Document text
Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
Page 2
The thirtieth neeting of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine was held a t the University of California, a t Davis and Berkeley, California, on Thursday, Friday aiid Sa%rday, January 10, 11 and 12, 1/052= mo Edward A, Dolay Mrso Erances Itlontgomery Members of the ComnAttee, together with staff members of t h e Division of Biology and Medicine md Dra Ha A. FidCLer, Manager of the Berkeley Area Office, visited
Page 3
where studies on the effects of radiatron on the longevity of dogs are king carried ona The Committee expressed themselves a s being impressed with this work and they propose t o follow it closely through means of i t s progress reports, A%C Research Projects- The meeting was convened by Dr, John Lawrence atthe Dormer Laboratory OD the Berkeley Campus a t 9:30 aomj Dro Lawrence had a rz ged an interesting pmgram for the morning session, which included the following Iztroductory remarks wibh a welcome to the coimnents cn red cell The pituitary and red cell proiicction - D r o C, Co Van Dyise. Review of work a t Crocker Laboratory - Dr., Joseph Go Hamilton. Studies on the Effects of Radiation - D r , Co
Page 4
Stvdies on Caricer - D r , He Bo Jones The Committee was most favorably impressed with the sylendid progress that has been made inthe various projects since their meeting h&d a t Berkeley i n I; visit was made tothe Livermore Site oa Friday Fred Powell, of the California Research and Development Company_carAdMrc Harry La Eirowne, of t h e AEC, was the highlight of the afternoono The medical pxgzam f o r the protection of personnel A planned tou under the gu2dance of Mro at the rite was considered well set up and adequateo The Commit.tee was pleased to learn that a close liaison with the RadLation Laboratory a t Berkeley will be maintained and that technical aid w i l l be available if neededo The Coxmiittee vi st ted the Radiological Laboratory Building on the San Francisco Campus of the University of California on Friday evening wherein a group had assembled t o dedicate tke new bail dir g which houses
Page 5
Dr, Warren ga7;e an interesting talk on “The Role of Radiatf-on Therapy i n Cancer” and Ere Goodpasture spoke on %he fCSignificance of the Experkental Approach to the Cancel 3rogramffe Mimtes of Meethg held at t h A% an The Vice-Chairman convened the meeting a t the Donner The first order of business presented t o the Committee wasa diszussion o f t-he mnin-dtes of t i meeting held atthe AEC in Washington, DOCa on SepferrSer 7 and 8, l99-., The minutes were approved ucanimously upon a motion by D r o Wearn and seconded The minutes of t h e meeting held at Laa Vi;?gas, Nevada, on October 27 and 28 were then presented by the read into the record a letter that he had received Deceniber 23, 1951, which stated in part floOvThe responsLbilities of the Conmission in the field of
Page 6
csncer are cogently expcssed i n your lc tter (dated Decenber 28, 19513 by t h e statement 1Cancer is a specifis indu.striai hazard of the atomic energy Upon a motion by Era Doisy, and seconded by D r , Wearn, (A c o ~ yof the letter is attached tothe the minutes were approved unanimously0 Report on Support of Approved shce September The contractuai research programs, totaling 84, which had been approved duzing September, October, November am? Decemhr, 3.951 by t h e Division of Biology and Medicine research committee, as w e l l as those projects which were cieclined, were reviewed> ! Each infivi151al program was studied and discussed, ircluding its bcdget requirements, of the Commiti;ee t h a t the projects selected by the It was the sense coromittee waman%eed atomic energy support, of projects i s attached as kdr?efidum #lo) Food Sterilization In connection 15th the discussions on the research programs, Dre Claw stated that several inquiries had been received from the American Meat Irzstitute Foundation and Food Research Institute of theL - ‘University of Cbicago i n which they were seeking
Page 7
information on the m e of gmma rqs from fission products for the sterilization of foods and DrJ Claus a de sed the Committee ofthe irrrportance of considering t h e effects of radiation on protein and protein vh xs in evaluating studies on the use of radioactive waste i , ~food s teri lie atl ono recommended t h a t the Division of Biology and Medicine be included in the initial rev5.w of project proposals cf t h i s nature and be consulted with respect %o the evaluation of resultso A3er a full discwsion, it has the sense of t h e Committee that any possibilities inherect inthe treatment of foods or phamaceuticals with gamma rays from fission Froducts should bo investigateda Waste Dimosal Dr, Western reported on the policy govc- t h e problem of waste disposal which is part of the general problem of exposure t o rafiation., A further ' report will be made t o the Comnittee as new poll cie s aze for dated by the Division of Biology and Medicine and the National Cormit3ee on Radiation ProtectLon.
Page 8
Dr, Pearson reported. on his discussions ztLth the National Science Foundaticn and liaison relationships regmd5xg activities of mutual interest to the Division of Biology and l‘ledicine and t h e IL’SF and dcvelopmcnts regarding t h e AEC Felloxship Programo The Committee was gratified to learn that the Commission has approved the contbuation of t h e AEC Fellowship Program f o r the 1952-53 academic par on a by the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Stuciies and it will provide for the renexal of fellowships in the This program wilL be again administeret blologiccal and medical sciemes f o r qualified AEG fellows now’ on the rolls who apply f o r such renewa3so Dr, Pearson summarized a letter (dated November 139 1951) that the Chairman of the AEZ -had received from the D-ctor of the NSF regarding their procedure for paying overhead on unclassified research projects in urLiversitieso Drb Waterman had stated that in ailministering grants for basic research the Foundation had amloved the allowance of 3.5% of total direct cost,s t o be added. to the contract t o cover in&ect costs or over had ir?cvzred in performance of wozh
Page 9
In this connection, and i n response t o thd above letter,Dr, Pearson resd the following excerpts from a letter written by the General Manager of the AEC t o t h e Chairman of the NSFr CommLssion has a policy statemeat concerning contractual relations - d t h universities which is now issue it until sone attempt has been made t o reconcile our poLfcy with that of the Foundation. therefore, like to knox what your plans for adnrinistratfon of your research program might be, particularly with respect t o (a) ,-er salaries, and (b) salaries We should prefer notto 112, fSC research projects of interest to the NSFc I n past &=ions between our staffs, there has been t h e support of certain basic research projects presently supported by the AECo understar,ding, we would welcome discussions with our In lir:e With this “3, Basic research projects of primary interest TneXEC i s supportxg Sasic re sean ht o the kECo F ex nen t to the development and utilization of atomic energy and its produzts a s authori2e.d by Public Law Noo 585, While it is anticipated t h a t the Commission kill cor,tinue t o support basic research in the area of its responsibility, the de sir a5Sity of an arrangement whereby responsibility for the administration of cert a jn poj ect s in this category might be transferred “bo Applied research i n universitieso The Commission u-cdizes the scientific pea on nel and applied research projects which are essential to the Commission’s program, While it i s anticipated that
Page 10
the Foundation will devote its efforts and Pmds t o the sxpport of basic research, we would like to be apprised of the e ~ e n tof your inter cst in applied The Cod tte e stated that they would like t o be advisec of t h e furth2r discussions between representatives of 1 t h e Foundation and the Commission regarding the above Dro Bugher$ Dr. Pearson and DrQ Warren reported on the recent and future test so to the outfall from +,he Nevada tests in the New York area, radioactive materials i n Brookhaven was+.e water exceeded the permissible ccncentration by a factor general policy should be adcpted with t h e provision t h a t necessary revisions would take place ,*om time t o time i n place of a mre detailed policy wXch would necessitate planning for each sibo bought out that this proposed draft pd icy s hdd be circulated among the mC Divisions and contractors f o r opinions and comments before official releaseJ Dzo Warren stated that a possibility exists fora It was pointed out that due General discussion disclosed the fact that the Gwto the high fallout
Page 11
fzon the recent tesb, the location of a test site for this experimmt has not bzen decided, Dr, Waxen actvised the Committee thata meeting had been hela with representatives frcm the structures group, the biomedical gro ~ p ,Public Heath Service, Federal Civil Defense Administration, Public Buildings Service, and other civilian groups, for tho purpose of formulatbg inthe Civision of Biology and Medicine the same screening procedures for tests as are He brought out that in the light of additional data from the G3EENE3USE and RANGER tests t h a t lM,OW norind. bonbs might be detonatec without undue hazard fzom secondary effect so ad hoc committee comisting of recognized experts in t h e fields of operations research, meteorology, soil technology, biology and physics was assembled by the Division of Biology and Medicine t o considm the GAERIEL report on long-range effects and t o extend its scb-swfacc busts and mder conditj-ons of rain or He stated further that an
Page 12
Dr, Warren advlsed the Co kt tee that a version of the subject matter had beer, pTesented t o the General hdvisoq Committee and that they had re com nde d that the mztter should be reconsidered, entirely indepeodently of all work t o &Le, by two different operations analysis grocpz other than the report from the Division of Biology and ment and a further report will be made tothe GAC. This suggestim i s being taken under adviseMedLcal Comd.tants Br, Dunharr. asked the Cormittee t o review the list of persons now ser vh g as medical consultants t o the Divisi c of Biology and Medicine with a view toad hg adclitional names of nedi-cal consultants, part icu lzl y men residing in the southern part of the United State so It is considered imporkint t o have these consaltants i n this area because o f the new kEC installations such a s the Savannah River Projecto The Committee agreed t o study the list of persons and 'lo forward the names of additional persons t h a t my be available and agree t o serve a s consultants tothe The next meeting of the ACm i s scheduled to be held on Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5, 1952, a t the AEC i n