The Human Genome Project was completed in 2000, marking the beginning of an era where DNA information became highly confidential. Nearly half a century earlier, the world’s first immortalized human cell line was established, named after a real person: Henrietta Lacks. HeLa cells, derived from Ms. Lacks, have since contributed to countless studies, including the development of the polio vaccine, leading to tens of thousands of research papers and remaining in use today.

However, in 2013, the unauthorized publication of the HeLa cell genome sequence led the NIH (US National Institutes of Health) to restrict data access in agreement with the Lacks family. The issues surrounding HeLa cells epitomize an era “technology outpaced ethics.” Regulations like the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in the European Union and biobank regulations in various countries were created from this reflection. However, even the GDPR primarily addresses

data protection (GDPR Article 9) and does not define ownership of the cells or tissues themselves. Challenges remain in the realm of cell culturing.

Transferring Fukuhara’s cancer cells between laboratories underscores the unresolved issues stemming from the HeLa controversy are cells owned by an individual, or a shared resource for research? This experience reflects these unresolved questions, prompting us to re-examine our understanding of ownership and the ethical implications of biomedical research.