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To establish a cancer research program for the Atomic kal ~ g y 2. By Section 3(a) of the A tonic Energy Act, the COmmi8sion l a authoriaed and directed t o make arrangement0 for the conduct of research asd dsvslapment activities relating t o the utilization of fissionable and radioactive materials for medical, biological, health, snil military parposs8. be avaflablt t o the Commission for cancer research work such sums (not without dqlicating ths cancer research work of other public and private 4. On June 20. 1947, tho Medical Board of Review strongly reconmendad that research and training in all aspects of the application of atomla energy t o medical and biological problems be continued and, where profita%le. 5 . In the eame report the Medical Board of Review advfssd that the Atomic Energy Commission offer the uaiveraities the use of its umnatched equlpent and unique conditions for obssrvat ion in it B regfonal -6 . -7h American Cancer Society that of the pressnt papulation of the United States, 17 million persona w i l l die of Caxlcer and that about 2,000 childxen die each year of cancer.
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7. There are already several organizatlons which erp, sq port ink extensive programs of cancer study: c& The American Cancer Society, Inc., i s slpporting ho q its l beds for indigent cancer patients at, various civilian hst it ut ions so that they may receive the benefit of adequate treatment, In addition, this organizac ticc is active in cancer education md as of November 1, 1947, had invested about two million dollars In supporting cancer r e sezrch ana admioi stering fellowships in caricer. The United States Public Health Service has assumed the responsibility for mpport of cancer research t o t h e arnouut of twelve and one-half million a cl lars to nedical schools t o increase the education of This organization has also allocated one and medical students i n regard t o cancer. & Privately endowed foundations and institutes are allotting s-s sums approximating one and one-half ril lion for the suprort of cancer research. 8.A cancer research program instituted 't;y the AEC nust explore tothe fullest pcssible extent the unique tools and fx ili ties mde available by the Cevelopent of atomic energy. In addition, 5-e~ any duplication of programs following avenueg of activity cancer reaezrch program of the P.tomic Energy Commission i n view of the op-portunity that the:i present f o r using atomic energy i n the cmcer field and because there i s no known .IIatC, The Atcaic Casualty Commission has been established by
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Bresidentid. Xirective, under the Nztional Research Com c il to stad-y the long terw effects of the explosions at Hirosb-ina end Xagasaki on the survirhg populations of those two cities. concerned with t h e izicidence and types of cancer in these individxmls. &d'~studies naturally Belong in t3e Cancer Research prograg of the Atomic A letter contract has been A considerable $ or tion of the work of this Coximissfon i s Energy Commi ssioq and t o be supported by thi,s progr of nuclei tieinand intensive investigation of their a?ylicabilitg tothe recognition and treatraent of cancer. The varioue regional laboratories of the Cominission contain unique eauipnent which, because of its exp nse, size orfor security reascns, i s not reprocucible inthe average medical school, institute,clinic or hospital, Iqeutrons, short-lived isotopes and other types of radiant energy should be thoroughly evaluzted in their @. The expense of radioactive isotopes is areal deterrent t othe free horizon cif researeti in cancer. Accordiqly, the opcortunity t o procure radioactive isotopes, without charge, should serve as 8 strong d& ~n view of the heavy res-,;onsibilitiee for pronoting research laid upon i t bq the various authoritative cormittees and tbe great need for resazrch in atc nic ehergy as appliea t o medicine and bLology, any cancer research progrant should incluie scp;ort of researck proiect s I=i %!le field of atonic energy as aFplied t o cancer. Such suygort & odd be directed not only tothe Regional Le%o=.ztorieso f the AXC, but shcdd extei6 t o various investigators iri civilian medical institutions who are
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. cqpable of making real contributions to this field. Vith the recent , authorizaticri 3f cooperation with t h e Cffice of Xaval. %search, financial suppcrt of cert ab approved resesirch projects would be abin iste red 7. The Office of t h e General Gmasel has ailvised us that there are no legal objections tothe action recom.snded in this re3ort. With respect tothe reconr.lenbtion for free distribution of radiocotopes for cancer research, they hwe advise6 us that such distribution is with-h the authority of the Coimission under Section 5(c)(2) o f t h e Atonqc &erg7 Actof 1946 t o distribute byproduct mate rids "with o r vithout chsrge.H
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&era- Comission should include support o f the cancer studies of the Atonic Caml ty Conmission, distribution of free isotopes for approved research on atoniic energy as related to cancer, eupprjrt of beds €or clinical resemcl; i n cancer at the regicriel laboratories and support of reseerch i n ztomic energy as it relates t o cancer, 13). !that t h e Atonic anergy Commission: 01 ~ u p p r taf caslcer stu6ies of atomic Casualty Connission. (a. Distribution o f - # me hoto pes for approved reseerch on a tonic energy as related t o cancer. (3) Sqport of beds f o r investigation o f the applicability of newer forms of raiiiant energy t o t h e study of cancer at the regional laboratorie 8. @I app crt of research i n atomic energy as it relates to
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Draft letter to the Joint Comqittee on Atonic Energy. ?Amorandun from Office of Budgets. Excerpts from the Report of the Shedical Board of Review, Letter of Dec. 15, 1947 t o the A toxic Energy Conmission.