Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) was approved by the FDA
On Nov. 16, 1959, Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), an alkylating agent designed to improve the selectivity of cancer drugs, was…
A Thanksgiving holiday cranberry crisis was averted
On Nov. 9, 1959, at the instruction of Arthur S. Flemming, the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare,…
OHSU transplanted its first organ, just the 18th successful kidney transplant in the world
On Oct. 9, 1959, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) transplanted its first organ, just the 18th successful…
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushcev visited the Iowa corn farm to verify impressive corn hybrid stories
On Sept. 23, 1959, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushcev visited the Iowa corn farm of seedman Roswell Garst to…
The National Medal of Science was established by the 86th Congress
On Aug. 25, 1959, the National Medal of Science was established by the 86th Congress as a Presidential…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to H. I. Schlesinger
In 1959, the Priestley Medal was awarded to H. I. Schlesinger by the American Chemical Society “to recognize…
Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | Life Science History | Medicine | Non-Profit Research | Therapeutics
The first major addition to the University of Washington Health Sciences Building was opened
On May 4, 1959, the first major addition to the University of Washington Health Sciences Building, an eight-story,…
Basic amphetamine nasal inhalers become available only by prescription
On Feb. 10, 1959, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that nasal inhalers containing basic amphetamine can…
Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | Life Science History | Medicine | Non-Profit Research | Therapeutics
Lester R. Sauvage, MDﾠ founded the Hope Heart Institute
In 1959, Lester R. Sauvage, MD founded the Reconstructive Cardiovascular Research Laboratory as a branch of Providence Seattle…
Bristol-Myers began acquiring consumer product companies
In 1959, Frederic N. Schwartz, president and CEO of Bristol-Myers, and then-treasurer Gavin K. MacBainﾗlater Schwartzﾒs successor as…
The Institute of Molecular Biology at the University of Oregon was founded
In 1959, the Institute of Molecular Biology at the University of Oregon was founded.
University of Western Ontario researchers developed the anti-cancer drug vinblastine
In 1959, University of Western Ontario researchers Dr. Charles Beer and Dr. Robert L. Noble developed the anti-cancer…
Johnsonﾠ &ﾠ Johnson acquired McNeil Laboratories
In 1959, Johnson ﾠ&ﾠ Johnson acquired McNeil Laboratories giving the Company a significant presence in the growing field…
Arnel Hallauer became director of ISU’s maize breeding program
In 1959, Arnel Hallauer became director of Iowa State University’s (ISU) maize breeding program. Hallauer was part of…
The CDC established a Staphylococcus Surveillance Unit
In 1959, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established a Staphylococcus Surveillance Unit to coordinate…
The CDC developed an antibody test for rabies that demonstrated 100 percent accuracy
In 1959, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed a fluorescent antibody test for rabies, with…
The first antiviral drug was developed at Yale
In 1959, William Prusoff of Yale University discovered idoxuridine, the first effective antiviral that fights herpes by interfering…
UC Davis plant biologists Ralph Stocking and Ernest Gifford discovered that plant chlorplasts contain DNA
In 1959, University of California, Davis plant biologists Ralph Stocking and Ernest Gifford discovered that plant chlorplasts contain…
Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | Life Science History | Medicine | Non-Profit Research | Polio | Therapeutics | Vaccine
The Salk Institute was envisioned
In 1959, the Salk Institute was initially envisioned by Jonas Salk, M.D., the developer of the polio vaccine,…
The Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation recruited biochemist A Baird Hastings from Harvard University
In 1959, the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation recruited noted biochemist A. Baird Hastings from Harvard University, whose…
Min Chueh Chang pioneered in vitro fertilization and co-invented the oral contraceptive pill
In 1959, Min Chueh Chang pioneered in vitro fertilization. He was also co-inventor of the oral contraceptive pill….
The Journal of the National Cancer Institute inaugurated a series of publications for in-depth scientific communications
In 1959, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute inaugurated a series of occasional publications as Monographs to…
Siemens launched the Auriculette 326 its first behind-the-ear hearing instrument
In 1959, Siemens, now Sivantos, launched the Auriculette 326 its first behind-the-ear hearing instrument. The history of electrical…