Records of Nasa Human Radiation Experiments

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National Aeronautics and Reply to Ann of U U/Associate Administrator for Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications Records of NASA Human Radiation Experiments The President has established the Human Radiation Interagency Working Group to identify and report all human experimentation with ionizing radiation from 1944 to May 30, 1974. Experiments in this category conducted after May 30, 1974, will be sampled to determine whether further inquiry is warranted. In addition to NASA, participants in the Working Group are the Departments of Energy, Defense, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, Justice, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Office of Management and Budget. On January 15,1994, the President issued Executive Order 12891, establishing a fifteen member "Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments," to advise and make recommendations to the Interagency Working Group regarding the ethical and scientific standards applicable to human radiation experiments carried out or sponsored by the Federal Government. Administrator Goldin has charged me to assume full responsibility for directing and coordinating NASA activities related to the compilation and review of all data or information related to ionizing radiation experimentation with human subjects and to coordinate NASA's activities with those of the Interagency Working Group and the Advisory Committee. I have named Dr. Earl W. Ferguson, Director of the Aerospace Medicine and Occupational Health Division, to provide Headquarters coordination of this Agencywide search. Dr. Donald E, Robbins, Acting Director of Space and Life Sciences at NASA's Johnson Space Center, has been appointed to lead a team to conduct a thorough search for, and review of, NASA records of any and all radiation research. This information will be provided to the Interagency Working Group. Furthermore, in order to assure that this investigation is conducted in accordance with the highest standards of excellence and rigor, I have asked that an Independent Oversight Committee be established within NASA to review the conduct, policies, and findings of this investigation. Christine Varney, Secretary to the Cabinet, has instructed NASA and the other participants in the Working Group to establish immediately explicit procedures for locating, and subsequently retrieving, securing, and inventorying, records of human radiation experiments conducted by NASA or though NASA contracts or grants.

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This memorandum sets forth the procedures that all NASA Field Centers must use to locate and identify its contractors and its grantees, reaardless of when they took place. A separate letter on this subject is being sent to all NASA contractors and grantees. We must move quickly and thoroughly on this matter. You will receive further instructions on the next steps to be taken after relevant records and data are located. records on human radiation experiments carried out by NASA, The steps enclosed with this memorandum must be implemented immediately. If you have any questions, please contact me.