In 1953 scientists discovered that HeLa cells could be used to grow large quantities of the polio virus, making it possible to study how the virus grows, replicates and causes disease. This work was vital to the eventual development of the polio vaccine.

In 1985, scientists discovered that the presence of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) can lead to cervical cancer. The use of HeLa cells was critical to this discovery, which led to the development of one of the first anti-cancer vaccines. All school children aged 12-13 are now routinely offered this vaccine in the UK.

Research at the Gurdon Institute has utilized the power and versatility of HeLa cells in a variety of ways, from uncovering mechanisms of the DNA damage response to developing cancer therapies. Scientists in the Jackson and Gallop lab groups use HeLa cells in their fundamental research to better understand development and disease.

HeLa cells were used by scientists in the first ever study looking at the potential harmful effects of the radiation from x-rays could have on mammal (and therefore human!) cells.

HeLa cells have even gone into outer space! Back in 1964, the cells were sent into space in some of the first capsules to give scientists an idea of how radiation and the difficult conditions in space might affect the health of future astronauts.

During the HIV-AIDS epidemic, HeLa cells were used by scientists to better understand the virus. They discovered that these cells are not easily infected. This information was used to gain a better understanding of how the virus infects normal human cells, knowledge that later helped development of drugs that would limit the spread of the virus.