Minutes of Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine, September 17-18, 1954

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PIINUTES, FEETIJIG OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR BICaOGY AND MEDICDiE, Dr. Shields Warren, Acting Chairman Staff of Division of Biology & iledicine Yr. Eerbert Stanwood m. Kerr il Eisenbud irlr. L. Joe Deal Miss Elizabeth Hower Miss Frame Chrestia Miss Rose Xary Zlmo Dr. Warren, acting as Chairman, convened the afternoon session of the 46th meeting of the Advisory Committee for %ology and Medicine held

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morning sessior. had been devoted t o studying research proposals, reports and classified documents. member of the staff of the Division, Dr. Bugher, in presenting Dr. Hall, replaceSIb’. Butts who had returned to Dr.Hall has been closely associated with the problems of utilization of radioisotopes in agricultural research Dr.hgher welcomed iviiss France Chrestiq, of the Program Analysis Eranch, who had bans fer red from the New York Operations Office.&dlandh Review of Research Projects report on We search project s4t4b-u approved since May was r &ed during the morning study period.

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Dr. Bugher, however, explained the changes that had been made in the for nat and conter,t of the report on ttoff-sitewresearch contract proposals. I t now includes a summary of each project written by either the invest i - gat gor by the person particularly responsible for the project. During the discussion of the projects Dr.Fail la raised a question regarding the treatment of patients several projects and he asked as a of patients should be increased - - o r should be maintained atthe same level as a t present.Dr. Warren replied that perhaps a very good time to present this matter for discussion would be when a meeting is held at one of the special cancer hospitals at one of the installations where they are deeply concerned with problems of treatment for cancer patients. Dr.Doisy inquired as tothe progress that is being made by Dr. Paul Kahn atthe Meharry Medical College on the nuse of had io active Gold in Treatment o f TumorstT. Dr.C expressed interest in this project also. asked how far this program &bnib%tself to use of gold- \ . A general discussion followed. Dr. Dunham suggested that

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it might be well forkDr. Hahn t o move on sbwoukorqfelse because there is -new that has been developed scientifically since the initial impetus on the project in 19h9. brought out that nothing new has cone out of Dr. FIahnfs project a1?6 likewise there has been nothing-new come out from Re. He commented further that dR k ~I support / ;h;~dP ublic Health Service had given theed school and it had been very well received and the funds were ad miri ste red car> & 4 v iL2fully. It changed t h e atmosphere of the school. "So I think this might'\ I--~ be taker? into consideration in this case.# In regard to my statement about treatment of cancer patients,I think in this instance that it i s cui te justified to continue the support for the treatment of patients - for some time atleast. On questions propounded by 2r. Doisy on the increase of the size of the budget for this fiscal year for the Cn ivers it y of Utah from $175,776 t o $274,368, Dr. Claus explained that the increase is host l yy used ! by the large expense i n developing and raising animals t o have them available at the proper time - planning has t o be done 18 months i n advance in order t o

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have material of the right age at the right time. Also,as suggested by the Committee some exploratory work with strontium i s being done. Dr. Marren followed by saying that in these facilities one is deal - ing with plutonium - which i s one of the most difficult things to handle. There are far more costly precautions that have t o be carried out in this work than in the average sort of research and undertaking. The committee rei k rated their previous expressions by saying that the summaries on the projects are extremely useful the S-possible time as tothe work that is progress that is being made thereon1 Dr. bJarren expressed his thanks tothe staff for having the report prepared i n such an informative and concise manner. The report on WOn-Site Research Contract Proposals (Parts I & 11) is attached as Appendix A . Statistical trends in biology Dr. Green reviewed the statistical. trends research uromam - Ur. Green inthe biology research program with emphasis placed on the data obtained from t h e IBM equipment. Formal statements were supplied which explained

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Lite code and the various categories that had been used t o classify the projects.Dr. Ehgher told of the interest that the Commission as a whole had taken in the statistical data that has been obtained from IEM equiphas t o be prepared for the keau of the Budget for transmittal to the Review of the budget. Mr. Stanwood briefly described the AEC budget for the fiscal year 1956. He mentioned the construction program which has an item for presentation to the Con pes s of $6.5 million for the J2.. Brookhaven Nedical Center reactor. wittfi $8.0 million in community facilities some $30.0 million in equipment.. .and Mr. Stanwood spoke of the breakdown of thenbudget which would allot $27. million to the Division of Biology and Medicine.L?t%a+-d the General Manager's request that a readable approach be given tothe budget i n order that it blouh be mare understandable tothe Bureau of the s " d ' Budget and the Congress, radiation effects biological systems,

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$9. million; combating radiation detrimental effects, $3.4 millions ; benefic i al application of atomic energy, $7.3 millions; biomedical problems in atomic energy operations, $5.7 millions; radiation equipment development, $1. million; vocational and special training, $-. Current Activities of t h e Division of Biology & Medicine - The first subject presented by Dr. Bugher under current activities of the Division uas the international cooper a tie exploitation of the peacetime applications of atomic enerm. fie subke of the President ' s announcement before the United Nations' Assembly k - ~ the many different facets of government operation a s well as a certain amount of diplomatic participation that would be involved explained that the international program would fall into three general categories, (1)r e actors,particularly for power production; (2) applications of atomic energy i n medicine; and (3) applications of atomic energy in biology generally, with particular reference to He brought out that Mr. Tammaro is studying these problems presentation to the Conmission. Plans are being formulated for an International Conference

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which isto be held the latter part of next year either abroad or in the U. 2. to discuss the peacetime uses of atornic energy. In this connection Dr. Bugher reported orally and presented a written statement on his observations concerning a ?an Qerican program i n peace +-.Qtime applications of atomic energy as during his visit to South American countries. He stated that there is a lack of realism in most South American countries with atomic energy programs. The problem there - fore is.-lyaone of education and growth along lines that are first fundamental and later into more elaborate ramifications.Dr. Eugher's witten statement listed several recommendations as follows: (1) Establish two centers of t o be operated, under the advice and of AEC, by the Pan American Sanitary isotope distribution in SouthAmericah assistance of the Isotopes Division Eureau. Bulk isotopes, dollars costs paid, would be delivered to these centers for distribution. logical selection for the Pacific Coast and Rio de Janeiro for the Atlantic (2) Greatly increase the availability in the U.S. of facilities for special study and training of Latin American students. cedures by having the respective U.S. Embassies apply whatever selective criteria are necessary. By keeping this program away from security areas

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and making the acceptance of the student dependent on his being granted a visa, apparent U.S. Government inconsistencies on security grounds would be avoided. TNhile the AEC need make no charge for the teaching and use of facilities,the respective countries should provide the travel funds and stipends of their own students as their contribution to this part of the 3. Irdt late a conference t o be held this year in Washington of representatives of all interested American governments for the purpose of consulting on the form and substance of an international cooperative atomic energy program for the area. 4. Encourage an active program in agricultural applications of atomic energy through scch neans as duplicating the Brookhaven gama radi a - tion facility in a midtropical region. with existing Point Four activities. This should probably be associated 5. Approach t h e problem of reactor techniblogy by developing a simple low cost device wnich could be useful in medical and biological an pli cations at the sane the serving as a means of teaching the fundamentals of reactor design and operation. number of short half - life isotopes available. Such an arrangement would also make a Consider this program as apart of any other geographical develppment but capable of running on its own as well. 7. Note that while the development of agreements and policies must be through the established diplomatic channels, the cooperation a t

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the technical level can be quite simple and direct. Carefil coordinatiQn with existing program will be necessary. A complete copy of the statement is attached as Appendix B. The committee was greatly interested to learn that the General Manager has suggested tothe Commission that we vigorously promote an international program with special emphasis on biology and medicine which would have as its first base the acceptance of students to this country. Also, enlarge our availability for special training and localities for special training all over this country. Training Programs - Dr. Dunham then told the committee of the preliminary plan for participation by acceptable foreign students and scientists in a program of training and research participation at AEC facilities and institutions under contract with the AEC. In this connection he said that the Division of Reactor Development had been planning are actor training school i n reactor technology and engineering which might begin in 1955 on a wholly unclassified basis. Also that the Division of Research i s planning a radioisotope training course a t Oak Ridge some time next Spring open only to aliens. The contribution of the Division of &ology and rliedicine i s simply a matter of expanding what i s now under way. It i s

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felt that p oba blp between 135 t o 150 foreign students could be accommodated in various and sundry types of training within the next year, with train - ing in industrial medicine' radiological physics; industrial hygiene >* radiation instruments (theory and uses) ; postdoctoral research in biology and medicine for outstanding physicians and scientists. Dr. Burnett irxpired whether the initial Eelection would come from the country involved. Dr. Dunham said that the country would select the individual and he explained the details concerning how and where the person would be sent for training, Upon the conclusion of Dr. Dunham's remarks on the training program I&. Salisbury added some pertinent information of unclassified and declassified publications of the AEC to foreign countsies. Berlin Atomic Fair Mr. h ten hoff spoke of the American exhibit at the Berlin Atomic Fair. He said it follows the general. theme of the peaceful usssof atomic energy and it i s one ofthe many that is being sponsored by the USI A. It will include a complete three room hot laboratory fully

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The exhibit is to be shown in eight different cities anticipated that one ril lion \ persons will attend in i n Germany and it i s Berlin alone with about one t h i r d t o one half of these people coming from the East Zone. Plans for Japanese Conference Dr. Bugher told of a planned conference to be held in Japan i n November 1954. This conference would be on matters which are essentially those of environmental contamination, particularly in the marine field biophysics, and in st run ent ation permissible limits. It is a non-medical conference. D r . Boss followed by giving an account of his visit t o Japan with Dr. Lauren bn a lds on,discussing with various Japanese scientists, marine biologists particularly, various aspects of the problems arising from the spring tests, notably with relation to possible contamination of fish and with some discuss i cns upon the ways i n which we arrive at permissible limits. Out of this series of conferences came the idea for an enlarged conference to be held i n November 1954., " . . Fall-out Operation Castle Dr. Bugher informed the committee of the continuing problems and developments as result of fall Castle. He paid tribute to the assistance provided by the staff of the NYOO i n

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suaplying equipment for surveying the area and of the expeditious and the fallout 0- on a Japanese fishing vessel provided the meeting with an interesting narrative regardir,g the problem. Dr. Claw and Dr. Pearson both spoke on fallout problems a s they concern their respect i - Biophysics and Biology. Follow up Medical Examination of Fxoosed PoDulation of the I yar s hdl Dr. Bugher reported briefly on the followup medical examination of the exposed population of the Marshall Islands. He reviewed the first medical study and stated that all of the people have recovered a s far as objective signs are concerned eYwith the possible exception of very slight skin changes, Comment and Recommendations of of Committee concerning Inter - I n connection with the International Program and Dr. Bugher's recommendation as listed previously a broad discussion ensued. After afull consideration and a request for comments on the specific questions the following recommendations were made: the committee unanimously recommended that anything that can be done within the legal limits in the way of facilitating the distribution of isotopes

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throughout South America should be encouraged; that restrictions imposed by law or regulation should be kept toa minimum and that the responsibil it y for distribution - once the material has gone tothe proposed centers should be centered inthe appropriate governmental agency. That everything that is possible should be done to create a sound public relations basis to make available training facilities on a wider and better established basis for those qualified individuals desiring to participate from foreign countries as provided inthe staff paper reported on by ?r. Dunham (AEC 761). With h gard to the International Scientific Conf it was recommended t h a t it might be wiser t o work through scientific agencies rather than through government channels. That the problem of having it inthe U.S. should be carefully reviewed by the State Department so that the requirements of the McCarran Act might not interfere with the attendance of foreign scientists. Minutes of Meeting held The Acting Chairman reconvened t h e meeting a t 9:OO A.X. and presented the draft Einutes of the June meeting …