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One of the most promising horizons of peacetime benefits t o be derived from research on atomic energy isin the field of biology and medicine. tablished the Washington Division of Biology and Medicine t o coordinate the various programs i n this field. Among these a r e the Comdssion-directed research programs being pursued a t the laboratories of the various installations, the assistance being given cancer research a t hospitals, clinics and research centers throughout the country, and the problem of overcoming the serious shortage of trained personnel. During the quarter, the Commission esEach of the Commission's laboratories is pursuing special but related research problems in biology and medicine. A t the Los Alamos Laboratory medical research is centered aromd the synthesis of various vitamins and drugs containing radioactive elements, the experimental production of radiation illness and various methods of treatment, and methods of detecting early A t the Clinton National Laboratory research is keyed primarily t o biology and health physics programs, including the study of devices for detection, the investigation of the dis - posal of radioactive wastes, and the effect of radiation on The research being conducted at the Argome National Laboratory relates tothe metabolism of fission products, methods of detecting alpha particles, and toxological studies of numerous Still in process of formulation i s the biological and medical research program a t the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Much of the work may concern the e f f e c t of radiation on various forms of plant life. I n addition tothe actkve research a t the various regional laboratories of the Commission, a number of research projects are being supported a t universities and hospitals in the study of biology and medicine i n its relation t o atomic energy. University i s conducting an extensive research program i n biophysics, supported by the Commission, and other institutions including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of
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California, and Western Reserve University are intensively engaged i n this field. living body are being studied a t several institutions. example of the benefits to be derived from this program is seen in the excellent work on blood transfusion methods which was accomplished with radioactive iron. The effects of the various elements on the The development of cancer research is being furthered in diverse nays, among them being the contribution of funds to support research projects at reliable medical and ediicational institutions, the construction of facilities, the furnishing of isotopes, and the provision of financial assistance t o the Atomic Casualty Commission carrying on studies of exposure cases During the quarter, funds for cancer research were allocated to Harvard University, the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, California Institute of Technology and the University of California i n Berkeley. cidence and types of cancer following a large instantaneous dose of radiation w i l l be furthered by the financial support t o be given the Atomic Casualty Commission f o r these and other cancer studies being made i n Japan. research and the provision of beds for cancer patients a t the Commission's national laboratories also were under consideration during the quarter. Knowledge of the inThe free distribution of isotopes for cancer More than $6OO,OOO was allocated t o the Udversity of Rochester for the construction of a modern building t o be used i n training medical, biological and radiological personnel i n The Commission approved a fellowship program, shortly after the end of the quarter, which is designed t o ameliorate the present shortage of trained personnel i n the various d i d - I 3 sions of biology and medicine as they relate to atomic energy. To be administered by the National Research Council, the program w i l l be carried on through the Commission's national laboratories, affiliated universities and other civilian institutions. The fellowships will carry stipends, at the l e v e l customary amng 1/ See l e t t e r of Decencber 17, 1947, from the Commission to the 1 ; A,-' Joint Cdt tee outlining the projected cancer research program. W -
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educational institutions, for me or more years of training. Three groups of personnel will be covered: doctors of philosophy i n the biological sciences, and a fairly l a r g e group of bachelors of science trained in health physics and radiological techniques. Such a training program niU. not only help supply the personnel needs of the Commission, but will a l s o provide a reservoir of trained physicians and technicians adequate to meet a national emergency. doctors of medicine,
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