Procyte Corp. was founded
In 1986, Procyte Corp. was founded as a Kirkland, Washington-based medical skin care company that developed and marketed…
Infectious Disease | Influenza | Measles | Polio | U.S. Congress | Vaccine
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (NVICP) was established
In 1986, The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (PDF – 312 KB), as amended, created the National Vaccine Injury…
Biotechnology | CRISPR | Diagnostics | Disease | NIH | Therapeutics
Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston published groundbreaking study that led to a national sickle cell disease screening program
In 1986, Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston while deputy branch chief of the Sickle Cell Disease Branch at the…
First clinical tests conducted at UW of EPO to correct anemia of kidney failure
On Dec. 2, 1985, the first clinical tests were held at the University of Washington of erythropoietin (EPO),…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | Disease | FDA | Medicine | Therapeutics | U.S. Congress | Veterinary
The Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (PL 99-158) was signed into law
On Nov. 20, 1985, the Health Research Extension Act of 1985 (P.L. 99-158) was signed into law by…
Biotechnology | Disease | FDA | Therapeutics
FDA approved human growth hormone
On Oct. 18, 1985, Genentech received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its first medicine, Protropin…
Genetic markers were found for kidney disease and cystic fibrosis
On Oct. 11, 1985, scientists in Canada and Massachusetts reported discovering the first genetic marker for the widespread…
Surgeons implanted a Total Artificial Heart into a 25-year-old grocery store clerk
On Aug. 29, 1985, Dr. Jack Copeland, a cardiac surgeon at University Medical Center (now Banner—University Medical Center…
Jarvik 7 artificial heart helped save Arizona man
On Aug. 29, 1985, Michael Drummond became the sixth person, and the youngest at the age of twenty-five,…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to Henry Taube
In 1985, the Priestley Medal was awarded to Henry Taube by the American Chemical Society “to recognize distinguished…
Swedish biologist Svante Paabo analzyed ancient DNA in Egyptian mummies
On Apr. 16, 1985, Swedish biologist Svante Paabo of University of Uppsala in Sweden, a pioneer of ancient…
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) polysaccharide vaccines were licensed
On Apr. 12, 1985, the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) polysaccharide vaccines (b-CAPSA 1 by Praxis Biologics, Hib-VAX…
Disease | FDA | Medical Device | Therapeutics
Bill Schroeder, the second human recipient of the Jarvik 7 artificial heart, was discharged from the hospital
On Apr. 6, 1985, Bill Schroeder from Jasper, Indiana, the second human recipient of the Jarvik 7 artificial…
CDC | HIV | Life Science History | Therapeutics | WHO
The CDC co-sponsored the first International Conference on AIDS
In Apr. 15, 1985, the first International AIDS conference, held in Atlanta, Georgia, was organized by the WHO,…
The Normal School (Arizona State University) was founded
On Mar. 12, 1885, Arizona State University (ASU), located in Phoenix, was founded by House Bill 164 in…
Biology | Disease | Environmental | EPA | Neurology
The EPA sets new limits on lead in gasoline
On Mar. 4, 1985, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee M. Thomas announced final standards to cut…
Biotechnology | Diagnostics | FDA | HIV
Red Cross Blood Services began testing all newly donated blood with the first HIV detection test
On Mar. 4, 1985, the Red Cross Blood Services began testing all newly donated blood with the first…
Biotechnology | FDA | HIV
The FDA approved the first test for HIV antbody screening of blood donors
On Mar. 2, 1985, the FDA announced the approval of the Abbott first antibody test kit to screen…
Ground was broken for a new Madigan Army Medical Center
On Jan. 18, 1985, ground was broken for a new 1.2 million square foot, 414-bed Madigan Army Medical…
The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute was founded
In 1985, the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) was founded in Pittsburgh. UPCI has 320 faculty members…
DNA fingerprinting discovered at University of Leicester first used to resolve disputed immigration
In 1985, DNA fingerprinting was first used to resolve a disputed immigration case that confirmed the identity of…
Nerve-sparing prostatectomy, designed to preserve potency and urinary continence, was introduced
In 1985, nerve-sparing prostatectomy, designed to preserve potency and urinary continence, was introduced. This procedure resulted in markedly…
Lumpectomy plus radiation therapy is found equivalent to mastectomy for early breast cancer
In 1985, Lumpectomy plus radiation therapy was found equivalent to mastectomy for early breast cancer. Lumpectomy followed by…
The USDA’s Germplasm Resources Information Network went on-line
In 1985, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), the remnant of the effort…
Biotechnology | Infectious Disease | Polio | Vaccine | WHO
Rotary International established its PolioPlus program
In 1985, Rotary International established its PolioPlus program, which held two fundraising events. Rotary has contributed over $500…
Federal courts ruled private companies don’t need NIH permission to field test genetically engineered organisms
In 1985, Federal courts ruled that private companies don’t need National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) permission for field…
Mikhail Gorbachev, an agricultural specialist, became Soviet leader after the death of Konstantin Chernenko
In 1985, an agricultural specialist with no experience in foreign affairs, Mikhail Gorbachev, becomes Soviet leader after the…
Biotechnology | CDC | Diagnostics | HIV | NIH | Therapeutics
The CDC revised the case definition of AIDS to include additional specific disease conditions
In 1985, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised the case definition of AIDS to…
Virologist Flossie Wong-Staal became the first person to clone HIV, which led to the development of HIV detection blood tests
In 1985, virologist Flossie Wong-Staal became the first person to clone HIV, which led to the development of…
Scientists discovered the HER2 gene
In 1985, the HER2 oncogene was discovered by Axel Ullrich, a young scientist at Genentech. The new oncogene…