Mice & Rats: 1950s Prevention of poliomyelitis — also called polio or infantile paralysis, marked by symptoms ranging from mild infection to extensive paralysis. In 1950, 33,344 cases were reported in the U.S. alone; today there are virtually none.

1950s Discovery of DNA — determines individual hereditary characteristics.

1950s Development of cancer chemotherapy — can bring about remission of different cancers, either short-term or permanently.

1960s Development of lithium — for prevention of manic depressive illness and recurrent depression.

1960s Development of antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs — for treatment of various mental illnesses.

1970s Discovery of cimetidine — widely prescribed to treat gastric ulcers.

1980s - Present Development of monoclonal antibodies for treating diseases — marked a milestone in the use of antibodies as diagnostic or therapeutic tools to target specific disease cells.

1980s - Present Development of gene therapy/replacement — wide potential for future treatments for genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis.