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Historical Timeline                            91 years of excellence

1933

The Kate Depew Strang Clinic founded by Dr. Elise Strang L’Esperance and opened by first lady Eleanor Roosevelt at the New York Infirmary, is the first clinic for the early detection of cancer.​

1937

First cancer prevention program established at the Kate Depew Strang Clinic.​

1940

First medical facility to introduce Dr. George Papanicolaou’s Pap test.​

1950

First in U.S. to use sigmoidoscopy for early detection of colon cancer.​

1951

Dr. L’Esperance receives the prestigious Lasker Award for Medical Research.​

1962

Strang Director Dr. Emerson Day coauthors the first medical textbook for early detection of cancer.​

1969

The risk-factor analysis concept in cancer screening is first introduced at Strang.​

1970

RCA and Strang design a computer system to support algorithmic risk factor analysis and a patient’s medical record.​

1973

Strang pioneers the training of paramedical personnel to conduct cancer detection examinations based on Strang’s CanScreen™ Program.

1974

With collaborating institutions, Strang is first to conduct a controlled trial of sputum cytology for early detection of lung cancer.

1975

With collaborating institutions, Strang introduces the stool slide test for detection of colon cancer.​

1981

First in U.S. to study trans-rectal sonography for the detection of prostate cancer.

1983

First to demonstrate a DNA-repair deficiency in colon cancer patients and their families.

1987

Specialized breast surveillance program initiated that provides screening, counseling, and research for women with genetic risk factors.

1989

The first National High-risk Registry for women with strong family histories of breast cancer established.​

1990

Affiliates with the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center.

1991

Strang Cancer Research Laboratory opens.

1992

Strang-Cornell Breast Center opens.

1993

Strang Research Computing Group is established.

1994

International Conference for Cancer Prevention is established.

1995

Strang Cancer Research Laboratory is relocated to the campus of The Rockefeller University.

1996

Anne Fisher Nutrition Center opened.

1996

Strang Research Computing Group wins Microsoft Healthcare Industry award.

1997

James E. Olson Colon Cancer Detection Center opened.

1997

Strang Research Computing Group, nominated by Bill Gates, receives a Computerworld Smithsonian Award.

1998

Strang Research Computing Group's Genetics Outreach Program Version 2.0 is inducted into the Smithsonian Institution for contributions to technology and society.

1999

Strang leads multicenter trial for colon polyp prevention.

2000

The Strang Cancer Biology Laboratory established at The Rockefeller University.

2004

Strang scientist describes structure of the functional part of the BRCA 1 gene and is featured on the front cover of the journal Cancer Research.

2005

Classification of BRCA gene mutations.

2006

Bone marrow micrometastasis shown to be the strongest predictor of 5-year survival in breast cancer.

2008

Diet alone for the first time shown to cause colon tumors in an experimental model.

2009

Breast cancer cells inhibited by an extract from the Taheebo tree.

2009

Strang Cancer Prevention Institute is established as an independent non-profit entity and continues to fund research to prevent cancer and promote cure through early detection. Co-Founders Michael P. Osborne MD and Merle K. Barash MA AEd, MA Psya

2014

The Dianne Zola Ovarian Cancer Research Fund established by Secretary on the Board of Trustees Merle K. Barash MA AEd, MA Psya.

2015

Tribute to Mitchell L. Gaynor, MD; Pioneer of Integrative Oncology and former Strang Director of Medical Oncology.​

2016

Completion of randomized trial to improve primary care physicians’ cancer screening recommendations and communication with patients.

2019

Study of educating primary care physicians on cancer screening and prevention using PREVENTION e-newsletters, 2019 to present.

2022

Honoring Dr. May Edward Chinn at a Street Co Naming Ceremony in New York City, a pioneer who studied cytological methods for cancer detection at its earliest stages and a collaborator in developing the Pap Test at Strang.

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