The genome of the 1918 H1N1 pandemic influenza virus was sequenced
On Oct. 7, 2005, Jeffery Taubenberger, AH Reid, AE Krafft, Karen Bijwaard and Thomas Fanning published a report…
CDC announced that rubella was no longer endemic in the U.S.
On Mar. 21, 2005, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that a major public…
UI Microbiology Professor Mark Stinski made the discoveries of CMV promoter and was named Iowa Inventor of the Year
On Sept. 30, 2003, University of Iowa (UI) Microbiology Professor Mark Stinski made the discoveries of CMV promoter…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | Infectious Disease | Life Science News | Non-Profit Research | Therapeutics | Vaccine
OHSU announced collaboration with PNNL on biodefense project studying salmonella, pox viruses
On Sept. 14, 2004, researchers at OHSU and OHSU’s Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute announced a collaboration with…
Contracts awarded to Aventis Pasteur and Chiron to develop vaccine against H5N1 avian influenza virus
On May 27, 2004, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) announced it had awarded contracts…
Biotechnology | CDC | Diagnostics | Genomics | Infectious Disease | Life Science History | Therapeutics | Vaccine
The CDC responded to U.S. outbreak of mpox, first human Mpox outside of Africa
On Jul. 8, 2003, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) responded to U.S. outbreak of…
The first nasally administered influenza vaccine (FluMist by MedImmune) was licensed
On Jun. 17, 2003, the first nasally administered influenza vaccine (FluMist by MedImmune) was licensed. This live influenza…
Biotechnology | Disease | HIV | Life Science News | Vaccine
U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was established
On Jan. 26, 2003, President Bush, in his State of the Union Address, announced the Emergency Plan for…
Public health officials were concerned about re-emergence of H5N1 avian influenza
In 2003, public health officials reported the re-emergence of H5N1 avian influenza for the first time since an…
Genentech drug Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a) approved
On Dec. 3, 2002, Genentech drug Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…
World Health Organization confirmed an outbreak of Ebola in Gabon
On Dec. 12, 2001, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed an outbreak of Ebola in Gabon. The WHO…
Researchers discovered the E6 and E7 gene in HPV
On Nov. 28, 2001, researchers discovered the E6 and E7 gene in HPV virus, linking cervical cancer cell…
The Western Pacific Region was certified polio-free
On Dec. 29, 2000, the Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication certified that the Western Pacific…
The Western Pacific Region of the world was certified as polio-free
On Oct. 29, 2000, the Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication certified that the Western Pacific…
Kenya field-tested its first biotechnology crop, a virus-resistant sweet potato
On Aug. 22, 2000, researchers in Kenya announced they had field-tested twelve lines of sweetpotato variety CPT 560…
ACIP voted to withdraw their recommendation for rotavirus vaccine
On Oct. 22, 1999, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), after a review of scientific data from…
The CDC identified and responded to West Nile Virus in New York City
In August 1999, an outbreak of encephalitis caused by West Nile virus (WNV) was detected in New York…
ACIP recommended exclusive use of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) for infants and children
On Jun. 17, 1999, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP)…
The Hybrid Capture II human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test was approved by the FDA
On Mar. 17, 1999, the Hybrid Capture II human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test was approved by the U.S….
The Children’s Vaccine Program was established at WHO’s Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH)
On Aug. 26, 1998, the Children’s Vaccine Program was established at WHO’s Program for Appropriate Technology in Health…
The USDA began surveillance of Influenza virus in swine in the U.S.
In 1998, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began surveillance of swine for influenza virus in the U.S….
Dr. Patrick Lee developed a reovirus that can infect and kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells
In 1998, University of Calgary’s Dr. Patrick Lee revealed that reovirus injected in mice shrank tumours from brain…
Drs. John Harley and Judith James at the OMRF established a link between Epstein-Barr virus and lupus
On Dec. 15, 1997, scientists from the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) announced that Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (lupus)…
Enterovirus 71 epidemic reported in Malaysia
In 1997, the first Enterovirus 71 (EV71) epidemic was reported in Malaysia. EV71 is an important emerging pathogen…
ACIP recommended adoption of a sequential series of two doses of IPV followed by two doses of OPV for all infants and children
In 1997, the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP) recommended adoption of a sequential series of two doses of…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | Influenza | Life Science News | Vaccine | WHO
FluNet, a web-based flu surveillance tool, was launched by the WHO
In 1997, FluNet, a global web-based tool for influenza virological surveillance was launched. It is a critical tool…
First human infection with an avian influenza A H5N1 virus was identified in Hong Kong
In 1997, the H5N1 bird flu incident in Hong Kong was the first known instance of a purely…
The Interational AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) was launched
On Jun. 18, 1996, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) was launched, calling for the speedy development of…
Diagnostics | FDA | HIV | Life Science News
The FDA approved the first test for HIV antigen screening of blood donors
On Mar. 14, 1996, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of the first antigen…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | Infectious Disease | Influenza | Life Science News | Therapeutics | Vaccine
Avian influenza H5N1 virus was first isolated from a farmed goose in China
In 1996, A/goose/Guangdong/1/1996 (H5N1), the precursor of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) was identified in…