The Priestley Medal was awarded to Glenn Seaborg
In 1979, the American Chemical Society awarded the Priestley Medal to Glenn Seaborg ‘for his numerous contributions to…
The Three Mile Island nuclear emergency plan was launched
Om Mar. 28, 1979,the Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) reactor, near Middletown, Pa., partially melted down resulting…
CDC | Diagnostics | Disease | Environmental | EPA | Life Science History | Oncology | Radiology | Therapeutics
The CDC investigated health effects related to the Three-Mile Island nuclear accident
On Mar. 28, 1979, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated health effects related to…
The Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research was established to support medical scientists
In 1979, the Honourable Peter Lougheed introduced an Act to the Alberta Legislature to establish the Alberta Heritage…
The National Association for Biomedical Research was founded
In 1979, The National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR) was founded providing the unified voice for the scientific…
The first human RNA virus (HTLV-I) was discovered by NCI’s Dr Robert C Gallo
In 1979, the first human RNA virus (HTLV-I) was discovered by the National Cancer Institute’s Dr. Robert C….
The most mutated gene in human cancer, p53, a tumor suppressor gene, was identified
In 1979, the most frequently mutated gene in human cancer, p53, was identified by six groups of researchers…
Modified radical mastectomy replaced radical mastectomy for breast cancer
In 1979, Modified radical mastectomy replaced radical mastectomy for breast cancer. The standard of care for patients with…
Allan Cormack of Tufts University and Godfrey Hounsfield of EMI Laboratories were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology
In 1979, South African-born physicist Allan Cormack of Tufts University and British engineer Godfrey Hounsfield of EMI Laboratories…
Early concern over the dangers of recombinant DNA has waned and NIH guidelines were relaxed
In 1979, early concern over the dangers of recombinant DNA has waned and the National Institutes of Health…
The RA 27/3 (human diploid fibroblast) strain of rubella vaccine (Meruvax II by Merck) was licensed; all other strains discontinued
In 1979, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed the RA 27/3 (human diploid fibroblast) strain of…
Stanford Medicine researchers discovered dynorphin, a brain chemical 200 times more powerful than morphine
On Dec. 21, 1979, Stanford Medicine pharmacologist Avram Goldstein announced the discovery of dynorphin – a chemical in…
Gladstone Institutes was founded
In 1979, the Gladstone Institutes was founded from an endowment from J. David Gladstone, a self-made man who…
Joan Steitz discovered snRNPs
In 1979, Joan Steitz discovered snRNPs, RNA-protein complexes in the cell’s nucleus that perform a crucial step in…
First insulin pump for diabetes was developed
In 1979, Dr. Robert Sherwin and Dr. William Tamborlane from Yale University announced they had developed an insulin…
The last wild case of polio was recorded in the U.S.
In 1979, the last wild case of polio was recorded in the U.S. However, in 1993, the virus…
Medtronic established a Heart Valves division
In 1979, Medtronic established a Heart Valves division and introduced the Medtronic Hall mechanical heart valve. This prosthetic…
Dr. Norman H Cromwell became acting director of the Eppley Cancer Center
In 1979, Dr. Norman H. Cromwell of the Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, became acting director of…
Dr. William Thurman became head of OMRF
In 1979, Dr. William Thurman took the helm of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) and helped establish…
Centocor was founded
In 1979, Centocor was founded – one of the nation’s first biotechnology companies best known for developing Remicade…
The University of Pennsylvania’s Institute on Aging was created
In 1979, the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute on Aging (IOA) was created to improve the health of the…
Biology | Diagnostics | Disease | Life Science History | Non-Profit Research | Oncology | Therapeutics
FDA approved Cisplatin, a platinum-containing anticancer compound
On Dec. 19, 1978, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Cisplatin for use in testicular and ovarian…
President Carter signed the Community Mental Health Centers Act
On Nov. 9, 1978, the President Jimmy Carter signed the Community Mental Health Centers Act (P.L. 95-622) amending…
The first human testing of a biological therapy was conducted (alpha-interferon)
On Nov. 9, 1978, the first human testing of a biological therapy was conducted (alpha-interferon). The Cancer Research…
The University of Washington Health Sciences Building was renamed the Magnuson Health Sciences Center
On Oct. 3, 1978, the University of Washington Health Sciences Building was renamed the Magnuson Health Sciences Center…
Genentech successfully cloned the gene encoding human insulin in Escherichia coli bacteria
On Sept. 6, 1978, Genentech, the most successful of the new biotech start-up companies, announced that scientists at…
The first test-tube baby was born in the United Kingdom
On Jul. 25, 1978, the first test-tube baby was born in the United Kingdom. Louise Joy Brown is…
Ontario researchers demonstrated that Aspirin can prevent strokes
On Jul. 13, 1978, Ontario researchers published the results of a study led by Dr. Henry Barnett that…
The CDC reported the first drug-resistant tuberculosis outbreak
In May 1978, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a patient was first diagnosed…
The Priestley Medal was awarded to Melvin Calvin
In 1978, The Priestley Medal was awarded to Melvin Calvin by the American Chemical Society “to recognize distinguished…