In 1954, Dr. Jonas Salk and associates develop a potentially safe injectable vaccine against polio given to nearly 15,000 Pittsburgh-area subjects (most were children) in pilot trials, 1952-1954.

Salk and his team used formaldehyde to kill the poliovirus without destroying its antigenic properties. After establishing both safety and efficacy, they administered the vaccine to scores of volunteers, including himself, his wife and their children.