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Updated: Jul 2, 2025

Working with Human Tissues for Translational Cancer Research
Published on: November 26, 2015
WHO CAN USE YOUR CELLS OR TISSUES FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH?
Jessica L Beers1, Raeanne M Geffert1, Bethany D Latham1
1Division of Pharmacotherapy and Experimental Therapeutics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
Abstract:
Informed consent is the process of obtaining permission from human participants to use their cells and tissues or otherwise include them in research studies. With informed consent, scientists can use human cells or tissues in experiments to learn more about the human body and to test new medicines. This article describes how these tissues are obtained, and the ethical concerns regarding the use of human tissues in research. The story of Henrietta Lacks and her immortal HeLa cell line is discussed, to demonstrate the importance of informed consent and to showcase Henrietta's valuable contributions to research and modern medicine.
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