Influenza vaccine developed to protect U.S. military forces
In 1938, Thomas Francis, Jr., MD and Jonas Salk, MD served as lead researchers at the University of…
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 U.S. Congress, was signed by…
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…
A bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate to overhaul the 1906 drug law
On Jun. 12, 1933, a bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by New York Senator Royal S….
The FDA recommended a complete revision of the obsolete 1906 Food and Drugs Act
In 1933, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended a complete revision of the obsolete 1906 Food and…
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…
Influenza had made its way to Jefferson Barracks, outside St Louis, and cases began to rise
By Oct. 1, 1918, influenza had made its way to Jefferson Barracks, just outside St. Louis, and cases…
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Sherley Amendment to the Pure Food and Drugs Act was constitutional
On Jan. 10, 1916, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Sherley Amendment to the Pure Food and Drugs…
The Harrison Narcotic Act was passed, mandating narcotic and prescription drug requirements
On Dec. 17, 1914. the Harrison Narcotic Act was passed by the U.S. Congress which mandated narcotic and…
Dr. Harvey Wiley, “Father of the Pure Food and Drugs Act,” resigned as chief of the agency that became FDA
On Mar. 15, 1912, Dr. Harvey Wiley, “Father of the Pure Food and Drugs Act,” resigned as chief…
Congress enacted the Sherley Amendment to over come the ruling in US v Johnson
In 1912, U.S. Congress enacted the Sherley Amendment in 1912 to overcome the 1910 ruling in U.S. v….
Biology | Diagnostics | FDA | Life Science History | Medical Device | NIH | Nutraceuticals | Oncology | Pharmaceutical | Stem Cell | U.S. Congress | Women's Health
The Supreme Court ruled the 1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act does not prohibit false therapeutic claims
On May 29, 1911, in U.S. v. Johnson, the Supreme Court ruled that the 1906 Pure Food and…
Upton Sinclair’s book ‘The Jungle’ was published
On Feb. 27, 1906, Upton Sinclair’s book The Jungle was published. The book gave graphic descriptions of the…
In Jacobson v. Massachusetts, 197 U.S. 11, the Supreme Court argued the Case on compulsory vaccination
On Dec. 6, 1904, the U.S. Supreme Court argued the case requiring a compulsory vaccination law. The Court…
cartoon: uncle sam’s christmas Presents
Uncle Sam’s Christmas Presents by Bob Satterfield. The cartoon depicts Uncle Sam having received several cigars as Christmas…
Congress appropriates $5,000 to the Bureau of Chemistry to study chemical preservatives
In 1902, the U.S. Congress appropriated $5,000 to the Bureau of Chemistry (Bureau) to study chemical preservatives and…
The West Florida Seminary became Florida State College
In 1901, the West Florida Seminary was renamed “Florida State College” in order to reflect changes that had…
In St. Louis, 13 children died of tetanus-contaminated diphtheria antitoxin
In 1901, diphtheria patients were routinely treated with antitoxin derived from the blood serum of horses. After 13…
The city of San Francisco’s quarantine of Chinatown was ruled discriminatory
In 1900, the city of San Francisco’s quarantine of Chinatown ruled discriminatory, but city health officials conducted house-to-house…