I-101 - Monday Plenary/Tapestry Table: Immortal Cells, Enduring Lessons: The Lacks Family, Ethics and Oral Health Innovation, Sponsored by Haleon

The story of Henrietta Lacks captivated the world through Rebecca Skloot’s best-selling book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and the subsequent HBO film of the same name, which brought long overdue attention to the woman behind HeLa cells—arguably the most important human cell line in scientific history. Her story sparked a global discussion about the intersection of science, ethics and human dignity that remains urgently relevant to overall health today, including in the oral health education community.

In this interview-style plenary session, Veronica Lacks and David Lacks Jr.—great-granddaughter and grandson of Henrietta Lacks—join Dr. Sonya G. Smith, ADEA Chief Operating Officer and Chief [ME1.1]of Staff, for a moderated conversation that moves beyond the pages and the screen to connect the story of HeLa cells directly to modern oral health research. Harvested in 1951 without her knowledge or consent, Henrietta’s cells became one of medicine’s most vital research tools, fueling breakthroughs in oral cancer biology, HPV-related oropharyngeal disease, vaccine development and dental biomaterials. Yet for decades the Lacks family remained unaware of Henrietta’s extraordinary contribution to science, receiving neither acknowledgment nor compensation while her cells transformed the landscape of modern medicine.

Through the Lacks family’s firsthand perspective, this session confronts the human cost of research practices without proper safeguards or regard for patients’ rights. Attendees are invited to reflect not only on the importance of Henrietta’s contributions to bioethics but also their responsibility in cultivating transparency and patient trust as part of overall comprehensive person-centered care. The willingness of Henrietta’s family to share her story serves as both a tribute to her legacy and a powerful reminder that behind every research breakthrough are real people and real communities who deserve to be seen, respected and protected. This session calls on oral health educators, students, clinicians and researchers to champion biotechnological innovation that is ethical, patient-centered and rooted in meaningful informed consent.