A History of Medical Breakthroughs Between Cubs World Series Titles

Follow BPC’s full coverage of the 21^st Century Cures Act.

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The last time the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, influenza and pneumonia were the leading causes of death in the United States. More than one in four children died before reaching the age of five, and infants were commonly given high concentrations of morphine to combat teething pains. Chicago’s title clincher over the Detroit Tigers came on October 14, 1908—a full two months before scientists Karl Landsteiner and Erwin Popper would discover the cause of a little-known disease called Polio.

Medicine has changed a lot since then, driven by tremendous advances in science and technology. Here’s a look at a few of the major medical events since 1908:

1916: Polio epidemic breaks out in New York and Boston

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1928: Penicillin, the first true antibiotic, is discovered

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1936: Pacemaker is successfully demonstrated in two separate cases

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1943: The first dialysis machine is built from tin cans and washing machine parts

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1949: First chemotherapy drug is approved for cancer

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1953: Heart-lung bypass machine successfully sustains heart and lung function during surgery

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1955: The polio vaccine is discovered, combating one of the deadliest diseases in American history

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1956: The first successful human bone marrow transplant is performed

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1963: Scientists create the first artificial heart

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1971: The first commercial CT Scanner is used/Nixon Declares War on Cancer (National Cancer Act of 1971)

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1973: Dean Kamen patents the first ever insulin pump

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1978: Dr. Raymond Damadian patents the MRI

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1981: The first ever cancer vaccine successfully prevents Hepatitis-B

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1987: FDA approves the first treatment for AIDS

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1992: Dr. Leroy Hood patents his invention of the automated DNA sequencing technique

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1998: Herceptin, a targeted treatment for breast cancer, is approved by FDA, dramatically improving treatment outcomes

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2003: The first full sequencing of the human genome is completed

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2006: The first vaccine is approved to prevent cervical cancer

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2013: Sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) is approved as the first cure for Hepatitis-C

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2015: House passes 21^st Century Cures Act

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2016: Senate HELP Committee advances medical innovation package; Congress sets the stage for a new generation of medical discoveries

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As the Chicago Cubs celebrate last night’s historic victory over the Cleveland Indians, policymakers will deliberate over medical innovation legislation to set the stage for the next century of medical discoveries. And with so much at stake for patients in need, we hope cures legislation will join the Chicago Cubs in flying the W.

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Join BPC on November 17 for a discussion with leaders representing the administration, industry, and patients to discuss priorities for medical innovation in the coming months.