The World Heath Organization announced that “smallpox has been eradicated from the world”
On May 8, 1980, members of the World Heath Organization (WHO) in Geneva announced that “smallpox had been…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | Disease | Neurology | NIH | Therapeutics
The Alzheimer’s Association was established
On Apr. 10, 1980, the Alzheimer’s Association was established. In 1979, Jerome H. Stone and representatives from several…
Autism appeared for the first time as a diagnosis in the third edition of the DSM III Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
In 1980, autism appeared for the first time as a diagnosis in the third edition of the DSM…
The CDC organized a task force to study toxic shock syndrome
In May 1980, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) organized a task force to study…
Diagnostics | Disease | Pharmaceutical | Therapeutics | USDA | Veterinary
Schering-Plough Animal Health introduced Intra-Trac vaccines for kennel cough in dogs
In 1980, Schering-Plough Animal Health introduced Intra-Trac vaccines for kennel cough in dogs. For years, Iowa State University…
The Gershenson Radiation Oncology Center opened
In 1980, the $2 million Gershenson Radiation Oncology Center (GROC) opened as a partnership between Wayne State University’s…
The Mary Brigh Building opened on the Mayo Clinic campus
In 1980, The Mary Brigh Building, one of the Mayo’s largest expansion projects, opened. The addition added a…
Genetic Systems was founded
In 1980, Genetic Systems was founded in Seattle as a monoclonal antibody-based diagnostic company by Robert Nowinski of…
The Nobel Laureate in Chemistry was awarded jointly to Frederick Sanger, Walter Gilbert and to Paul Berg for gene cloning
In 1980, the Nobel Laureate in Chemistry was awarded jointly to Frederick Sanger and Walter Gilbert for “for…
The first use of artificial blood in a patient takes place at the University of Minnesota Hospital
On Nov. 20, 1979, Dr. Robert Anderson from the University Hospital injected Fluosol, a blood substitute developed in…
The last cases of wild type 1 poliovirus occurred in the U.S.
On Jul. 27, 1979, the last cases of wild type 1 poliovirus occurred in the U.S. among unvaccinated…
first Magnetic resonance imaging of human
On Jul. 3, 1977, Dr. Raymond Damadian achieved the first human nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) image — a cross-section…
Ground was broken for the USC Kenneth Norris Jr. Cancer Hospital and Research Institute
On May 10, 1979, ground was broken for the new site of the Kenneth Norris Jr. Cancer Research…
CDC | Diagnostics | Disease | Environmental | EPA | Life Science History | Oncology | Radiology | Therapeutics
The CDC investigated health effects related to the Three-Mile Island nuclear accident
On Mar. 28, 1979, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated health effects related to…
Modified radical mastectomy replaced radical mastectomy for breast cancer
In 1979, Modified radical mastectomy replaced radical mastectomy for breast cancer. The standard of care for patients with…
Allan Cormack of Tufts University and Godfrey Hounsfield of EMI Laboratories were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology
In 1979, South African-born physicist Allan Cormack of Tufts University and British engineer Godfrey Hounsfield of EMI Laboratories…
Joan Steitz discovered snRNPs
In 1979, Joan Steitz discovered snRNPs, RNA-protein complexes in the cell’s nucleus that perform a crucial step in…
First insulin pump for diabetes was developed
In 1979, Dr. Robert Sherwin and Dr. William Tamborlane from Yale University announced they had developed an insulin…
Dr. William Thurman became head of OMRF
In 1979, Dr. William Thurman took the helm of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) and helped establish…
Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | FDA | Life Science History | Non-Profit Research | Oncology | Therapeutics
FDA approved Cisplatin, a platinum-containing anticancer compound
On Dec. 19, 1978, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved cisplatin (Platinol) for use in combination…
The University of Washington Health Sciences Building was renamed the Magnuson Health Sciences Center
On Oct. 3, 1978, the University of Washington Health Sciences Building was renamed the Magnuson Health Sciences Center…
Prenatal DNA sequencing was developed at Boston Children’s
In 1978, Boston Children’s researcher Stuart Orkin and his team developed a new DNA sequencing technique for prenatal…
The NCI awarded the Cancer Center of Metropolitan Detroit with comprehensive status
In 1978, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded the Cancer Center of Metropolitan Detroit with comprehensive status. Known…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | NIH | Oncology | Radiology | Therapeutics
The Norris Cotton Cancer Center received NCI Cancer Center designation
In 1978, the Norris Cotton Cancer Center in New Hampshire received National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated in recognition…
The Carbone Cancer Center Clinical Sciences Center was completed
In 1978, the Carbone Cancer Center Clinical Sciences Center was completed in January adding over 70,000 square feet…
UK Markey Cancer Foundation established
In 1978, the University of Kentucky (UK) Markey Cancer Foundation, previously the Ephraim McDowell Cancer Research Foundation, was…
The Cancer Center of Metropolitan Detroit was established
In 1978, The Karmanos Cancer Institute (KCI), a not-for-profit, NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center was founded in metropolitan Detroit….
Carl Woese, an American microbiologist, defined Archaea as a new domain
In 1978, Carl Woese, an American microbiologist defined Archaea as a new domain based upon genetic relationships that…
The University of California, San Diego Cancer Center was founded
In 1978, the University of California, San Diego Cancer Center was founded as one of just 45 National…
Hybritech was founded in San Diego
In 1978, Hybritech was founded by cancer researcher Ivor Royston and lab technician Howard Birndorf of the University…