California closed the Genetic Resources Conservation Program
On Jun. 30, 1988, The California Genetic Resources Conservation Program was closed by the Division. In 1985, California…
Stanford Medicine researchers Isolated pure hematopoietic stem cells from mice
In 1988, pathologist Irving Weissman from Stanford Medicine isolated a rare mouse cell, known as the hematopoetic stem…
Agriculture | Biotechnology | FDA | USDA
Advanced Genetic Sciences announced Frostban bacteria successfully protected strawberries from below-freezing temperatures
On Jun. 8, 1987, Advanced Genetic Sciences announced that its Frostban (Ice-minus) bacteria successfully protected strawberries from below-freezing…
Agriculture | Biotechnology | Environmental | EPA | USDA
Vandals uprooted plants being studied with ice-minus bacterium on a half-acre site at university field station near Tulelake, California
On May 26, 1987, vandals uprooted approximately 3,000 potato plants being studied with ice-minus bacterium on a half-acre…
University of California, Berkeley plant pathologist planted potato tubers treated with the ice-minus bacterium
On Apr. 29, 1987, University of California, Berkeley plant pathologist Steven Lindow field-tested genetically altered Pseudomonas syringae (known…
Frostban sprayed on acre of strawberry plants marking the first release of genetically altered bacteria in the U.S.
On Apr. 24, 1987, Advanced Genetic Sciences (AGS) sprayed Frostban on an acre of strawberry plants in Brentwood,…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to John D. Roberts
In 1987, the the American Chemical Society awarded the Priestley Medal to John D. Roberts ‘for his numerous…
UC San Diego Alumnus Susumu Tonegawa was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine
In 1987, University of California, San Diego Alumnus Susumu Tonegawa was awarded he Nobel Prize for Physiology or…
Genentech drug Activase (alteplase) was approved
In 1987, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Genentech’s drug tPA Activase (alteplase). Activase is a…
Richard Lerner was appointed The Scripps Research Institute’s new director
In 1987, Richard Lerner, chair of the Scripps Department of Molecular Biology, was appointed the research institute’s new…
Eli Lilly acquired Hybritech
On Mar. 19, 1986, Eli Lilly acquired San Diego-based Hybritech for $300 million. Hybritech was a leading producer…
FDA approved Hybritech antibody test for prostate cancer – a first
In February 1986, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Hybritech’s Tandem-R PSA assay (P850048) with calibration…
UC San Diego was designated one of eight national centers for research and treatment of AIDS
In 1986, University of California San Diego Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) was designated one of eight national…
Biotechnology | Disease | FDA | Therapeutics
FDA approved human growth hormone
On Oct. 18, 1985, Genentech received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its first medicine, Protropin…
Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD) was founded
In 1985, the CDIPD was founded as an NIH-NIAID-supported Tropical Disease Research Unit (TDRU) at University of California,…
California launched its own Genetic Resources Conservation Program
In 1985, California becomes the first state to launch its own Genetic Resources Conservation Program. Designed to preserve…
Scientists discovered the HER2 gene
In 1985, the HER2 oncogene was discovered by Axel Ullrich, a young scientist at Genentech. The new oncogene…
The Hatch-Waxman Act was passed to encourage development of generic prescription drugs
On Sept. 24, 1984 the Hatch-Waxman Act (Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act) was passed to…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to Linus Pauling
In 1984, the American Chemical Society (ACS) awarded the Priestley Medal to Linus Pauling ‘for his numerous contributions…
Stanford Medicine researchers Isolated a gene coding for part of the T-cell receptor
On Mar. 8, 1984, two articles describing the cloning of the T-Cell Receptor (TCR) by Tak Wah Mak…
The San Diego County Trauma System was estalished
In 1984, University of California, San Diego Trauma Center (UC San Diego) joined with six other area hospitals…
Lawrence Livermore researchers published solution to chromosome painting
In 1984, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers published their solution to chromosome painting that has been widely adopted….
Robert Bruce Merrifield awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry
In 1984, Robert Bruce Merrifield a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles (Ph.D. 1949) was…
The USDA and University of California announced plans to create the Plant Gene Expression Center
In 1984, the USDA and the University of California announce plans to create the Plant Gene Expression Center,…
Amgen issued its Initial Public Offering
On Jun. 17, 1983, Applied Molecular Genetics (AMGen), led by CFO Gordon Binder issued its Initial Public Offering…
The USC Kenneth Norris Jr. Cancer Hospital and Research Institute was dedicated
On Feb. 3, 1983, the University of Southern California Kenneth Norris Jr. Cancer Hospital and Research Institute (USC…
Agriculture | Biotechnology | Environmental | EPA | NIH
National Institute of Health unanimously approved Lindow test
In 1983, the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee unanimously approved Lindow test. Stephen Lindow,…
Dr. Patricia Bath became the first woman to chair an ophthalmology residency program in the U.S.
In 1983, Dr. Patricia E. Bath became the first woman to chair an ophthalmology residency program in the…
UC Berkeley’s Steven Lindow was the first to ask permission to deliberately release genetically engineered microbes into the environment
In 1982, Steven Lindow from the University of California, Berkeley, was the first to ask permission to deliberately…
Biotechnology | CDC | Diagnostics | Disease | Rare Disease
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first cases of AIDS
On Jun. 5, 1981, Dr. Michael Gottlieb and colleagues of University of California at Los Angeles reported a…