History of medicine: 20th century

History of medicine: 19th century

1900s decade

• 1901: Radiation brachytherapy was first described as a potential cancer treatment.
  
• 1903: The Bohr effect was first identified. This concerns the oxygen binding capabilities of haemoglobin.
• 1905: Corneal transplantation was first performed.
• 1909: Brodmann published Vergleichende Lokalisationslehre der Großhirnrinde in ihren Prinzipien dargestellt auf Grund des Zellenbaues (Comparative Localization Studies in the Brain Cortex, its Fundamentals Represented on the Basis of its Cellular Architecture). The definitions from this work are still used in modern neuroscience. 

1910s decade

• 1910: Viral transmission of cancer in animals was first demonstrated. 
• 1910: Laparoscopic surgery was first performed on a human patient.
  

1920s decade

• 1922: Insulin was used to treat diabetes mellitus for the first time.
• 1927: Angiography was performed for the first time (cerebral).
  
• 1928: The first antibiotic substance was discovered: benzylpenicillin. 

1930s decade

• 1933: An electron microscope exceeded the resolution of the optical microscope for the first time.
• 1935: Illegal human experimentation began in the Empire of Japan.
• 1938: Electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) was used on a human patient for the first time. 

1940s decade

• 1941: Illegal human experimentation began in Nazi Germany.
• 1941: First proposal that ATP is the intermediate between energy-yielding and energy-consuming cellular processes. 
• 1942: First clinical trial of an anti-cancer drug, developed from chemical weapons.
• 1943: First electronic programmable computer developed.
• 1943: First dialyzer constructed.
• 1945: End of World War II. Nazi Germany and Empire of Japan surrender.
• 1948: First commercial production of the immunosuppressant cortisone.
• 1949: First medical ultrasound scan. 
• 1949: First licensing of an anti-cancer drug.
• 1949: First artificial intraocular lens replacement.
  
• 1949: Stereotactic radiosurgery was developed.
  

1950s decade 

• 1953: The structure of DNA was first accurately proposed.
• 1953: The world's first intensive care unit opened.
• 1953: Percutaneous catheterisation of distant blood vessels was first developed.
  
• 1953: Cardiopulmonary bypass facilitated the first open heart procedure on a human patient.
• 1953: Illegal human experimentation (Project MKUltra) began in the USA.
  
• 1956: Bone marrow transplantation was performed on the first human patient. 
• 1959: Plasmapheresis was first used to treat a human patient.  

1960s decade

• 1960: First use of the immunosuppressant azathioprine in transplant patients.
• 1960: First commercially available oral contraceptive (mestranol/noretynodrel).
• 1960: First total hip replacement (arthroplasty).
• 1964: First surgical placement of a human cochlear implant.
• 1964: The first Declaration of Helsinki was formed in response to unethical human experimentation. This is a cornerstone of human research ethics. 

1970s decade

• 1971: First computed tomography (CT) imaging scan.
• 1971: The home pregnancy test became commercially available.
• 1975: First orally-active ACE-inhibitor (Captopril) discovered.
• 1975: First artificial production of monoclonal antibodies.
• 1976: First statin discovered.
• 1977: First MRI scan of a human.
• 1978: First birth of a baby conceived by in vitro fertilisation (IVF). 
• 1978: First use of the immunosuppressant ciclosporin in transplant patients. 
• 1979: First commercial PET scanner installed at UCLA and demonstrated on the brain with FDG-18.  

1980s decade

• 1981: First use of mifepristone to induce medical abortion. 
• 1981: First open fetal surgery. 
• 1982: First biopharmaceutical produced from recombinant DNA: 'Humulin' insulin.
• 1983: First use of a laser to correct an eye defect.
• 1985: First use of a robot-assisted surgical procedure.
• 1986: Stenting of coronary arteries was performed for the first time.
  
• 1986: First approval for a monoclonal antibody to be used in humans: Muromonab-CD3 (against kidney transplant rejection). 

1990s decade

• 1994: First discovery of an inherited cancer gene: BRCA1.
• 1997: Deep Brain Stimulation gains FDA approval for the treatment of Parkinson disease and essential tremor. 
• 1999: First successful tissue engineered bladder transplantation.

2000s decade

• 2000: First FDA approval of a robotic surgical system.

History of medicine: 21st century