The Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute is now accepting applications for the prestigious Henrietta Lacks Memorial Award. Created to honor the memory of Henrietta Lacks, a former resident of Turner Station and a cancer patient at Johns Hopkins Hospital, this award aims to recognize the groundbreaking contributions of Mrs. Lacks' cells in medical research and foster community-university partnerships in Baltimore City.
To commemorate her legacy and the significant impact of community-university collaborations, the UHI is offering a $15,000 award to Baltimore City community-based programs that have worked closely with Johns Hopkins faculty, students, or staff to address crucial issues affecting the community. The application deadline for this year's award is Aug. 21, at 5 p.m. ET.
"The Henrietta Lacks Memorial Award is a testament to the enduring legacy of Henrietta Lacks and her invaluable contribution to medical science," said Kendrick Gwynn, associate director of the Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute and assistant professor of medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "Through this initiative, we seek to celebrate the power of community-university partnerships and their potential to drive positive change in Baltimore City."
To be eligible for the Henrietta Lacks Memorial Award, groups must have collaborated with Johns Hopkins for a minimum of two years on projects focusing on poverty, community health and well-being, social justice, or neighborhood development within Baltimore City. Partnerships should involve at least one community-based organization and at least one member from Johns Hopkins faculty or staff. Applications may be self-submitted or nominated by others.
Preference will be given to initiatives targeting child and adolescent health, education, and well-being; efforts to alleviate poverty; initiatives addressing inequalities and disparities; and projects strengthening the social fabric of neighborhoods.
The award will be presented during the annual Henrietta Lacks Memorial Lecture, hosted by the Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research and scheduled to take place Saturday, Oct. 7.
