the 21st session of the FAO Conference in Rome, genetic resource conservation becomes an internationally politicized issue
On Nov. 25, 1981, at the 21st session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Conference in Rome,…
Quadrivalent groups A, C, Y, and W-135 (Menomune A/C/Y/W-135 by Connaught) meningococcal vaccine was licensed
On Nov. 23, 1981, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration licensed Quadrivalent groups A, C, Y, and W-135…
Biotechnology | Disease | HIV | Therapeutics
NCI sponsored a conference on Kaposi’s Sarcoma and Opportunistic Infections
On Jun. 15, 1981, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored a conference in Bethesda, MD, on Kaposi’s Sarcoma…
FDA approved vinblastine, a drug that binds to tubulin, a key player in cell division
On Jul. 2, 1981, the FDA approved vinblastine, a drug that binds to tubulin, the protein building block…
The Department of Health and Human Services assigned implementation of the U.S. Superfund Act to CDC
In July 1981, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services assigned implementation of the Superfund Act to…
The costs of pneumococcal vaccine and its administration became a covered benefit under Medicare Part B
On Jul. 1, 1981, as a result of the enactment of Public Law 96-611 passed by the U.S….
ZymoGenetics was incorporated
On Jun. 22, 1981, ZymoGenetics was founded by University of Washington professors Earl Davie and Benjamin Hall, and…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | HIV | Life Science News | NIH | Therapeutics
The first AIDS patient seen at the NIH was admitted
On Jun. 16, 1981, Dr. Thomas Waldmann helped treat the first patient with AIDS. In 2016, the Food…
Genzyme Corporation was founded in Boston, Mass
On Jun. 8, 1981, Genzyme was founded by Sheridan Snyder, George M. Whitesides and scientist Henry Blair, with…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first cases of AIDS
On Jun. 5, 1981, Pneumocystis Pneumonia, Los Angeles, by Dr. Michael Gottlieb and colleagues of University of California…
University of California, San Francisco performed the first succesful fetal surgery
On May 10, 1981, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) performed the first successful fetal surgery, correcting a…
Gene synthesizing machines were developed
In May 1981, Applied Biosystems was founded by Hewlett Packard engineers Sam Eletr, their first CEO, and Andre…
A new Biological Response Modifiers Program was established in the Division of Cancer Treatment
On Apr. 27, 1981, a new Biological Response Modifiers Program was established in the Division of Cancer Treatment…
Artificial skin was created from living cells for the first time
On Apr. 23, 1981, the first artificial skin made from living cells was created by researchers at Massachusetts…
Stanford Medicine performed first successful human combined heart/lung transplant in the world
On Mar. 9, 1981, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Bruce Reitz from Stanford Medicine performed the first successful human combined…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | Disease | FDA | Life Science News | Medical Device | Medicine | Pharmaceutical | Therapeutics
New regulations to protect people participating in medical research issued
On Jan. 27, 1981, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and…
Imre Corp was founded
In 1981, Imre Corp. (Immune Response Systems, Inc.) was founded in Seattle. The company developed the Prosorba Column,…
Dr. Roseli Ocampo-Friedmann received the U.S. Congressional Antarctic Service Medal for her work on microorganisms
In 1981, Filipino and American scientist Dr. Roseli Ocampo-Friedmann received the U.S. Congressional Antarctic Service Medal for her…
John Wayne Cancer Institute was founded
In 1981, John Wayne Cancer Institute (formerly known as the John Wayne Cancer Clinic) was founded to promote…
Simian acquired immune deficiency syndrome (simian AIDS) was identified in macaques in two of NIH’s Regional Primate Centers
In 1981, Simian acquired immune deficiency syndrome (simian AIDS) was identified in macaques in two of National Institutes…
First human viral vaccine to prevent cancer (hepatitis B vaccine for liver cancer) was introduced
In 1981, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine for human use….
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Washington injected purified DNA into a single-cell mouse embryo
In 1981, Frank Ruddle from Yale University, Frank Costantini and Elizabeth Lacy from Oxford, and Ralph L. Brinster…
Biotechnology | CDC | Diagnostics | Influenza | Life Science News | Vaccine
CDC began collecting reports of influenza outbreaks from state and territorial epidemiologists
In 1981, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began collecting reports of influenza outbreaks from…
The City of Hope Cancer Center received NCI-designation
In 1981, the National Cancer Institute (NC) awarded The City of Hope Cancer Center NCI-designation. City of Hope’s…
The La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation (Burnham Institute) received its NCI-designation
In 1981, the La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation, the Cancer Center received its National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designation. The…
Stanford Medicine researchers first reported successful use of monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer
In 1981, Stanford oncologist Ronald Levy reported the first successful use of monoclonal antibodies, which are laboratory-created molecules…
Roger W. Sperry was awarded Nobel Prize in Medicine
In 1981, Roger W. Sperry of the California Institute of Technology was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology…
William Panje invented the neolarynx restoring speech to cancer patients who have had their larynxes removed
In 1981, University of Iowa researcher William Panje introduced the neolarynx, or “voice button,” restoring speech to cancer…
Hybritech issued its Initial Public Offering
In 1981, Hybritech issued its Initial Public Offering (IPO) and raised $12 million, and $33 million in a…
The CDC established the International Health Program Office
In 1981, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established the International Health Program Office, now…