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 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…
Congress passed the Small Business Act that created the U.S. Small Business Administration
On Jul. 30, 1953, the U.S. Small Business Administration was official with the Small Business Act, but it…
The Federal Security Agency became the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
On Apr. 11, 1953, the Federal Security Agency (FSA) becomes the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare…
Factory Inspection Amendment required FDA to give manufacturers written reports of conditions observed during inspections
In 1953, the U.S. Congress enacted the Factory Inspection Amendment which clarified previous law and required the U.S….
World Federation of the Deaf was established
On Sept. 23, 1951, the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) was established in Rome during the first…
Sandia Corporation started managing Sandia Laboratory
On Nov. 2, 1949, Sandia Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Electric, took over management of Sandia…
Sandia National Laboratories was founded
Sandia began in 1945 as Z Division, the ordnance design, testing, and assembly arm of Los Alamos National…
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt wrote Vannevar Bush setting in motion the National Science Foundation
On Nov. 17, 1944, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt wrote a letter to to Vannevar Bush, head of the…
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…
Mike Mansfield elected to represent Montana in US Congress
In 1943, Mike Mansfield served Montana as Representative and Senator in the U.S. Congress for thiry-four years, and…
Insulin Amendment required the FDA to test and certify purity and potency of diabetes drug
In 1941, the Insulin Amendment, passed Congress and required all batches of insulin to be tested for purity,…
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…
The Federal Trade Commission was charged with overseeing advertising associated with products otherwise regulated by FDA
In 1938, under the Wheeler-Lea Act passed by the U.S. Congress, the Federal Trade Commission is charged with…
U.S. Congress investigated the Elixir Sulfanilamide tragedy that poisoned more than 100 people
On Nov. 16, 1937, the U.S. Congress directed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to give a full…
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 Congress, was signed by President…
Congressman Maury Maverick of Texas introduced HR 6767 to establish a National Cancer Center
On Apr. 29, 1937, U.S. Congressman Maury Maverick of Texas introduced H.R. 6767, “To promote research in the…
Senator Homer T. Bone introduced a bill “to control and prevent the spread of the disease of cancer”
On Apr. 2, 1937, Senator Homer T. Bone of Washington introduced S. 2067, “Authorizing the Surgeon General of…
Biology | Disease | Life Science History | Medicine | NIH | Therapeutics | U.S. Congress
The National Institute of Health was established by the Ransdell Act
In 1930, the Ransdell Act changed the name of the Hygienic Laboratory to National Institute (singular) of Health…
The name of the Food, Drug, and Insecticide Administration was shortened to Food and Drug Administration
In 1930, the name of the Food, Drug, and Insecticide Administration was shortened to Food and Drug Administration…
U.S. Congress passed the Plant Patent Act
In 1930, the U.S. Congress passed the Plant Patent Act, recognizing for the first time that plant breeders’…
Senator W J Harris, Georgia, introduced Senate bill 4531 which authorized a survey in connection with the control of cancer
On May 29, 1929, Senator W. J. Harris, Georgia, introduced S. 4531, authorizing a survey in connection with…
The Walter Reed Medal, a military decoration of the US Army, was created
On Feb. 28, 1929, the Walter Reed Medal, a military decoration of the U.S. Army was created by…
National Academy of Sciences authorized to investigate federal aid in discovering a cure for cancer
On Mar. 7, 1928, Senator Matthew Neely (D) of West Virginia introduced S. 3554, “To authorize the National…
Disease | Life Science History | Medicine | NIH | Non-Profit Research | Oncology | Radiology | Therapeutics | U.S. Congress
The ‘sword symbol’ of the American Society for the Control of Cancer was adopted
In 1928, the sword symbol of the Americal Cancer Society (ASCC) came from a 1928 nationwide poster contest…
Senator Matthew Neely proposed legislation offering a $5 million reward for a cancer cure discovery
On Feb. 4, 1927, a decade before the National Cancer Institute (NCI) was established, Senator Matthew Neely (D)…
Congress voted to cut off the Seed Distribution Program
In 1925, the U.S. Congress voted to cut off its expensive Seed Distribution Program, which had consumed more…
Biology | Disease | Environmental | EPA | FDA | Life Science History | Neurology | U.S. Congress
William Mansfield Clark alerted the public to the dangers of tetraethyl lead in gasoline
In 1923, William Mansfield Clark from the U.S. Department of Agriculture alerted the public to the dangers of…