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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, In 1951, Henrietta Lacks visited The Johns Hopkins 
3Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, one of only a few hospitals 
4that would treat poor African Americans; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Henrietta Lacks began receiving treatment for 
6cervical cancer; a sample of her cells was taken and sent to 
7researcher Dr. George Gey, who had been collecting cells from 
8all patients  who sought treatment at Johns Hopkins for cervical 
9cancer; at that time, there were no protocols for informing 
10patients or for getting consent for research of their cell or 
11tissue specimens; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, While all the other samples quickly died, the 
13cells from Henrietta Lacks doubled every 20 to 24 hours; her 
14cells, known as "HeLa" cells, are still being used today to 
15study the effects of toxins, drugs, hormones, and viruses on 
16the growth of cancer cells without  the need to experiment on 
17humans; her cells have also been used in the development of 
18treatments for polio, leukemia, AIDS, chemotherapy,  in vitro 
19fertilization, and in the study of the effects of zero gravity 
20in space; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Henrietta Lacks passed away on October 4, 1951, 
22but her "immortal cells" continue to impact the world; there 
 
 
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1are 17,000 U.S. patents that involve HeLa cells; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, Johns Hopkins University recently announced that 
3it will name a new research building on campus in honor of 
4Henrietta Lacks, an announcement that was made during the 
5university's ninth annual Henrietta Lacks Memorial Lecture 
6series; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, The building is an enduring testament to  a beloved 
8mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and generations of 
9miraculous discoveries that have altered the landscape of 
10modern medicine and benefited humanity; therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
12HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
13we recognize the profound effect that Henrietta Lacks and her 
14"immortal cells" have had on millions of lives around the 
15world, and we commend Johns Hopkins University on honoring her; 
16and be it further
 
  
17    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
18presented to the family of Henrietta Lacks and John Hopkins 
19University as a symbol of our respect and esteem.