Departments of Biochemistry and Cell Biology and The Office of Diversity and Inclusion Inmaculada de Melo-Martin, PhD Professor of Medical Ethics in Medicine, Weil Cornell Medicine Corrie Moreau, PhD The Martha N. & John C. Moser Professor of Arthropod Biosystematics and Biodiversity College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University Renee Alexander, PhD Former Associate Dean of Students and Director, Campus Climate Initiatives, Cornell University Ithaca. Founder, “Breaking Bread” community

A prelude to WCM Diversity Week Please note that the Zoom link for this event will be sent on Thursday, April 22. Anyone who has ever conducted a cell biology experiment has likely worked with HeLa cells. This event will explore the story of Henrietta Lacks, a young Black woman, and the “mother” of HeLa cells. We will discuss the conditions surrounding the procurement and culturing of cells from her cervical cancer: what are the ethical concerns surrounding establishing the HeLa cell line, and subsequently using DNA samples from her family members without adequate explanation? How does this past ethical breach inform contemporary research practices? Will an increased diversity of research staff, and a recognition of our tendencies toward implicit bias, minimize future ethical infringements? Sponsored by the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Biochemisry and Cell & Developmental Biology Lecture Series presents: Thomas Misgeld, M.D. Professor and Director, Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology Technical University of Munich