The family of Henrietta Lacks has reached an undisclosed settlement with pharmaceutical company Novartis, marking another legal victory in their effort to hold companies accountable for profiting from her cells without consent. Lacks’ “immortal” HeLa cells, taken during cancer treatment in 1951, became foundational to major scientific breakthroughs while her family remained unaware for decades and received no compensation.
Category: Science
Posted inScience
MFN pricing is dangerous to drug innovation
By Dan Crippen Earlier this year, when the administration proposed deep cuts to the National Institutes of Health, lawmakers from both parties swiftly and rightly pushed back. Slashing medical research funding, they recognized, would jeopardize the discovery of breakthrough treatments that patients desperately need. That’s why it’s baffling that many of the same lawmakers who […]
Posted inEducation
BEYA and WOC launch Quantum Computing Executive Leadership Learning Track
The Becoming Everything You Are (BEYA) STEM Conference has launched the Quantum Computing Executive Leadership Learning Track, led by Terrence R. Head, to prepare executive leaders and senior technologists for the rapidly evolving quantum era.
Posted inartificial intelligence
An AI chatbot pushed a teen to end his life, a lawsuit against its creator alleges
A lawsuit has been filed against Character Technologies Inc. by the mother of a 14-year-old boy who took his own life after engaging in highly sexualized conversations with a chatbot, alleging that the company engineered a dangerous product that exploited children.
Posted inartificial intelligence
Can AI be a lifesaver in the fight against breast cancer?
Leadership Baltimore County is hosting an event on October 29 to discuss how AI can enhance medical testing and reduce breast cancer mortality rates, particularly among African-American women.
Posted inartificial intelligence
Four apps using artificial intelligence to support mental health and self-care
Artificial intelligence is being integrated into the mental health and self-care space, with AI chatbots and apps providing personalized recommendations, reducing barriers to entry for mental health services, and offering support for those with mental health challenges.
Posted inEducation
Meharry Medical College partners with local middle and high schools for hands-on science experience
Meharry Medical College is collaborating with local middle and high schools to provide workshops, sumits, and events for students to engage in science, including a science day field trip, a Black Male STEAM summit, and a Black Girls in STEAM summit.
Posted inScience
Meet Dr. Gina Paige who’s reconnecting Blacks to their African ancestry
AfricanAncestry.com, co-founded and led by Gina Paige, provides genetic testing to trace African heritage, offering personalized DNA results that connect people to their African tribes, and empowering African Americans to transform their view of themselves and Africa.
Posted inHealth
Experts discuss how microplastics get into our systems and the effects
Microplastics have been found in the bloodstream of patients and can be ingested through food and water containers, but there is little evidence to suggest they are a health concern and there is no policy in place to regulate them.
Posted inHealth
American Cancer Society launches largest-ever study to probe disparities in cancer outcomes for Black women
The American Cancer Society has launched the “VOICES of Black Women” study to investigate the disparities in cancer survival rates among Black women, aiming to enroll over 100,000 Black women aged 25 to 55 and track them for 30 years.
Posted inSponsored Content
Why Real-World Learnings Matter for Black Women Living with Breast Cancer
Black women are more likely to have aggressive forms of breast cancer and are 40% more likely to die from the disease due to lack of diversity in clinical research, and advocacy groups are working to empower Black women to participate in clinical trials and receive guideline recommended care.
Posted inBUSINESS
Industry veterans team up to create mechanical HVAC company
Gina Merritt and Michael Karnes have founded NREUV Contracting and Mechanical, a D.C.-based company specializing in designing and installing HVAC systems for new and existing construction properties, with the goal of creating opportunities for Black and Brown communities and supporting minority subcontractors.