The first biotech drug, human insulin produced in genetically modified bacteria, was approved by FDA
On Oct. 28, 1982, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Humulin, Eli Lily’s recombinant insulin made…
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…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first cases of AIDS
On Jun. 5, 1981, Pneumocystis Pneumonia, Los Angeles, by Dr. Michael Gottlieb and colleagues of University of California…
University of California, San Francisco performed the first succesful fetal surgery
On May 10, 1981, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) performed the first successful fetal surgery, correcting a…
Stanford Medicine performed first successful human combined heart/lung transplant in the world
On Mar. 9, 1981, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Bruce Reitz from Stanford Medicine performed the first successful human combined…
The City of Hope Cancer Center received NCI-designation
In 1981, the National Cancer Institute (NC) awarded The City of Hope Cancer Center NCI-designation. City of Hope’s…
The La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation (Burnham Institute) received its NCI-designation
In 1981, the La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation, the Cancer Center received its National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designation. The…
Stanford Medicine researchers first reported successful use of monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer
In 1981, Stanford oncologist Ronald Levy reported the first successful use of monoclonal antibodies, which are laboratory-created molecules…
Roger W. Sperry was awarded Nobel Prize in Medicine
In 1981, Roger W. Sperry of the California Institute of Technology was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology…
John Wayne Cancer Institute was founded
In 1981, John Wayne Cancer Institute (formerly known as the John Wayne Cancer Clinic) was founded to promote…
Hybritech issued its Initial Public Offering
In 1981, Hybritech issued its Initial Public Offering (IPO) and raised $12 million, and $33 million in a…
Imre Corp was founded
In 1981, Imre Corp. (Immune Response Systems, Inc.) was founded in Seattle. The company developed the Prosorba Column,…
Stanford Medicine researchers first created a human hybridoma cell line
On Nov. 7, 1980, Stanford University researchers Henry Kaplan and Lennart Olsson announced they had created cells to…
Genentech made history on Wall Street with the first biotechnology public offering
On Oct. 14, 1980, the first biotechnology public offering — Genentech makes history on Wall Street when just…
AMGen (Applied Molecular Genetics) was founded
On Apr. 8, 1980, AMGen (Applied Molecular Genetics) was established in Thousand Oaks, California with George B. Rathmann…
Stanford Hospital Department of Pharmacology faculty expressed opposition to aerial spraying of Malathion to combat Mediterranean fruit fly
In 1980, faculty members in the Stanford University’s Department of Pharmacology publicly expressed their opposition to the proposed…
Lawrence Livermore became a National Laboratory
On Dec. 27, 1979, the U.S. Congress approved the change of the Laboratory’s name to Lawrence Livermore National…
Ground was broken for the USC Kenneth Norris Jr. Cancer Hospital and Research Institute
On May 10, 1979, ground was broken for the University of Southern Califrona Kenneth Norris Jr. Cancer Hospital…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to Glenn Seaborg
In 1979, the American Chemical Society awarded the Priestley Medal to Glenn Seaborg ‘for his numerous contributions to…
Stanford Medicine researchers discovered dynorphin, a brain chemical 200 times more powerful than morphine
On Dec. 21, 1979, Stanford Medicine pharmacologist Avram Goldstein announced the discovery of dynorphin – a chemical in…
Gladstone Institutes was founded
In 1979, the Gladstone Institutes was founded from an endowment from J. David Gladstone, a self-made man who…
The University of California, San Diego Cancer Center was founded
In 1978, the University of California, San Diego Cancer Center was founded as one of just 45 National…
UC-Berkeley scientist Choh Hao Li discovered Beta-endorphin, a substance produced in the brain that acts as a pain killer
In 1978, University of California, Berkeley (UC-Berkeley) scientist Choh Hao Li discovers Beta-endorphin, a substance produced in the…
Hybritech was founded in San Diego
In 1978, Hybritech was founded by cancer researcher Ivor Royston and lab technician Howard Birndorf of the University…
Donald Kennedy, Ph.D., became Commissioner of Food and Drugs
On Apr. 4, 1977, Donald Kennedy, Ph.D., became Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Kennedy,…
Charles C. Edwards was named president and CEO of Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation
In 1977, Charles C. Edwards, formerly the nation’s top government health official, was named president and CEO of…
The Stanford Research Institute changed its name to SRI International
In 1977, Stanford Research Institute changed its name to SRI International. Stanford Research Institute, now known as the…
The La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation, now the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute was founded
On Jul. 7, 1976 , the La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation, now the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery…
Genentech was founded
On Apr. 7, 1976, Genentech was founded by venture capitalist Robert Swanson and biochemist Dr. Herbert Boyer. In…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to George S. Hammond
In 1976, the Priestley Medal was awarded to George S. Hammond by the American Chemical Society “to recognize…