Since our founding in 1938, the March of Dimes has helped to save millions of babies from death and disability. Our history includes:
- Developing the vaccine declared against polio...1955
- Funding the first successful bone marrow transplant to correct a birth defect...1968
- Funding the first in utero treatment for a birth defect...1973
- Calling for the creation of a regional system of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to save very sick babies...1976
- Funding research leading to surfactant therapy to treat respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)...1985
- Successfully using gene therapy to treat hemophelia and retinitis pigmentosa in the laboratory...1999
- Ongoing research based upon delivery of a gene that affects the development of a healthy heart...2000
