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continue to flow fpom the fields of especial significance and that new people To further the accomplishexat of these ends the Cods sion plans, over and above its university cantracts for work on special, developmental problems, t o devote a small fraction of its research and development \ d * ' budget. This may take several forms, but it will alviays be with the intent ab rnakhg %e research and training activities of good m e n more effective and of adding t o the scientific potential of the country. Radioactive isotopes are variations of the common elements having the same chemical properties as the stable element but possessing a Werent atomic weight and exhibitkg the proper* of radioactivity, T h e principal goal of #e isotopes program is to make available to every qualified user the radioactive isotopes he m a y need. Broadest possible use is sought among qualified doctors, scfelntisOs and speeiaUrt%. Safeguaads to assure their use without dangers to the health ob those who may be exposed to radioacthe materials ate apr hm ry consideration in establishing the desirability of makhg shipments ta,part@lar users. The program for production and distribution of aebdioacth'e isotopes is well under way, A fairly steady growth in the demand for -Isotopes is expected. Since the first shii>xnent from Clinton Laboratory on August 2, 19468 agpeoxirnately 1,700 shipments covering 100 varieties of radioact$* and hospitals througkout the United States. T h e rate ob shipments is inbe readiiy met by p~oduc~tionfrom reactors QB Glinton or Kanford and others to be built4 The isotope program also contemplates the distribution of concentrated stable isotopes that have no radfoeic~veproperties, Such isotopes hold great iaterest for a variety of scientific purposes, particularly in nuclear
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h cooperation wia the State Department, a carefully conceived plan ha6 recently been effected for distributing selected radioactive isotopes m o n g foreign esuntries for scientific, biological and therapeutic purposes, Biological, Medical and Health Physics Research - The principal objective of research in this general field is to g a b understanding of the ePfects of atomic energy on tP-Ang mcntter. establishment of adequate safeguards against exposure and remedies for the effects of exposure are consicft3fations of great importance. Yet the furtherkg of human knowledge of &e medical and bdotogkal benefit8 t o be derived from atomic energy is equa.U+ vital. The principal elements of the biological, medical ani! health physics resecnrcb program include the use of radioective isotopes and other matefials h mediche and biology, the development ob hd USb i81 hygdene and radiological safety, the development of proteekive measures and the training of medical and techdcal personnel. Much 0%the program is in t pre lh bary stage, but progress is being made in several directions, Fundamental research in the treatment of cancer and in the Punetianing of the body has been furthered immensely by the distribution OP radioactive isotopes, The development of radioactive isotopes must be recognized as the mast iunpartant technical advance the biologic sciences since the invention S%the mferoscope. Industrial hygieme at nuclear installaahoms and other facilities is being aided by the detection and measurement of radiation hazards, the standardiaaOion of radiation detection instruments, the improvement of decontamination and waste disposal methods and the training 0%medical and technical personnel to diagnose and treat the harmful effects that m a y result from working with radioactive materials The training of technical personnel covers a variety of approaches, inciudbg *'in.-service" training for several hundred students interested in health physics, the training of internes in medical aspects of nuclear physics, "on-the-job" training for personnel of the A r m e d Services and a joht training program for medical persoranel of the Federal Government for national defense purposes.
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-Much of QRe present research in the medical, biological and health aspects ob atomic energy is being done under contract with AEC by the universities, among them being Western Reserve University, University sfRochester, Columbia University, the University of California (Los Angeles and Berkeley), University of Chicago, and Washington University, Many other institutions have also indicated an interest in undertaking such research and contracts are being prepared for a number of them.