The U.S. Army tests the spread and survival of simulants (Serratia marcescens bacteria) by spraying them over San Francisco
In 1950, the U.S. Army tests the spread and survival of simulants, which are actually Serratia marcescens bacteria,…
The CDC formed a committee on air-borne disease studies
In 1950, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) formed a committee on air-borne disease studies,…
Sidney Farber and colleagues achieved the first remissions in Wilms tumor of the kidney
In 1950, Sidney Farber and colleagues achieved the first remissions in Wilms tumor of the kidney, a common…
Schepens Eye Research Institute was founded
In 1950, Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear was founded to fight blindness by developing…
The Michigan Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society began sponsoring new cancer research and outreach activities
In 1950, the Michigan Cancer Foundation and the American Cancer Society began sponsoring new cancer research and outreach…
Dr. C. Walton Lillehei performed surgery using the world’s first small, portable, battery-powered pacemaker
In 1950, Dr. C. Walton Lillehei at the University of Minnesota (UMN) performed surgery on Mike Shaw from…
At the University of Toronto, the first external cardiac pacemaker was implanted in a dog
In 1950, in Room 64 of the Banting Institute at the University of Toronto, Drs. Wilfred Bigelow and…
The Medical College of South Carolina admitted its first students to the Graduate Studies Program
In 1950, the MCSC admitted its first students to the Graduate Studies Program. The College of Graduate Studies…
Michael E DeBakey, MD, recruited by Baylor College of Medicine in Houston as its new Chairman of Surgery
In 1950, Michael E. DeBakey, M.D. was recruited by Baylor College of Medicine in Houston as its new…
Prosthetic designers gradually replace wood and leather with newer materials
In 1950, Prosthetic designers gradually replaced wood and leather with newer materials. J.E. Hanger of Washington created a…
Dr. Isabella Aiona Abbot became the first Native Hawaiian woman to receive a doctoral degree in the field of science
In 1950, by the age of 31 Dr. Isabella Aiona Abbot had received a PhD in botany from…
Sandia Corporation started managing Sandia Laboratory
On Nov. 2, 1949, Sandia Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Electric, took over management of Sandia…
Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | Life Science History | Medicine | Non-Profit Research | Therapeutics
The University of Washington Health Sciences Building was dedicated
On Oct. 9, 1949, the University of Washington’s Health Sciences Building was dedicated on the university’s Seattle campus….
Sir Alexander Fleming dedicated Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation’s yet-to-be-completed building
On Jul. 4, 1949, Sir Alexander Fleming, the scientist who discovered penicillin, made his first visit to the…
Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | Medicine | Non-Profit Research | Therapeutics
Construction of the original Madigan General Hospital began at Fort Lewis
In Jul. 1943, Construction of the original Madigan General Hospital began during the height of World War II…
Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis (DTP) was licensed
On May 4, 1949, the diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis (DTP) vaccine was licensed. A greater than…
May was declared as Mental Health Awareness Month
May 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month was first declared. In 2006, Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day was chosen…
Louis Olivier published “The Penetration of Dermatitis-Producing Schistosome Cercariae”
On Mar. 2, 1949, Louis Olivier published “The Penetration of Dermatitis-Producing Schistosome Cercariae” in the American Journal of…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to Arthur B. Lamb
In 1949, the American Chemical Society awarded the Priestley Medal to Arthur B. Lamb ‘for his numerous contributions…
Burkholderia cepacia first described
In 1949, Walter Hagemeyer Burkholder, a pioneer in bacterial taxonomy, described the bacteria, Pseudomonas cepacia, now known as…
The FDA approved nitrogen mustard (mechlorethamine) to kill cancer cells
In 1949, the FDA approved nitrogen mustard to kill cancer cells.
The last reported case of smallpox in the United States occurred
In 1949, the last reported case of smallpox in the U.S. occurred. Although it took another two decades…
The US blood system reached a benchmark of 1,500 hospital blood banks, 46 community blood centers, and 31 American Red Cross regional blood centers
In 1949, the U.S. blood system reached a benchmark of 1,500 hospital blood banks, 46 community blood centers,…
FDA published guidance to industry known as the “black book”
In 1949, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published guidance to industry for the first time. This guidance,…
The first artifical heart pump developed
In 1949, the first artificial heart pump was developed at Yale by William H. Sewell and William W….
John Enders, Thomas Weller and Frederick Robbins grew poliovirus in culture, paving the way for polio vaccines
In 1949, at Harvard, John F. Enders, Ph.D., a Yale College graduate, Frederick C. Robbins, M.D., and Thomas…
Ancel Keyes, MD founded the University of Minnesota’s Laboratory of Physiologic Hygiene
In 1949, Ancel Keyes, M.D. founded the University of Minnesota’s Laboratory of Physiologic Hygiene for research on physiology,…
Ethicon was formed from Johnsonï¾ &ï¾ Johnson’s heritage suture business
In 1949, Ethicon was formed from Johnson ï¾ &ï¾ Johnson’s heritage suture business.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was founded
In 1949, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) was founded in New York. The LLS mission is to…
Dr. Jonas Salk began classifying more than 100 strains of poliovirus
In 1949, Dr. Jonas Salk, with grants from the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, the Pitt team and…