Convocation held at the University of Michigan proclaimed “The Vaccine Works!”
On Apr. 12, 1955, a convocation was held at the University of Michigan (UM), where Dr. Thomas Francis…
The Cutter Incident, a production error, caused some polio vaccine to be tainted with live polio virus
In April 1955, Cutter Laboratories, located in Berkeley, California and one of several companies licensed by the U.S….
The National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Chemotherapy National Service Center was established
On Apr. 1, 1955, the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Chemotherapy National Service Center was established in the institute…
The first Citizens Advisory Committee held a meeting in Washington, DC
On Feb. 3, 1955, the first Citizens Advisory Committee met in Washington, D.C. to assess the effectiveness of…
Simian virus 40 accidentally administered to humans through contaminated Poliovirus vaccines
From 1955 through early 1963, millions of people were accidentally exposed to simian virus 40 (SV40) as a…
The Scripps Metabolic Clinic West Annex was completed in downtown La Jolla
In 1955, the Scripps Metabolic Clinic West Annex was completed in downtown La Jolla to house divisions of…
Physician and researcher Edmund Keeney became director of the Scripps Metabolic Clinic
In 1955, physician and researcher Edmund Keeney became director of the Scripps Metabolic Clinic after Sherrillﾒs death. That…
Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation was established
In 1955, TSRI’s modern beginnings date to the establishment of Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, when a major…
New Armed Forces Institute of Pathology building was built on the Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus
In 1955, a new Armed Forces Institute of Pathology building was built on the Walter Reed Army Medical…
An extensive renovation began on the National Naval Medical Center
In 1955, an extensive renovation began which included the construction of two buildings: Building 9, a three-story outpatient…
University of Alaska started offering PhDs
In 1955, by the time Alaska became a state in 1959, students could earn Ph.Ds at the university,…
CDC established the Polio Surveillanceﾠ Program
On Apr. 28, 1955, The National Poliomyelitis Surveillance Program was established by the Surgeon General of the Public…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to Charles A. Thomas
In 1955, the Priestley Medal was awarded to Charles A. Thomas by the American Chemical Society “to recognize…
The new Cook County Hospital central diagnostic x-ray department opened
In 1955, the new Cook County Hospital central diagnostic x-ray department opened with the worldﾒs first radiographic rooms…
The National Chemotherapy Program was launched
In 1955, The National Cancer Chemotherapy Program was initiated. It was administered and integrated by the Division of…
Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | Life Science History | Measles | Non-Profit Research | Therapeutics
Mayo Clinic Heritage Hall Opened its Doors
In 1955, The Mayo Clinic Heritage Hall museum opened in Rochester, Minnesota with a generous gift from John…
Roy Hertz and Min Chiu Li achieve total cure of a human solid tumor
In 1955, Drs. Roy Hertz and Min Chiu Li discovered that the same methotrexate treatment alone could cure…
Hoffmann-La Roche Research Laboratories, Squibb Institute for Medical Research jointly received the Lasker Award award
In 1955, Edward Robitzek, Irving Selikoff, Walsh McDermott and Carl Muschenheim, The Hoffmann-La Roche Research Laboratories, Squibb Institute…
The National Cancer Institute’s Clinical Trials Cooperative Group Program was established
In 1955, the NCIﾒs Cooperative Group Program for clinical research was established in 1955 and has grown to…
Canada contributed to the safe cultivation of the poliovirus for polio vaccine
In 1955, Canada contributed to the safe cultivation of the poliovirus, using Medium 199, and an incubation process…
Frank Dixon was recruited to La Jolla from Minnesota with four other young scientists, forming the core of what would later become The Scripps Research Institute
In 1955, The Scripps Research Institute’s modern beginnings date to the establishment of Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation,…
Biology | Diagnostics | Life Science History | NIH | Polio | Vaccine
The Division of Biologics Control became an independent entity within the National Institutes of Health
In 1955, the Division of Biologics Control (DBS) became an independent entity within the National Institutes of Health…
The Medical College of Virginia graduated its first African-American student, Jean Harris
In 1955, new doors were opened as the Medical College of Virginia graduated its first African-American student, Jean…
FDA | Life Science History | NIH | Polio | U.S. Congress
HEW Secretary Oveta Culp Hobby appointed a committee of 14 citizens to study the adequacy of FDA’s facilities and programs
In 1955, Oveta Culp Hobby, the first Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) appointed a committee of…
Hydroxychloroquine was approved for medical use in the United States
In 1955, Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was approved for medical use in the U.S. Chloroquine was discovered in 1934 by…
Dr. James Bowman studied favism, the deficiency of glucose-6-dehydrogenase
In 1955, geneticist Dr. James Bowman studied favism, the deficiency of glucose-6-dehydrogenase, in Iran. Favism is an acute…
The Polio Vaccination Assistance Act was enacted by U.S. Congress
In 1955, the Polio Vaccination Assistance Act was enacted by the U.S. Congress, the first federal involvement in…
George P Larrick becomes Commissioner of Food and Drugs
On Aug. 12, 1954, George P. Larrick becomes Commissioner of Food and Drugs. In 1937, he was responsible…
Roger Bannister, a British medical student, became the first person to run a sub four minute mile
On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister, a 25-year-old British medical student, becomes the first person to run a…
The largest controlled Polio vaccine field trial in the history of medicine got under way
On Apr. 26, 1954, the largest controlled Polio vaccine field trial in the history of medicine got under…