First sign of antibiotic resistance to Penicillin was reported
In 1940, Edard Abraham and Ernst Chain reported that an E. coli strain was able to inactivate penicillin…
The Squibb Institute obtained cultures of penicillium notatum from the UK and developed deep tank fermentation processes for production of penicillin
In 1940, Squibb obtained cultures of penicillium notatum from the U.K. and developed deep tank fermentation processes for…
Biochemist and bacteriologist Ruby Hirose was recognized by the American Chemical Society for accomplishments in chemistry
In 1940, biochemist and bacteriologist Ruby Hirose was recognized by the American Chemical Society for accomplishments in chemistry….
The McArdle Laboratory was founded in Madison
In 1940, the McArdle Memorial Laboratory was founded in Madison. McArdle Lab was one of the first basic…
Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | Life Science History | NIH | Oncology | Rare Disease | Therapeutics
The U.S. government established a national blood collection program
In 1940, the U.S. government established a national blood collection program. That same year the National Research Council…
Edwin Cohn developed cold ethanol fractionation
In 1940, Edwin Cohn, a professor of biological chemistry at Harvard Medical School, developed cold ethanol fractionation, the…
Charles R Drew began blood processing program for English war victims: Plasma for Britain
In 1940, Charles R. Drew, MD, an African American surgeon and Howard University researcher, began an early blood…
American Oswald Avery isolated pure DNA for the first time, what he called the transforming factor
In 1940, American Oswald Avery precipitates a pure sample of what he calls the transforming factor; he has…
Baseball legend Lou Gehrig delivered the famous farewell speech bidding to fans
On Jul. 4, 1939, baseball legend Lou Gehrig delivered the famous speech bidding farewell to the ballpark and…
Storrs Agricultural School became the University of Connecticut
On Jul. 1, 1939, Storrs Agricultural School became the University of Connecticut. Many in the University community believed…
The first large-scale deliberate release of bacteria into the environment was conducted
In 1939, the first large-scale deliberate release of bacteria into the environment takes place when Bp is sprayed…
First Food Standards issued (canned tomatoes, tomato puree, and tomato paste)
In 1939, the First Food Standards were issued (canned tomatoes, tomato puree, and tomato paste). The standards looked…
The University of Iowa researcher WD “Shorty” Paul developed the concept for buffered aspirin
In 1939, University of Iowa researcher W.D. “Shorty” Paul developed the concept for buffered aspirin. In 1917, the…
Embryologist E.E. Just published The Biology of the Cell Surface
In 1939, embryologist E.E. Just published The Biology of the Cell Surface, and pioneered ideas about the importance…
Lewis L. Coriell pioneered techniques for characterizing, freezing, and storing non-contaminated cell cultures
In 1939, Lewis L. Coriell published a paper on an aspect of science he would revolutionize: His pioneering…
Sister Kenny introduced methods of hot-pack applications, stretching, and muscle massage for polio
In 1939, Elizabeth Kenny, or Sister Kenny, as nurses were called in Australia, came to the U.S. in…
Rene Dubos isolates gramicidin, an antibiotic, from a common soil microbe
In 1939, Rene Dubos isolated gramicidin, an antibiotic, from a common soil microbe. His discovery helps cure a…
National Malaria Society was founded
In 1939, the National Malaria Society was founded. In 1951, the criteria for eradication as put forth by…
Louis Schwartz and H. R. Foerster described industrial dermatitis and melanosis due to photosensitization
In 1939, Louis Schwartz and H. R. Foerster described industrial dermatitis and melanosis due to photosensitization.
NIH scientists first identified type II cell of pulmonary alveolus as the cell of origin of the common alveologenic tumours of the lungs
In 1939, Hugh G. Grady and Harold L. Stewart first identified the type II cell of the pulmonary…
Margaret Pittman showed that sulfapyradine was effective against nontype-specific Haemophilus influenzae
In 1939, Margaret Pittman showed that sulfapyradine was effective against nontype-specific Haemophilus influenzae. Pittman discovered that there are…
Agriculture | Biology | Diagnostics | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | NIH | Therapeutics | Vaccine
Herald R. Cox discovered that rickettsiae could be cultivated successfully in the yolk-sacs of chick embryos
On Dec. 23, 1938, Herald R. Cox published: Use of Yolk Sac of Developing Chick Embryo as Medium…
Albert Hofmann synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)
On Nov. 16, 1938, Albert Hofmann at Sandoz synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). LSD-25, as originally known when…
Mary Mallon, also known as Typhoid Mary, died in quarantine on North Brother Island near New York
On Nov. 11, 1938, Mary Mallon, also known as Typhoid Mary and the first person in the U.S.,…
Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | Life Science History | Non-Profit Research | Oncology | Radiology | Therapeutics | Women's Health
The British Columbia Cancer Institute opened in Vancouver
On Nov. 5, 1938, the British Columbia Cancer Institute, BC Cancer’s first cancer treatment centre officially opened in…
The Squibb Institute for Medical Research was established in New Brunswick, New Jersey
On Oct. 11, 1938, the Squibb Biological Laboratories, New Brunswick, New Jersey, established a new laboratory for the…
Robert Gross performed the first successful corrective heart surgery for children
On Aug. 26, 1938, Robert Gross then Chief Resident in Surgery at Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, performed…
Biology | FDA | Life Science History | Medicine | NIH | Pharmaceutical | Therapeutics | U.S. Congress
U.S. Congress passed the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
On Jun. 25, 1938, the U.S. Congress passed the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with new provisions….
The Priestley Medal was awarded to Marston T. Bogert
In 1938, the Priestley Medal was awarded to Marston T. Bogert by the American Chemical Society “to recognize…
Toxoplasma gondii was identified in humans
On May 23, 1938, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondi) was identified in humans gondii was identified in an infant…