Officials discover polio cases after vaccine produced by Cutter Laboratories accidently contained live virus
On Apr. 26, 1955, Officials first noticed an increase in reported polio cases in California. Soon it was…
The Cutter Incident, a production error, caused some polio vaccine to be tainted with live polio virus
In 1955, Cutter Laboratories, located in Berkeley, California and one of several companies licensed by the U.S. government…
The University of California Radiation Laboratory (Livermore) acquired Univac, the Lab’s first computer
On Mar. 1, 1953, the University of California Radiation Laboratory, now known as the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory…
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies was founded in LaJolla, California
In 1953, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies was founded in LaJolla, California. For more than a year,…
The University of California Radiation Laboratory (Livermore) was founded
On Sept. 2, 1952, the University of California Radiation Laboratory, now known as the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory…
Diagnostics | Environmental | Life Science History | Medical Device | Non-Profit Research | Therapeutics
Founders day at The University of California Radiation Laboratory (Livermore)
On Aug. 26, 1952, Founders Day marks the date that Ernest Lawrence received permission to open up a…
Stanford Medicine researchers discovered a new class of immune response genes
In 1952, Stanford Medicine researchers discovered a new class of immune response genes, suggesting for the first time…
The Arthritis National Research Foundation was incorporated as California nonprofit to fund arthritis research
In 1952, the Arthritis National Research Foundation was incorporated as California nonprofit to fund arthritis research. The organization…
Felix Bloch and Edward Mills Purcell were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics
In 1952, Felix Bloch at Stanford University and Edward Mills Purcell at Harvard University were awarded the Nobel…
The Stanford Research Park was created
In 1951, the Stanford Research Park was created in response to the demand for industrial land near university…
The U.S. Army tests the spread and survival of simulants (Serratia marcescens bacteria) by spraying them over San Francisco
In 1950, the U.S. Army tests the spread and survival of simulants, which are actually Serratia marcescens bacteria,…
Dr. Isabella Aiona Abbot became the first Native Hawaiian woman to receive a doctoral degree in the field of science
In 1950, Dr. Isabella Aiona Abbot became the first Native Hawaiian woman to receive a doctoral degree in…
Sandia Corporation started managing Sandia Laboratory
On Nov. 2, 1949, Sandia Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Electric, took over management of Sandia…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | Disease | Life Science News | Medicine | Non-Profit Research | Therapeutics
University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) established the Cancer Research Institute
In 1947, The first attempt at coordinating cancer at University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) was a…
The Laboratory of Experimental Oncology was founded by the city of San Francisco, the NCI and the UC School of Medicine
In 1947, the Laboratory of Experimental Oncology (LEO) was founded as a collaborative effort between the city of…
The Stanford Research Institute was founded
in 1946, Stanford Research Institute, now known as the SRI International (SRI) was founded by the trustees of…
Sandia National Laboratories was founded
Sandia began in 1945 as Z Division, the ordnance design, testing, and assembly arm of Los Alamos National…
UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation was Established
In 1945, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation was founded by a group…
Joseph Erlanger was awarded Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
In 1944, Joseph Erlanger, native of San Francisco and graduate of the University of California (B.Sc.), was awarded…
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….
Radioactive isotope first used to treat human disease
On Dec. 24, 1936, John Lawrence, known as the “father of nuclear medicine,” treated a a 28-year-old patient…
Thomas Hunt Morgan awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his chromosome theory of heredity
In 1933, Thomas Hunt Morgan was was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his chromosome…
Ellen Browning Scripps left $300,000 in her will to the Metabolic Clinic for research
In 1932, When Ellen Browning Scripps passed away at the age of 95, she left $300,000 (or the…
The Tumor Instutute of the Swedish Hospital opened its doors
In 1932, the Tumor Institute of the Swedish Hospital opened its doors. Children’s Orthopedic Hospital Association, later known…
Stanley Miller, an American chemist and biologist known for his studies into the origin of life, was born in Oakland, California
On Mar. 7, 1930, Stanley Miller, an American chemist and biologist known for his studies into the origin…
Dr. Eaton MacKay was invited from Stanford to become the first director of research at the Scripps Metabolic Clinic
In 1928, Dr. Eaton MacKay was invited from Stanford University to become the first director of research at…
The Scripps Metabolic Clinic was founded
On Dec. 11, 1924, The Scripps Metabolic Clinic, a predecessor of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), was founded…
Edward W Scripps, a renowned journalist, and William Emerson Ritter, a California zoologist, founded Science Service
In 1921, Edward W. Scripps, a renowned journalist, and William Emerson Ritter, a California zoologist, founded Science Service,…
Following another increase in influenza cases among children, the LA Board of Education ordered all public schools closed
On Dec. 10, 1918, following another increase in influenza cases among children, the Los Angeles Board of Education…
Los Angeles experienced a lower epidemic death rate than many other American cities: 494 deaths per 100,000 people
By the end of the 1918 influenza epidemic, Los Angeles experienced a lower epidemic death rate than many…