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…
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…
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…
John Wayne Cancer Institute was founded
In 1981, John Wayne Cancer Institute (formerly known as the John Wayne Cancer Clinic) was founded to promote…
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…
The University of Hawaii Cancer Center was founded
In 1981, The University of Hawaii Cancer Center (UH Cancer Center) was founded. The UH Cancer Center’s mission…
Dr. Morris Reichlin became head the OMRF Arthritis and Immunology Program
In 1981, Dr. Morris Reichlin joined the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) to head the Arthritis and Immunology…
Synthetech was founded in Albany
In 1981, Synthetech was founded in Albany as a fine chemicals company specializing in organic synthesis, biocatalysis and…
Dr. Alexa Canady became the first African American woman in the U.S. to become a neurosurgeon
In 1981, Dr. Alexa Canady became the first African American woman in the U.S. to become a neurosurgeon,…
Immunex Corporation was founded
In 1981, Immunex Corporation was founded by Stephen Duzan, and Christopher Henney and Steven Gillis from the Hutchinson…
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…
The Health Programs Extension Act of 1980 was signed into law, extending National Cancer Institute authorization for 3 years
On Dec. 17, 1980, the Health Programs Extension Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-538), introduced by Sen. Edward Kennedy,…
Biotechnology | Energy | Life Science History | Marine Science | Materials | Medicine | NIH | Non-Profit Research | U.S. Congress
Bayh-Dole Act passed congress allowing universities to patent discoveries made in federally supported laboratories
On Dec. 12, 1980, A bill to amend title 35 of the United States Code (H.R.6933, Public Law:…