Minutes of Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine Twenty First Meeting Held at AEC, Washington, D.C. March 10-11, 1950

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ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE.- TWENTY FIRST MEETING ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

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Advisory Committee f o r Biology and Medicine The twenty-first meeting of the Advisory Committee forx Biology and Medicine ;&-hd.Qn Friday and Saturday, March 10 and 11, 1950 a t the Atomic Energy Conmission in Members of Committee D r . Alan Gregg, Chairman Dr. Goodpasture was unable t o be present Staff of AEC .Mr, Lewis L. Straws Staff of Division of Biology & Medicine D r . Shields Warren

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The Committee studied staff papers and reports applicable t o research i n biology and medicine on Friday Radiation Physics Laboratory a t the National Bureau of Mr. Lauriston Taylor with particular emphasis given t o the programs on shielding; instrumentation and related I n the afternoon a visit was made tothe The gene rw gram was outlined by The individual program3 of each laboratory were presented by their respective heads. The first order of business presented tothe Committee by t h e Chairman was a discussion of .the minutes of t h e meeting held on January 13 and 14, 19W a t the University of California in Los Angeles and California Institute of Technology at Pasadena, California. Upon a motion by Dr. Wearn and seconded by Dr. Hastings,. the Report on Support of Research Pro.jectg.. The Committee endorsed t h e action of the Director of the Division of Biology and Medicine in approving t h e following projects: of January and February, 1950:

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PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED Electrolyte aalance and Thyroid Vletabolismii11Isolation and Identification of Flavanoid Pigments of Use in.the Control of Radiation IIInvestigation of the Mechanism of Antibody Synthesis by the Tracer Techniqueii- $4,300

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Neutrons from a Cyclotron on Mammals with Particular Reference tothe Developent of head not t o exceed $3,300 ''.'*- of Purine and Pyrimidine Bases of Nucleic Acids and Nucleotideslf - $10,500

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PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED Conplexes and their Ketabolisrnlt - $6,480 per annum IIFactors Influencing the Solubility of Heavy Metal or $12,960 for two years . . (3) Purdue University '(Purdue Research Foundation) - I - The Physiology of Hydrogen Bacteriat1- $4,104 of Supplementary Environmental Factors, of the Frequency of Gene and Chromosone Changes Induced by X-rays, Ultraviolet Light and Nitrogen Mustard1#-

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PRIVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED (6) University of California - Dr. Roy Overstreet Specific Immobilization Substances (Antigens) Biosynthesiaed Isotopically Labeled Cellulose Tissues of Eleven Trace Mineralslf'- $8,500

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F'RlVACY ACT MATERIAL REMOVED (10) Iawa State College - Dr. John W, Gowen and Zanice Stadler - " A Quantitative Study of Lifetime Sickness and Mortality and Progeny Effects Resulting from Exposure of Animals t o Penetrating Irradiationtt - $293,910 for two years plus overhead t o be nekotiated. Effect of Radiation on Intestinal Absorption and Metabolism of Fats and Carbohydrates" -

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b. Proposals extended during January and February, 1950: of Radioactive Gold i n Treatment of Tumorsf1- $68,000 - (Approval of Renewal of Contract from March 1, 1950 t o June 30, 1951 - 2nd renewal t o "Relation of Water to Salt Movement i n Plant Tissuelf - (Approval of extension of contract from April 1t o June 1, 1950 without additional funds) (Approval of Renewal of Contract from June-1, 1950 Approval of renewal of contract for1 year, first ment of Tissue Dosage Delivered by G a m a and Beta Active Radioisotopesft - (Approval of renewal of contract from February 15, 1950 t o February 14, 1951) C. Proposals declined during January and February, 1950 Dr. Loyal Davis - "The Application of Isotopes i n t h e Diagnosis and Treatment of Intracranial Marrow Function a s Measured by the Upkjke of Radiophosphorus i n Certain Chemical F?actionstl (3) Department of Public Health, Nashville, Tennessee - Investigations in the Field of Thoracic Surgeryll

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Vassar Laboratory, Ltd., Inc., New York City - Frank Vassar - I'Studies on Use of Ichor Ointment Tun tur i - "Research on the Anatomy and Physiology tamination of Personnel and Equipment Exposed t o "Fate of Insecticides during the Processing of Enviroment inthe Development of Races or SubProperties of the Skin as Related t o the Mechanism of Burn Production and Heat Sensation" d, Proposal f o r consideration of Committee: New England Deaconess Hospital Systematic study of t h e effects of ionizing radiation of various energies on animals and on human tissues, utilizing for the latter purpose tissues removed i n the course of surgical operations being carried out as a part of the usual clinical work of the hospital. Duration of project - April 1, 1950 t o June 30, 1953

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(New England Deaconess Hospital - c o n t Id. ) Budget - 1950 Budget 1951 Budget 1952 Equipment 5,950 Equip & Supp 19,600 Equip & Supp 10,900 Supplies 1,500 Hea4th Physics 1,OOO v Health Phys, 1,000 Animals 1,800 Animals 6,40OJ Animals 8,400 Health Physics 150 Ti.ax-$. 3OOv Travel 300 mittee ,a stimulating parting message owing tohis leaving the Commission on April 1 5 and wherein he expressed his interest ' in medical and biological problems. He stated to the Committee also that he would like to be called upon for any assistance in the future t h a t he may be able t o render in connection with research problems. Research Proposal f o r Consideration - New England Deaconess are associated with the New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston left the meeting while the Committee considered the request from the New England Deaconess Hospital f o r a research . contract for programmatic investigations over a period of a t least three years covering a systematic study of the effects of ionizing radiation of various energies on animals and on human tis s uc s,.utilizing for the latter purpose tissues

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removed i n the coursc of surgical operations being carried out as apart of the usual clinical work of the hospital. D r . Tuttle explained t o the Committee the scope of the work which would be undertaken i f the proposal were approved, I n view of the relationship of Dr. Warren to his staff, Dr.Tuttle suggested,to the Committee that they give the proposal critical revieW.'%Gregg, the Chairman, asked the Committee t o be super-critical and to state any unfavorable criticisms about the proposal, including its weakest points. I n connection with the discussion on the project, Dr. Tuttle stated that the usual policy of the Division of Biology and Medicine has been t o avoid supporting any substantial segment of any non-project laboratorywith the country that it i s not generally feasible to get program- ' 8 However, it has been found in surveys throughout matic research work done on a more economical basis, because of the relative scarcity of integrated teams of surgeons, physiologists and radiologists who have first, an interest inthe radiation therapy problem, and secondly, the physical facilities and added personnel t o place on such problems. Therefore, it had been concluded that in order t o get the work done, physical facilities will have t o be expanded t o some degree and that the AJX would have t o underwrite a substantial portion of the cost of the laboratory operations.

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The Committee discussed the scientific stope of the project in considerqble detail and unanimously recommended approval of t h i s proposal. The Committee asked, however, that the contract a s negotiated be submitted t o the members of the Committee for final scrutiny. Biological Abstracts':*,p$. Albert0 Thompson of the Office of Public and Technical Infbrmation reported on a conference wherein representatives of the AEC, Department of Defense and the Public Health Service met with Dr. John T. Ffp and Dr.St eu at Mudd of ftBiological Abstractsff for the purpose of discussing their request for financial assistance from various government agencies. it woQd enable them t o bring the indices t o Biological Abstracts out more nearly on time rather than having them run about 18 months behind,and this, they believe, would be advantageous t o the interested Government agencies. proposed also that they could improve their coverage and get If such a request i s approved, out a cumulative index. The Committee were of the opinion t h a t the subject should be considered i n ' detail by representatives of the respective agencies and that it should be brought to their attention in a formal proposal for their recommendations at a later date.

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Shugg overall picture of the budget f o r the AEC emphasizing each individuzl program. He explained the programs by displaying charts which depicted the cash requirements as well as the contract authoriky f o r the Commission. studied the charts and ' tn wc ted with questions as t o the ratio. of expenditures for t h e planned programs, Mr. Shugg informally discussed the space requirements of the AFC and advised the Committee that an add it i ok wing at T-3 Building had been assigned t o the AEC. Meeting of Medical and Laboratory Directors - February 10 . and 11, 1950, Mr. Derry summarized t h e discussions of the meeting of medical and laboratory directors in biology and medicine held on February 10 and ll, 1950. He stated that a n agreement had been reached on tolerance standards and that Dr. Warren had sent t o the Managers of Operations a statement of t h e permissible radiation dose standards that are t o be used in the laboratories. Division of Research, interesting review of the activities of the Research Division and its research program which included the handling of

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Fellowships Fellowships. Dr.Tuttle and Dr. Pearson reported on the Fellowship Program, stating that as of the final day for filing postdoctoral fellowship applications a t the Nztional Research Council under the modified program, six applications had been received in\medical sciences, thirteen i n biology and fifteen in physicd%'-es. The Committee felt deep concern for the furtherance of the program in view of the few applicants f o r postdoctoral fellowships. with the number of applicants received last year, t h e current number was negligible. mately three hundred applications have been received. was believed that the vast difference i n numbers between postdoctoral and predoctoral applications may be attributed In t h e predoctoral sciences approxit o the need of a man just entering the study of science for of postdoctoral fellowship applications and probably is due in part tothe requirement that the recipient's project require access to restricted information. The Chairman pointed out that there is a shortage of doctors in the United States, especially i n the research and public health field. A full discussion was held on.the program including t h e new regional arrangements. This is i n great contrast t o the number It was the Committee's understanding that the fellowships are regional in point

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of award but not regional i n point of origin of application. The Committee reiterated its previous views and recommended t h a t the Fellowship Program be continued and strengthened i n both the biological and medical sciences. Civil Defense Planning. has been made i n the-&vil defense planning. the Ekecutive Session be fG he Joint Committee on Atomic M r . Bowman outlined the progress that He repcfrted on Energy a t which Commissioner Dean, Dr. Warren, Mr. Derry and he participated. The Committee was gratified to-learn that the training programs for both the monitors,and for physicians are getting under way, Also, t h a t the U. S. Strategic Bombing Survey reports on Hiroshima and Nagasaki are in the process of being declassified by the military and that the medical report on the Naval Technical Mission t o Japan has been declassified. Psychological Psychological Survey. Mr. Ward Miller reported on the psychological survey project which i s being sponsored by the Division of Biology and Medicine and proposed t o be undertaken by t h e University of Michigan. determined by consultations with D r . Dwight W. Chapman of the Research and Developent Board and representatives of tho Troop Information Branch of t h e Information and Education It has been Division, Office of the Secretary of Defense that such a

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survey would not be a duplication of efforts. mittee expressed the hope that the Commission will approve this project and that it will get underway a t an early interested inthe development of an inexpensive, rugged, . reliable and simple cw radiation monitor. instrument has been deve1o-y the New York Operations Radiological Laboratory and is expected to sell for approxiMr. Derry pointed out that the Commission was vitally Atomic Bomb Casualty Cods sion. joint meeting with the Atanic Ekmb Casualty Commission which he attended with Dr. Gregg ahd Dr, Wearn a t the National Research Council. Colonel Carl Tessmer and Dr. Grant Dr. Warren reported on a Taylor were present to' explain the Japanese phase of t h e operations. The general picture was presented of a proposed expanded full scale operation utilizing the three centers of Hiroshima, Kure and Nagasaki a t an operating level of something over $7,000,000 a year. It was pointed out by Dr. Warren that such a program was entirely out of scale with the rest of the activities there would be o n l y one major center so far as medical activities were concerned -- that at Hiroshima; that there would be genetic studies atall three regions; and that Therefore, at a later meeting it was proposed

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occasional spot surveys for specific points might be operated i n Hiroshima t o these other points. It was determined at this later meeting that the budget in any one year would not exceed $;?,500,OOO. A staff paper is being prepared for Commission consideration wfiich will summarize t h e activi.%es of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission t o date, togebher mth recommendations of the Division of Biology and Medicine f o r the curtailment of the program, and recommendations fora limited budgeh. on t h e general research of Biology and Medicine program'. * . and concluded t h a t several of the programs should be biological effects of tritium should be stressed. the sense of the Committee that the important aspects of radiation toxicology i n the field of radiobiology, soils, intermediary metabolism and animal physiology should be given increased emphasis. The Committee considered the emphasis The Committee believed that the work on the I n connection with the review of the biological research program, Dr. Stakman plans t o make a study of the report from the Agriculture Department on "The Improvement of Soil Management and Crop Production Through Investigation with Isotopes" and report his findings as t o plant research t o the Cormnittee at their next meeting.

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A current chart (pie) depicting the ratio of the research progran i n biology and medicine will be presented for further study a t the next meeting. Biophysics Branch. Dr. Claus reviewed the current status of the Biophysics Branch and the following outline lists interests which …