Amgen scientists isolated the gene that created erythropoietin (EPO)
In 1983, Amgen scientists isolated the gene that creates EPO and filed a patent. Pioneering studies on erythropoietin…
The polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR) was introduced
In 1983, Kary Mullis, PhD, a scientist at the Cetus Corp., conceived of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as…
The CDC published infection control recommendation for AIDS for clinical and laboratory staff
On Nov. 5, 1982, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published infection control recommendation for…
The CDC reported 413 cases of the new HIV disease in the US with 155 deaths
On Jul. 15, 1982, The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 413 cases of the…
Persuasive evidence that the HIV disease was caused by an infectious agent was presented at a meeting in New York
On Jun. 30, 1982, persuasive evidence that the HIV disease was caused by an infectious agent was presented…
The Medical College of Virginia Main Hospital opened
In 1982, the Medical College of Virginia main hospital opened, a modern, 14-story, 539-bed facility costing in excess…
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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Bayh-Dole Act passed the U.S. 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:…
U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Diamond v Chakrabarty
On Jun. 16, 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld five-to-four the patentability of genetically altered organisms, opening the…
The Diamond v Chakrabarty case argued before U.S. Supreme Court
On Mar. 17, 1980, Ananda Mohan Chakrabarty filed a patent application assigned to the General Electric Co. for…
First endowed chair at UW School of Medicine created in memory of Dr. Robert H Williams, founding chair of Department of Medicine
On Mar. 4, 1980, the first endowed chair at University of Washington School of Medicine created in memory…
The Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research founded
In 1980, the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR), was founded in 1980 by the Provinicial Legislature…
NCI scientists isolated human T-cell lymphotrophic virus 1 (HTLV-1)
In 1980, National Cancer Institute (NCI) scientists isolated human T-cell lymphotrophic virus 1 (HTLV-1). This virus, which is…
U.S. congressional hearings on proposed amendments to expand the 1970 Plant Variety Protection Act passed
In 1980, U.S. Congressional hearings on proposed amendments to expand the 1970 Plant Variety Protection Act turn into…
The CDC established the National Center for Environmental Health
In 1980, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established the National Center for Environmental Health…
Trans Ova Genetics was founded
In 1980, Trans Ova Genetics, now a Urus company, was founded under the vision of Dr. David Faber,…
Lawrence Livermore became a National Laboratory
On Dec. 27, 1979, the U.S. Congress approved the change of the Laboratory’s name to Lawrence Livermore National…
Law redesignated “Sandia Laboratories at Albuquerque” as Sandia National Laboratories
On Dec. 6, 1979, public Law 96-164 [S. 673] passed by the U.S. Congress, was signed by President…
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…
NCI and National Naval Medical Center signed agreement to cooperate in cancer treatment research program
On Jul. 18, 1979, the National Cancer Institute and the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., signed an…
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…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to Glenn Seaborg
In 1979, the American Chemical Society awarded the Priestley Medal to Glenn Seaborg ‘for his numerous contributions to…
The Three Mile Island nuclear emergency plan was launched
Om Mar. 28, 1979,the Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) reactor, near Middletown, Pa., partially melted down resulting…