HeLa cells were the first discovered immortalized human cell line (cells that can be continuously grown) in 1951 and have since become one of the most important cell lines in medical research. What many people using this cancer cell line did not know, was that these cells were unknowingly harvested from a 31-year-old African-American woman being treated for cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital. This woman’s name was Henrietta Lacks. She was a wife, a mother of five children, and had battled her aggressive cervical cancer for nearly a year before her death. She was buried in an unmarked grave in Virginia. 

Watercolor depicting Red Blood Cell Morphology. Dr. Henslee's research lab studies the interplay between RBC health and cell electrical parameters. Red blood cell (RBC) health is crucial for overall well-being, as these cells are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. These paintings help Dr. Henslee describe her work to general audiences and create a lasting impression on those who view them.