Professor Jorge Contreras, an expert in genetics and intellectual property, recently spoke to The New York Times and The Baltimore Sun about the family of Henrietta Lacks’ settlement with biotech company Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Lacks’ cells were taken from her in 1951 without her knowledge or consent. Though she died the same year of cervical cancer, Lacks’ cells continue to live on (called HeLa cells) and have been used in many scientific breakthroughs.
https://sjquinney.utah.edu/news-articles/professor-jorge-contreras-talks-to-media-about-potential-for-future-lawsuits-filed-by-henrietta-lacks-family/ #biotech #bioethics #benefitsharing #informedconsent

Immortal cells: Henrietta Lacks’ family settle lawsuit over HeLa tissue harvested in 1950s https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/02/henrietta-lacks-family-lawsuit-settlement-thermo-fisher-scientific-hela-tissue-immortal-cells-harvested #bioethics #biotech #benefitsharing

Henrietta Lacks's family settles lawsuit with biotech company that used her cells without consent https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-02/henrietta-lacks-family-settlement-over-non-consensual-cell-use/102677332 via @ABCaustralia #bioethics #biotech #benefitsharing

United Nations adopts High Seas Treaty to protect marine biodiversity https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-20/un-adopts-world-s-first-treaty-to-protect-high-seas-biodiversity/102498694 via @ABCaustralia #oceans #highseastreaty #access #geneticresources #benefitsharing