1937

National Cancer Institute Act signed into law [P.L. 75-244]. Appropriation limit of $700,000 for each fiscal year is authorized.

1964

Surgeon General's report on Tobacco and Health is released.

1971

President Richard Nixon signs into law the National Cancer Act of 1971 (P.L. 92-218).

1973

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program is established.

1975

Cooperative Minority Biomedical Program is established, providing funds to train research students at historically black colleges and universities.

1984

"Heckler Report" outlines disparities in health between ethnic minority and nonminority Americans.

1984

Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Program is established.

1985

Cancer Prevention Awareness Program for Black Americans becomes first NCI prevention campaign directed toward a high-risk population.

1987

National Cancer Advisory Board announces establishment of the National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer.

1987, 1988

Director of NIH and the Advisory Committee to the Director hold a series of regional meetings on underrepresentation of minorities in biomedical and behavioral research. It is concluded that NIH must increase opportunities for underrepresented minority scientists.

1988

First minority-focused Consortium Cancer Center is established with three historically black medical schools: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, Meharry Medical College in Nashville, and Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.