U.S. Congress created the National Vaccine Program
On Nov. 14, 1986, the U.S. Congress created the National Vaccine Program (NVP) to coordinate the vaccine research…
President Reagan signed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, which outlawed the sale of steroids for non-medical purposes
On Oct. 27, 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed the the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. The Act changed…
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute was dedicated
On Oct. 18, 1986, the Moffitt Cancer Center was dedicated. The center was established in 1981 by the…
Rita Levi-Montalcini won half of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of growth factors
In 1986, Rita Levi-Montalcini was awarded half of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine ‘for the discovery…
Positron emission tomograph (PET) installed at the University of Washington
On Oct. 1, 1986, Positron emission tomograph (PET) and Computed tomography (CTC) were installed at the University of…
Bill Schroeder, the second human recipient of the Jarvik 7 artificial heart, died after living 620 days
On Aug. 6, 1986, Bill Schroeder from Jasper, Indiana, the second human recipient of the Jarvik 7 artificial…
Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax HB by Merck) was licensed
On Jul. 23, 1986, the Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax HB by Merck) was licensed. Using recombinant DNA…
Bristol-Myers opened a state-of-the-art research complex in Wallingford, Connecticut
On June 12, 1986, Bristol-Myers opened a state-of-the-art research complex in Wallingford, Connecticut, designed to house more than…
Interferon became the first anticancer drug produced through biotechnology
On Jun. 5, 1986, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Hoffmann La Roche’s Interferon initially for…
Genzyme launched an IPO at $10 a share, raising $28.3 million
On Jun. 5, 1986, Genzyme launched an Initial Public Offering (IPO) at $10 a share, and raised $28.3…
The first recombinant vaccine for humans, a vaccine for hepatitis B, was approved
In May 1986, the vaccine Recombivax HB, which protects against hepatitis B infection, was approved for marketing in…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to Karl A. Folkers
In 1986, the American Chemical Society awarded the Priestley Medal to Karl A. Folkers ‘for his numerous contributions…
Eli Lilly acquired Hybritech
On Mar. 19, 1986, Eli Lilly acquired San Diego-based Hybritech for $300 million. Hybritech was a leading producer…
Microsoft Corporation completed an Initial Public Offering
On Mar. 13, 1986, Microsoft Corporation, founded by Bill Gates Jr. and the late Paul Allen in 1975,…
Genetic Systems acquired by Bristol-Myers for $310 million
On Feb. 4, 1986, Bristol-Myers announced it would acquire Genetic Systems for $310 million. Genetic Systems was a…
FDA approved Hybritech antibody test for prostate cancer – a first
In February 1986, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Hybritech’s Tandem-R PSA assay (P850048) with calibration…
The Visible Human Project was launched
In 1986, the Visible Human Project® (VHP), an outgrowth of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) Long-Range Plan,…
The University of Utah Cancer program earned National Cancer Institute designation
In 1986, The University of Utah Cancer program earned National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation as a Cancer Center,…
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Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston published groundbreaking study that led to a national sickle cell disease screening program
In 1986, Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston while deputy branch chief of the Sickle Cell Disease Branch at the…
Procyte Corp. was founded
In 1986, Procyte Corp. was founded as a Kirkland, Washington-based medical skin care company that developed and marketed…
The renovated North Hospital (former EG Williams Hospital) opened
In 1986, The Virginia Commonwealth University’s renovated North Hospital (former E.G. Williams Hospital) opened.
Harcourt Sylvester Jr pledged $27.5 million to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
In 1986, philanthropist Harcourt Sylvester Jr. pledged $27.5 million to benefit cancer programs at the medical school, and…
Lorne Tyrrell discovered the first antiviral drug to inhibit hepatitis B virus
In 1986, while teaching a graduate course at the University of Alberta, Dr. Tyrrell found clues that might…
President Ronald Reagan designated the month of March as Hemophilia Awareness Month
In 1986, President Ronald Reagan designated the month of March as Hemophilia Awareness Month to bring attention to…
The human HER2 proto-oncogene was cloned HER2 was called neu and erbB2
In 1986, the human HER2 proto-oncogene was cloned. HER2 is also called neu and erbB2.
Researchers at Oxford University released a genetically engineered baculovirus, the world’s first release of a biotech-generated virus
In 1986, researchers at the Institute of Virology at Oxford University released a genetically engineered baculovirus in what…
The first cannabinoid receptor was documented
In 1986, scientists independently identified the structure of a nerve cell receptor, now called CB1, which responded to…
The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 was enacted by Congress
In 1986, the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act was enacted by Congress. The Department of Health and Human…
BC Transplant (BCT) was established
In 1986, BC Transplant (BCT) was established. BCT directs, delivers or contracts for all organ transplant services across…
UC San Diego was designated one of eight national centers for research and treatment of AIDS
In 1986, University of California San Diego Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) was designated one of eight national…