Johnsonﾠ & ﾠJohnson introduced ACUVUE contact lenses
In 1987, Johnsonﾠ &ﾠ Johnson introduced ACUVU brand contact lenses, the first disposable contact lenses that can be…
Siemens launched Telos, the world’s first remote control for hearing technology
In 1987, Siemens, now Sivantos, launched Telos, the world’s first remote control for hearing technology. Digital hearing aids…
The Red Cross opened the Holland Laboratory (in Maryland) dedicated to biomedical research
In 1987, the Red Cross opened the Jerome H. Holland Laboratory (in Maryland), which was dedicated to biomedical…
National Native American AIDS Prevention Center was founded
In 1987, The National Native American AIDS Prevention Center (NNAAPC) was founded by American Indian and Alaska Native…
Laser is first used in corrective eye surgery
In 1987, ophthalmologist, Steven Trokel performed the first laser surgery on a patient’s eyes, and later patented the…
Investigational drug regulations revised to expand access to experimental drugs for patients with no alternative therapies
In 1987, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced revised regulations regarding Expanded Access (EA) to investigational…
Biotechnology | FDA | HIV | Therapeutics
The FDA approved first Western blot blood test more specific HIV diagnostic test and AZT as the first antiretroviral drug to be used as a treatment for AIDS
In 1987, the FDA approved first Western blot blood test more specific HIV diagnostic test and AZT as…
UC San Diego Alumnus Susumu Tonegawa was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine
In 1987, University of California, San Diego Alumnus Susumu Tonegawa was awarded he Nobel Prize for Physiology or…
Genentech drug Activase (alteplase) was approved
In 1987, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Genentech’s drug tPA Activase (alteplase). Activase is a…
Lawrence Livermore biomedical researchers began studying human chromosome 19
In 1987, Livermore biomedical researchers began studying human chromosome 19. At the same time, Los Alamos began efforts…
Richard Lerner was appointed The Scripps Research Institute’s new director
In 1987, Richard Lerner, chair of the Scripps Department of Molecular Biology, was appointed the research institute’s new…
Integrated DNA Technologies was founded in Coralville, Iowa
In 1987, Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), a University of Iowa spin-off company founded by Dr. Joseph Walder, established…
Agriculture | Biotechnology | Forestry | Genomics | USDA
Iowa State was the first university to field-test a genetically engineered tree (poplar implanted with a pest-resistance gene from a potato)
In 1987, Dr. Robert Thornburg at Iowa State University (ISU) prepared transgenic tobacco plants expressing a gene that…
Eli Lilly introduced Humulin insulin identical to that produced by the human body
In 1987, Eli Lilly and Company introduced Humulin insulin identical to that produced by the human body. Humulin…
The Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation was founded
In 1987, Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation (KTEC) was a private/public partnership established by the state of Kansas to…
Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene was discovered
In 1987, Boston Children’s Hospital researcher Lous Kunkel and his colleagues discovered the gene that causes Duchenne muscular…
The University of Minnesota Cancer Center received NCI designation
In 1987, the University of Minnesota Cancer Center, now known as the Masonic Cancer Center, received National Cancer…
Diagnostics | NIH | Oncology | Therapeutics
The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cancer Center received NCI designation
In 1987, The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) Cancer Center received National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation. CSHL researchers…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | NIH | Oncology | Therapeutics
The Case Cancer Center was founded and became an NCI-designated cancer center
In 1987, the Case Cancer Center (Case CCC) at Case Western Reserve University was both founded and became…
Drs. Patrick and Edith McGeer developed the groundbreaking concept that inflammation plays a role in the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease
In 1987, Drs. Patrick and Edith McGeer developed the groundbreaking concept that inflammation plays a role in the…
Construction was completed on the Vollum Institute for Advanced Biomedical Research at Oregon Health Sciences University
In 1987, construction was completed on the Vollum Institute for Advanced Biomedical Research in Portland. The institute is…
The University of Virginia Cancer Center received its National Cancer Institute designation
In 1987, the University of Virginia Cancer Center (UVA), now known as the UVA Health Cancer Center, received…
Dr. Gerald Nepom, director of the Virginia Mason Research Center, discovered genetic marker for Type I diabetes
In 1987, Dr. Gerald Nepom, the former director of the Virginia Mason Research Center, now known as the…
CDC | Infectious Disease | NIH | U.S. Congress | Vaccine
U.S. Congress created the National Vaccine Program
On Nov. 14, 1986, the U.S. Congress created the National Vaccine Program (NVP) to coordinate the vaccine research…
FDA | Medicine | U.S. Congress
President Reagan signed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, which outlawed the sale of steroids for non-medical purposes
On Oct. 27, 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed the the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. The Act changed…
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute was dedicated
On Oct. 18, 1986, the Moffitt Cancer Center was dedicated. The center was established in 1981 by the…
Rita Levi-Montalcini won half of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of growth factors
In 1986, Rita Levi-Montalcini was awarded half of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine ‘for the discovery…
Positron emission tomograph (PET) installed at the University of Washington
On Oct. 1, 1986, Positron emission tomograph (PET) and Computed tomography (CTC) were installed at the University of…
Biotechnology | CDC | Diagnostics | Disease | Neurology | Oncology | Therapeutics
The CDC co-sponsored the first National Conference on Chronic Disease Prevention and Control
On Sept. 9, 1986, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) co-sponsored the first National Conference…
Disease | FDA | Medical Device | Therapeutics
Bill Schroeder, the second human recipient of the Jarvik 7 artificial heart, died after living 620 days
On Aug. 6, 1986, Bill Schroeder from Jasper, Indiana, the second human recipient of the Jarvik 7 artificial…