George Streisinger at the University of Oregon cloned the first vertebrate — a zebrafish
In 1982, George Streisinger at the University of Oregon (UO) cloned the first vertebrate — a zebrafish. Streisinger…
The nation’s first cancer prevention program was established at the the Fred Hutch
In 1982, the Fred Hutch established the Cancer Prevention Program in Seattle, which has made key contributions to…
The U.S. General Accounting Office released a scathing report on the National Plant Germplasm System
On Dec. 4, 1981, the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) released a report on the National Plant Germplasm…
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 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….
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…
ZymoGenetics was incorporated
On Jun. 22, 1981, ZymoGenetics was founded by University of Washington professors Earl Davie and Benjamin Hall, and…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | HIV | 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…
Biotechnology | CDC | Diagnostics | Disease | Rare Disease
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first cases of AIDS
On Jun. 5, 1981, Dr. Michael Gottlieb and colleagues of University of California at Los Angeles reported a…
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, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital announced they had for the first time successfully tested…
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 | 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…
Merck began to commercialize Ivermectin as veterinary anti-parasitic drug
In 1981, Merck began commercialize ivermectin as a broad-spectrum veterinary anti-parasitic drug that was originally developed to treat…
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…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | Disease | Oncology | Radiology | Therapeutics
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…
CDC | Diagnostics | HIV | Infectious Disease | Therapeutics
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…
Disease | Medicine | Neurology | Therapeutics
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…
Biotechnology | Disease | FDA | Therapeutics
Imre Corp was founded
In 1981, Imre Corp. (Immune Response Systems, Inc.) was founded in Seattle. The company developed the Prosorba Column,…