Minutes Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine Thirty-Eighth Meeting

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The thirtg-eightA meeting of the Advisory Comnittee f o r Biology and Medicine was held ? rtthe Cancer Research Institute in Boston on Friday a.nd Saturday on June 26 and 27, 1953. Dr. Gioacchino Fail la of Biology and Fi. Herbert A, Stanwood Cancer Research Institute, New England Deaconess Dr. Shields Warren, Scientific Director of the Institute welcomed the Committee and the members of the staff of the Division of Biology and Medicine. and his princip d investigators conducted the group on atour of the Institute, wherein the physical facilities were inspected. Reports were made on the principal research programs which are under investigation and which a r e primarily concerned with acute radiation injury. Outstanding are the histopathological and histochemical studies vith the new ultraviolet absorption color-translating microscope, the endocrine changes i n parabiotic rats and t h e hematologic aspects of radietion injury. Fmiphasis i s being placed

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a l s o on the pulnona-y pathology rzsulting from the inhalation of particulate material, a subject of fundamental concern in the genesis of lung carcinome. at the Institute,the group attended a luncheon atthe Harvard Club, with Dean George P. Berry and M r . Henry Meadow acting as hosts. Upon conclusion of t h e morning session The other guests from the Harvard Medical School attending t h e luncheon included: Drs. iL. K. Solomon, Thimann, E. M, Purcell, I dil liam Sweet and Mr. Edward Reynolds. Dean Berry briefed the group on the programs relating to radioactive materials now under investigation a t t h e Harvard Nedical School. He spoke of t h e Office of Naval Research, which in the beginning had generously supplied the funds to activate the research programs i n basic, biochenical, physiological and medical problem. After the first year this financial support was taken over by the kEC, the funds flowing through QiR. Generally, however, this practice has now been discontinued and direct contracts are entered into between Harvard Medical School and the iiEC. He reviewed the contributions of the Harvard Medical School t o the Biology and Medicine program in training a number of investigetors who later have gone into AEC laboratories, particularly to BNL. the investigations being carried on in the Biophysics Laboratory enabled a number of persons t o get started in isotopes techniques atthe Harverd Medical School and hospitals. their part in helping to establish active programs in medical research Dean Berry stated further that He expressed his thanks tothe AEC for

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The standing comnittee of t h e Faculty of Medicine of t h e Harvard Medical School is: Dr. A. Ehird Hastings - Hamilton Kuhn Professor of Bio logic d Chemistry Dr. Reidar F. Sognnaes - Charles ii. Brackett Professor Oral Pathology D r ; Shielde Warren - Professor of Pathology a t Harvard Dean George P. Berry - Ex Officio - Overall Coordinator Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School After the luncheon the group visited the projects sponsored by the tEc atthe Ylssachusetts General HospitCL and t h e Harvard Medical School. The research group atthe Massachusetts General Hospital i s hezded by Dr. Joseph C. Aub. His group, comprising a collection of scientific talent, i s mainly interested in the investigation of biochemical effects of radiation at cellular and subcellular levels. Much interest was displayed by the Committee in the work of Dr.F Jil liam Sweet and his group on the external. localization of brain tumors employing positron emitting isotopes such as radio arsenic. Dr. Sweet stated that he and his staff are working closely with the medical staff a t the 8NL on the neutron capture technique inthe treatment of brain tumors. It was the opinion of the Cormnittee that the work underway a t Harvard Medical School i s basic research of top quality. The program falls into several distinct fields, each with its group leader. The biophysical laboratory, which provides many services functions t o othor parts of the University,has the largest single program using radioisotope techniques. Biochemistry is directed by

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fiub, and special pathology by Dr. Shields k!mren, The Committee was pleasGd to learn that in addition to t h e studies previously conducted on the effects of ingested radioisotopes, the Harvard group proFoses t o stusy radiation changes in h m a n and experimental pulmonary tissues prelininary to nore intensive work related to the effects of radioactive particles, It was agreed that nore precise quantitative answers to questions pertaining to the effects of such inhaled particles are Keeting Reconvened The meeting was reconvened at Saturday. . at 1O:oO A.M. with Dr. Wearn presiding. Dr. Wearn read i n t o the record z letter received from 9r. Alan Gregg, forner ChLirnan of the Comaittee,. which was in response to a letter from Dr. Mearn, dated June 5, 1953,. : (See attachnent to the Minutes of the meeting of the iiclvisoryCommittee for Biology and Medicine held at Chzlk River, Ontario, Canada on May 8 Camel by the Sea - June U, 1953 Please tell the members of the dvisory Committee for Biology and Medicine of the i;EC that I never got a more heartwarming letter than the one you wrote on June 5th. It had a good many statements that were news t o me but the friendliness you all have shown me was reassuringly familiar and your kind wishes for the future make music, actively and retroactively. I am profoundly as well as happily grateful to you all,

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Dr.hgher reporting on natt ers relating to.the Division of Biology ilppointment of Dr.Char lee. Dr. Bugher advised the Committee that Nedicine, University of North Carolina, had accepted t h e proffered appointment as a new member of the XCBM.: The appointment will be processed upon notification of Dr. Burnett's clear ace. Chairman - ACBM Dr. Bugher reported that Dr.St ahan was willing t o accept the Chairmanship of the Cod tte e for one year from July 1, 1953 t o July 1, 195& He extended Dr. Stakman's regrets for his inability to be present at this meeting. Nebel as a new member of t h e Medical Branch. associated with t h e University of Rachester, where he served as Lssistant Dr. Nebel was formerly Professor of Pediatrics. obtained his PhD in 1925 from the University of Halle a.S. He came t o this country from Germany where he He worked ib the field of cytogenetics and radiation at Cornell University Agricultural Experiment 3tation, Geneva, Mew York and i n 1945 received h i s M.D. from the University of Rochester. Dr. Bugher advised the Committee that Dr. Nebel will be responsible for IndustrialIUicdicine with special reference t o research aspects and radiation biology as related to Test Operations D r . Bugher oriented the Committee on the activities of the recent test operations which included the civil effects program. hfull report on the Test Program isto be placed on the agenda

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for discussion atthe September meeting, regarding the livestock losses around the test site, and stated that studies on the etiology of the losses of the cattle and sheep nay not be conclusive this year, up research projects t o make further studies at the University of Nevada and the Utah State Agricultural College. working on t h e projects will include veterinarians, range nianagenent specialists, an- nutritionists and biochemists. Biology and Medici q He summarized t h e data In view of this fact, it i s planned toset - The overall Divisional problems were pi vision al Problems and Medicine and said that he was hopeful that the work of the Division discussed with particular emphasis on Dr, Bugher analyzed the functions of the Division of Biology could continue as planned although the Comission had disapproved a request t o permit an increase i n personnel. I n thislconnection, Dr. Bugher reported thata survey of the activities of the Division Hinutes of Chalk River, Dr. Vearn presented for ninutes of the iiAvisory will be undertaken review the draft Chalk River, Ontario, Canada on May 8 and 9, 1953. After afull reading several suggestions and corrections were offered, following item should be included inthe minutes. Film bdges, Chalk River on entering the classified area in Canada, individual photographs werc taken of each person f o r the film badges. The badges were processed and Specifically, it was suggested that the I n connection with the film badges used returned t o each individual within a few minutes. The suggestion was

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made that the23C might profit by making a survey of this procedure, inasmuch as there i s such a delay in getting an individual picture badge atthe \lashington Office of the AEC. The minutes will be reviewed again at Research Program The Committee reviewed the off-site research program which now throughout the nation. O f dk-tc~ are of the grant-like, joint-participation variety. I n connection with this review, the problem of overhead contribution on grant-like contracts was again discussed. The previous deliberations on t h i s problem were reported by Dr.Alan Gregg in his letter to Chairnan Gordon Dean of February 6, 1953. iit this meeting, and after a full discussion, the Committee made t h e strong and unequivocal recommendation that all institutions receive uniform treatment and that there be a clear anli workable X C policy om overhead See Addendum (1)- List of Projects. 7 - Dr. Wearn expressed his regrets upon his retirement. He said it had been a nost st in u latin g and educational experience for h into be a member of the Committee since September, 1947, and that he will continue t o have the keenest interest in the work of the Commission and particularly in the Division o f Biology and Medicine.

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atthe htonic Energy Commission i n blashington, D . C. on Friday and It was voted t o hold the next meeting iid jourment Tne meeting adjourned a t 12:OO Midnight. (1) List of Projects (2) Ltr frm Acting Chairaan Wearn t o Chairman Strauss dtd July 20, 1953