The rubella (measles) virus was attenuated by Paul Parkman and Harry Meyer, Jr
In 1965, the rubella virus was attenuated by a NIH research team lead by Paul Parkman and Harry…
CDC | Life Science History | NIH | Vaccine
The Immunization Practices Advisory Committee to the U.S. Public Health Service was formed
In March 1964, the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP) to the U.S. Public Health Service was formed to…
Diagnostics | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | Measles | NIH | Polio | U.S. Congress | Vaccine
U.S. Congress established the Immunization Grant Program
In 1963, the U.S. Congress established the Immunization Grant Program; polio incidence plummeted to only 396 reported cases…
Oral polio vaccine types 1 and 2 was developed by Dr. Albert Sabin
In 1962, oral polio vaccine types 1 and 2, developed by Dr. Albert Sabin and grown in monkey…
The Laboratory of Viral Oncology was established
On Jan. 12, 1961, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) established the Laboratory of Viral Oncology, a new intramural…
Biotechnology | NIH | Oncology | Therapeutics
The Eppley Cancer Center was founded
In 1960, The Eppley Cancer Center, now a National Cancer Institute Laboratory Cancer Research Center, began in the…
Arvid Carlsson discovered that levodopa (L-Dopa) was effective in treating the symptoms of Parkinsonism
In 1958, Arvid Carlsson discovered that levodopa (L-Dopa) was effective in treating the symptoms of Parkinsonism. a treatment…
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…
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…
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…
First large-scale radiological examination of food carried out by FDA
In 1954, first large-scale radiological examination of food carried out by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when…
Biotechnology | COVID-19 | Diagnostics | Life Science History | NIH | Non-Profit Research | Polio | Vaccine
Henrietta Lacks died from cervical cancer, and HeLa cell line was born
On Feb. 8, 1951, Henrietta Lacks, a tobacco farmer from Virginia died from cervical cancer, and a scientist…
Earl Stadtman of NIH discovered phosphotransacetylose, elucidating the role of acetyl CoA in fatty acid metabolism
In 1950, Earl Stadtman of the NIH discovered phosphotransacetylose, elucidating the role of acetyl CoA in fatty acid…
Robert W Berliner conducted work on renal physiology that led to a new theory concerning the mechanism of urinary excretion
In 1950, Robert W. Berliner of the NIH conducted work on renal physiology that led to a new…
The Rocky Mountain Laboratory became became part of National Microbiological Institute
In 1948, the National Institute of Health was reorganized into the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Rocky…
The Research Grants Office was created to administer the Office of Scientific Research and Development
In 1946, the Research Grants Office was created at NIH in January to administer the Office of Scientific…
Karl Habel cultivated mumps virus in embryonated eggs and devised serological tests for its presence
In 1945, Karl Habel cultivated mumps virus in embryonated eggs and devised serological tests for its presence. Habel…
Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | Life Science History | NIH | Oncology | Radiology | Therapeutics | Women's Health
NCI scientists published first monograph that showed the mouse breast cancer “agent” was a filterable virus
In 1945, W. Ray Bryan, Michael B. Shimkin, Howard B. Andervont, Herbert Kahler and Thelma B. Dunn published…
Wyckoff and Williams introduced the shadowing of electron microscope specimens
In 1945, scientists Ralph W. G. Wyckoff of the University of Michigan Department of Epidemiology and Robley Williams…
The National Cancer Institute became a division in the National Institute of Health
On Jul. 1, 1944, the Public Health Service Act, P.L. 410, 78th Congress, provided that “The National Cancer…
Carl Voegtlin resigned as director of the National Cancer Institute
On Sept. 4, 1943, Dr. Carl Voegtlin resigned as director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Dr. Voegtlin…
NIH scientists launched research that helped eliminate parasitic eggs and cysts from public water supplies
In 1942, Willard H. Wright, Eloise Cram, Walter Newton and their colleagues in the NIH Division of Zoologye…
President Franklin Roosevelt dedicated the first six buildings of NIH
On Oct. 31, 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt dedicated the first six buildings of the National Institutes of Health…
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…
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…
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…
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….
Carl Voegtlin became the first director of the National Cancer Institute
On Jan. 13, 1938, Dr. Carl Voegtlin became the first director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), established…
Margaret Pittman showed precipitin reaction around meningococcus colonies on immune serum was correlated with mouse potency assay
In 1938, Margaret Pittman showed that the precipitin reaction around meningococcus colonies on immune serum agar plates was…
Biology | Diagnostics | Life Science History | Medicine | NIH | Oncology | Therapeutics | U.S. Congress
President Franklin D Roosevelt signed the National Cancer Institute Act
On Aug. 5, 1937, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Act, P.L. 244, 75th U.S. Congress, was signed by…