President Nixon appointed Jesse Leonard Steinfeld as US Surgeon General
On Dec. 18, 1969, President Nixon appointed Jesse Leonard Steinfeld as U.S. Surgeon General.
Charles Edwards, MD, became FDA commissioner
On Dec. 13, 1969, Charles Edwards, M.D., becomes FDA commissioner.
The White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health recommended systematic review of GRAS substances
On Dec. 2, 1969, the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health recommended systematic review of GRAS…
President Richard Nixon renounced the use of lethal biological agents and weapons
On Nov. 25, 1969, President Richard Nixon issued his “Statement on Chemical and Biological Defense Policies and Programs”…
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A proposal to establish “Earth Day” was submitted to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
On Oct. 3, 1969, a proposal to establish “Earth Day” was submitted by John McConnell to Peter Tamaris…
FDA issued report that declared birth control pills “safe”
On Sept. 4, 1969, the FDA issued a report that called birth control pills safe, despite a slight…
Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon
On Jul. 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, American astronauts, made history by becoming the first men…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to Kenneth S. Pitzer
In 1969, the American Chemical Society awarded The Priestley Medal to Kenneth S. Pitzer “to recognize distinguished services…
The Lion’s Eye Bank was established
In 1969, the Lion’s Eye Bank of Washington, Northern Idaho and Alaska was established at the University of…
Alfred Hershey received the Nobel Prize in 1969 for his discovery that DNA is the molecule that carries genetic information
In 1969, Alfred Hershey received the Nobel Prize in 1969 for his discovery that DNA is the molecule…
Advanced Technology Laboratories (ATL) was founded
In 1969, Advanced Technology Laboratories was founded in 1969 and became one of the leading diagnostic ultrasound imaging…
The first chemotherapy oncologist joined Swedish Tumor Institute
In 1969, Dr. Ed Webster joined the Swedish Tumor Institute as its first chemotherapy oncologist. The Instutute opened…
Agriculture | Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | Life Science History | Medicine | Non-Profit Research | Therapeutics
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center was founded
In 1969, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center was founded in Lubbock, Texas. In 1974 construction began on…
The Medical College of South Carolina became the Medical University of South Carolina
In 1969, the Medical College of South Carolina (MCSC) became the Medical University of South Carolina. All of…
An antifreeze glycoprotein was discovered in fish living under the Antarctic icecaps
In 1969, an antifreeze glycoprotein was discovered in fish living under the Antarctic icecaps. The discovery was groundbreaking…
The Michigan Cancer Foundation’s cancer registry began recording every incidence of cancer in southeastern Michigan
In 1969, the Michigan Cancer Foundation’s cancer registry began recording every incidence of cancer in southeastern Michigan. It…
Intra-aortic balloon catheter was developed
In 1969, Massachusetts General Hospital cardiac surgeons collaborated in the development of an intra-aortic balloon catheter.
The CDC opened its first biological containment lab
In 1969, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) opened its first permanent high-containment laboratory (HCL)…
The CDC began a national rubella immunization campaign
In 1969, live, attenuated rubella vaccines were first licensed in the U.S., and a vaccination program was established…
Max Delbruck was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine
In 1969, Max Delbruck of the California Institute of Technology was awarded the 1969 Nobel Prize in Physiology…
Three rubella virus strains were licensed in the U.S.
In 1969, three rubella virus strains were licensed in the U.S.: HPV-77 strain grown in dog-kidney culture (Rubelogen…
FDA began administering Sanitation Programs for milk, shellfish, food service, and interstate travel facilities
In 1969, the FDA began administering Sanitation Programs for milk, shellfish, food service, and interstate travel facilities, and…
FAO’s Crop Ecology Unit srvey revealed that only 28% germplasm samples held worldwide are stored properly
In 1969, a survey by the FAO’s Crop Ecology Unit reveals that only 28% of the approximately two…
The FAO sponsored the first attempt to develop a computerized data bank for the world’s genetic resources
In 1969, The FAO’s Crop Ecology Unit sponsored the first attempt to develop a standardized, computerized data bank…
The storage of platelets at room temperature was found to be feasible
In 1969, the storage of platelets at room temperature was found to be feasible by S. Murphy and…
Victor McKusick published “Mendelian Inheritance in Man”
In 1969, Victor McKusick, widely acknowledged as the father of medical genetics, spent his career studying the genetic…
Robert Huebner and George Todaro proposed the oncogene hypothesis
In 1969, Robert Huebner and George Todaro proposed the oncogene hypothesis. An oncogene is a gene that has…