William Panje invented the neolarynx restoring speech to cancer patients who have had their larynxes removed
In 1981, University of Iowa researcher William Panje introduced the neolarynx, or “voice button,” restoring speech to cancer…
Simian acquired immune deficiency syndrome (simian AIDS) was identified in macaques in two of NIH’s Regional Primate Centers
In 1981, Simian acquired immune deficiency syndrome (simian AIDS) was identified in macaques in two of National Institutes…
First human viral vaccine to prevent cancer (hepatitis B vaccine for liver cancer) was introduced
In 1981, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine for human use….
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Washington injected purified DNA into a single-cell mouse embryo
In 1981, Frank Ruddle from Yale University, Frank Costantini and Elizabeth Lacy from Oxford, and Ralph L. Brinster…
Biotechnology | CDC | Diagnostics | Influenza | Vaccine
CDC began collecting reports of influenza outbreaks from state and territorial epidemiologists
In 1981, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began collecting reports of influenza outbreaks from…
Biotechnology | NIH | Oncology | Therapeutics
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…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | NIH | Oncology
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…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | Disease | Oncology | Radiology | Therapeutics
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…
CDC | Diagnostics | HIV | Infectious Disease | Therapeutics
The CDC established the International Health Program Office
In 1981, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established the International Health Program Office, now…
The University of Hawaii Cancer Center was founded
In 1981, The University of Hawaii Cancer Center (UH Cancer Center) was founded. The UH Cancer Center’s mission…
Dr. Morris Reichlin became head the OMRF Arthritis and Immunology Program
In 1981, Dr. Morris Reichlin joined the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) to head the Arthritis and Immunology…
Synthetech was founded in Albany
In 1981, Synthetech was founded in Albany as a fine chemicals company specializing in organic synthesis, biocatalysis and…
Disease | Medicine | Neurology | Therapeutics
Dr. Alexa Canady became the first African American woman in the U.S. to become a neurosurgeon
In 1981, Dr. Alexa Canady became the first African American woman in the U.S. to become a neurosurgeon,…
Immunex Corporation was founded
In 1981, Immunex Corporation was founded by Stephen Duzan, and Christopher Henney and Steven Gillis from the Hutchinson…
Biotechnology | Disease | FDA | Therapeutics
Imre Corp was founded
In 1981, Imre Corp. (Immune Response Systems, Inc.) was founded in Seattle. The company developed the Prosorba Column,…
Dr. Roseli Ocampo-Friedmann received the U.S. Congressional Antarctic Service Medal for her work on microorganisms
In 1981, Filipino and American scientist Dr. Roseli Ocampo-Friedmann received the U.S. Congressional Antarctic Service Medal for her…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | NIH | Oncology | U.S. Congress
The Health Programs Extension Act of 1980 was signed into law, extending National Cancer Institute authorization for 3 years
On Dec. 17, 1980, the Health Programs Extension Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-538), introduced by Sen. Edward Kennedy,…
Biotechnology | Energy | Life Science History | Marine Science | Materials | Medicine | NIH | Non-Profit Research | U.S. Congress | Vaccine
Bayh-Dole Act passed the U.S. congress allowing universities to patent discoveries made in federally supported laboratories
On Dec. 12, 1980, a bill to amend title 35 of the United States Code (H.R.6933, Public Law:…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | Disease | NIH | Therapeutics
The NIH Clinical Center was designated the “Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health”
On Dec. 12, 1980, the U.S. Senate passed Joint Resolution 213 which designated the National Institutes of Health’s…
CDC | Environmental | EPA | U.S. Congress
The Superfund was enacted by U.S. Congress
On Dec. 11, 1980, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund, was…
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…
Alumnus Baruj Benacerraf was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology
On Oct. 10, 1980, The Nobel Foundation announced they had awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology…
Biotechnology | NIH | Oncology | Radiology | Therapeutics
Vincent T DeVita, Jr. became the ninth director of the National Cancer Institute, serving until 1988
On Jul. 9, 1980, Dr. Vincent T. DeVita, Jr. became the ninth director of the National Cancer Institute…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to Herbert C. Brown
In 1981, the American Chemical Society awarded the Priestley Medal to Herbert C. Brown ‘for his numerous contributions…
U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Diamond v Chakrabarty
On Jun. 16, 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld five-to-four the patentability of genetically altered organisms, opening the…
Rabies human diploid-cell vaccine (Imovax Rabies by Merieux and Wyvac by Wyeth) were licensed
On Jun. 9, 1980, the rabies human diploid-cell vaccine (Imovax Rabies by Merieux, now Sanofi, and Wyvac by…