ever to survive and multiply outside the human body.
These cells changed the course of modern medicine, making possible key medical advances including the development of the polio vaccine, chemotherapy, gene-mapping, IVF and cloning.
Known as HeLa cells, taking the first two letters of Henrietta Lacks’ first and last names, they are used in almost every major hospital and science-based university in the world.
As such, Lacks was named the “mother” of modern medicine.
The statue commissioned to commemorate the "mother of modern medicine" is the first public sculpture of a black woman to be made by a black woman in the UK.
Artist Helen Wilson-Roe, who was commissioned to create the artwork, said: “This is the university offering more than lip service or tokenistic gestures, but actually committing to supporting a black female artist by sustaining my art and recognising Henrietta Lacks.
“As a child growing up in Bristol there were no statues of black women that I could identify with so knowing that my children and their grandchildren and great grandchildren will be able to see Henrietta’s statue in Bristol is just fantastic, especially at this time when Bristol is starting to address its past.”
Lacks’ granddaughter, Jeri Lacks, said: “As the world celebrates Henrietta Lacks’ centennial, my family eagerly anticipates the unveiling of this tribute to Henrietta Lacks the woman – and her phenomenal HeLa cells.
“It is incredible to see our Hennie rightfully honoured for her worldwide impact.”
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