Jonas Salk and Polio

  • Born in NYC

    Born in NYC
    Born October 28, 1914, in New York City
  • Medical Degree at New York University

    Medical Degree at New York University
    Salk earned his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine.
  • University of Pittsburgh

    University of Pittsburgh
    Salk took a position at University of Pittsburgh, where he began conducting research.
  • Killed Virus

    Killed Virus
    Salk determined that there were three distinct types of polio viruses and was able to develop a "killed virus" vaccine for the disease. Salk administered the vaccine to himself, his wife, their children, and volunteers who had not had polio.
  • Test of Polio Started

    Test of Polio Started
    Testing for the polio vaccine had begun and it started to expand over the next two years. It was one of the largest clinical trials in medical history.
  • Impact of Polio

    Impact of Polio
    The vaccine had a great impact on the case of polio reported and there were over 57,000 cases in the United States. A decade later the numbers of polio was dropping to less than a thousand.
  • Vaccine was Approved

    Vaccine was Approved
    The vaccines for polio was approved for the general use and Salk had became a national hero.
  • Salk Center for Biological Studies

    Salk Center for Biological Studies
    Salk had started his own research organization know as The Salk Center for Biological Studies.
  • Founding Director

    Founding Director
    Salk became founding director and had continue to research.
  • Jonas Salk Died of Heart Failure

    Jonas Salk Died of Heart Failure
    He had a earned his place in medical history and will always be remembered for the cure of polio.