This report for calendar year 2018 constitutes the annual report for the Henrietta Lacks Commission. It is submitted to the Virginia General Assembly and the Governor in accordance with § 2.2-2541.2 of the Code of Virginia. This report provides an overview of the Commission’s activities for its first year towards accomplishing its requirements.

The Commission is comprised of nine members as defined in the foundational legislation and is administratively staffed by the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Health Equity. Since the inaugural meeting of the Commission in September, two meetings have taken place and one is scheduled before the end of the calendar year.

In this calendar year, the Commission has elected its officers, worked to develop by-laws, developed communication strategies, conducted a community health needs assessment and analysis to identify key stakeholders, and identified the proper professional organizations and persons to provide oversight in the development of the Henrietta Lacks Life Sciences Center.

Following each meeting of the Commission, detailed written minutes were prepared and posted in accordance with § 2.2-3707 of the Code of Virginia. Further details beyond this report can be obtained from those minutes, made publicly available through Commonwealth Calendar. All meetings were conducted pursuant to notice, as required by § 2.2-3707 of the Code of Virginia.

This report constitutes the annual report for publication as required by § 2.2-2541, subsection two of the Code of Virginia.