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…
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…
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The World Health Organization was founded in Geneva
On Apr. 7, 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) was founded and is today the United Nations agency…
World Health Organization Influenza Centre was established in London
In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) Influenza Centre was established at the National Institute for Medical Research…
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…
Biology | Influenza | Life Science History | Polio | Vaccine
Dr. Isabel M. Morgan demonstrated that chemically inactivated poliovirus would induce immunity
In 1948, Dr. Isabel M. Morgan led a team that successfully inoculated monkeys with a killed-virurs vaccine. From…
CDC | FDA | Life Science History | Vaccine
Combination diphtheria and tetanus toxoids for pediatric use was first licensed in the U.S.
In 1947, a combination diphtheria and tetanus toxoids for pediatric use was first licensed in the U.S. After…
Investigators determined antigenic changes rendered existing flu vaccines ineffective
In 1947, during the seasonal flu epidemic, investigators determined that changes in the antigenic composition of circulating influenza…
Dr. Jonas Salk was recruited to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
In 1947, Dr. Jonas Salk was recruited from the University of Michigan by Dr. William S. McEllroy, dean…
An outbreak of influenza occurred in Japan and Korea in American troops
In late 1946, an outbreak of influenza occurred in Japan and Korea in American troops. It spread in…
Inactivated influenza vaccine was first licensed in the U.S.
In 1945, the inactivated influenza vaccine was first licensed in the U.S. The first vaccine was an inactivated,…
Karl Habel and John Enders isolated the mumps virus
In 1945, Karl Habel and John Enders isolated the mumps virus. Habel and Enders had successfully cultivated the…
Disease | FDA | Life Science History | Medicine | Vaccine
Paul B. Dunbar, PhD, became Commissioner of Food and Drugs
On May. 1, 1944, Paul B. Dunbar, Ph.D., becomes Commissioner of Food and Drugs. His tenure as commissioner…
Use of cell cultures for virus growth was discovered
In 1944, the use of cell cultures for virus growth was discovered. This allowed viruses to be cultured…
Margaret Pittman began work on the intracerebral challenge potency assay for pertussis vaccine
In 1943, Margaret Pittman began work on the intracerebral challenge potency assay for pertussis vaccine. The standardization effected…
Dr. Jonas Salk arrived at the University of Michigan School of Public Health
In 1942, Dr. Jonas Salk arrived at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Techniques earned there…
Connaught Laboratories developed the first combined vaccines for diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus
In 1941, Connaught Laboratories at the University of Toronto developed the first combined vaccines for diphtheria, pertussis, and…
Karl Habel produced an improved, killed rabies vaccine that eliminated foreign brain tissue caused paralysis
On Sept. 6, 1940, Karl Habel produced an improved, killed rabies vaccine that eliminated foreign brain tissue that…
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…
Gordon E. Davis and Herald R. Cox identified a new rickettsial disease, which they called Nine Mile Fever
In 1938, Gordon E. Davis and Herald R. Cox identified a new rickettsial disease, which they called Nine…
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…
Dr. Armand Frappier conducted the first studies to validate the tuberculosis vaccine
In 1938, Dr. Armand Frappier, at the Institut de Microbiologie et d’Hygiene de Montreal, conducted the first studies…
The Rocky Mountain Laboratory became part of the National Institute of Health
In 1937, the Rocky Mountain Laboratory became part of the National Institute of Health (NIH). During World War…
A live yellow fever vaccine was first licensed
In 1936, Max Theiler, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale (and later the Rockefeller Institute), and…
Albert Sabin and Peter Olitsky successfully grew poliovirus in a culture of brain tissue
In 1936, Albert Sabin and Peter Olitsky at the Rockefeller Institute successfully grew poliovirus in a culture of…
Maurice Brodie and John Kolmer test polio vaccines, with disastrous results
In 1935, Maurice Brodie, a research assistant at New York University, attempted to produce a formaldehyde-killed polio vaccine…
Ida A. Bengtson began standardization of antitoxin for six species of Clostridium which cause gas gangrene
In 1934, Ida A. Bengtson began standardization of antitoxin for six species of Clostridium which cause gas gangrene….
The Hygienic Laboratory changed its name to the National Institute (singular) of Health
In 1930, the Hygienic Laboratory changed its name to the National Institute (singular) of Health and authorized the…
Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine was first used in newborns
In 1927, Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine was first used in newborns, having been developed by Albert Calmette and…
Roscoe R Spencer and Ralph R Parker produced a vaccine against Rocky Mountain spotted fever
In 1924, Roscoe R. Spencer and Ralph R. Parker produced a vaccine against Rocky Mountain spotted fever, the…