Minutes of Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine Twenty First Meeting, March 10-11, 1950

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Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine The twenty-first meeting of the Advisory Committee for 9 . - Biology and Medicine was held on Friday and Saturday, March 10 and 11, 1950 at the Atomic Energy Codssion in Members of Committee Dr. Alan Gregg, Chairman Dr. Goodpasture was unable to be present Staff of AEC Mr. Lewis L. Straws Staff of Division of Biology & Medicine Dr. Shields Warren

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The Committee studied staff papers and reports applicable t o research i n biology and medicine on Friday Radiation Physics Laboratory atthe National Bureau of Mr. Lauriston Taylor with particular emphasis given t o the programs on shielding, instrumentation and related Inthe afternoon a visit was made tothe The general program was outlined by The individual programs of each laboratory were presented by their respective heads, Minutes of The first order of business presented t o t h e January 13 Committee by t h e Chairman was a discussion of the minutes of the meeting held on January 13 end U, 1950 atthe University of California in Los Angeles and California Institute of Technology a t Pasadena, California. motion by Dr. Wearn and seconded by Dr, Hastings, the minutes were approved unanimously. Report on Support of Research Pro.jects.- The Committee endorsed the action of the Director of the Division of Biology and Medicine in approving t h e following projects: Proposals a proved for negotiation during the months of JanLary and February, 1950:

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IIIsolation and Identification of Flavanoid Pigments of Use in +,he Control of Radiation llInvestigation of the Mechanism of Antibody Synthesis by the Tracer Techniquet1- $4,300

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'!The Microbiological Assay of Nucleic Acid Neutrons from a Cyclotron on Mammals with Particular Reference to the Development of head not to exceed $3,300 of Purine and Pyrimidine Bases of Nucleic

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(2) Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn - Dr. Carl Neuberg - Coinplexes and their Xetabolismlt - $6,480 per annum or $12,960 for two years IIFactors Influencing the Solubility of Heavy Metal "The Comparative Biochemistry of Molecular Hydrogen: of Supplementary Environmental Factors, of the Frequency of Gene and Chromosone Changes Induced

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Biosynthesized I eo topic allg Labeled Cellulose Tissues of Eleven Trace Mineralst1 - 88,500

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Janice Stadler - "A Quantitative Study of Lifetime Sic bess and Mortality and Progeny Effects Resulting from Exposure of Animals t o Penetrating Irradiation " - $293,910 for two years plus overhead t o be negotiated. Effect of Radiation on Intestinal Absorption and Metabolism of Fats and Carbohydrates" - (1) Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Dr.Kurt

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b. Proposals extended during Januarg and February, 1950: of Radioactive Gold i n Treatment of Tumors1' - $68,000 - (Approval of Renewal of Contract from March 1, 1950 t o June 30, 1951 - 2nd renewal t o IlRelation of Water to Salt Movement in Plant April 1 t o June 1, 1950 without additional funds) (Approval of Renewal of Contract from June 1, 1950 ment of Tissue Dosage Delivered by Garmna and Beta contract from February 15, 1950 t o February U, 1951) Proposals declined during Januarg and February, 1950 Dr. Loyal Davis - !'The Application of Isotopes i n the Diagnosis and Treatment of Intra cranial Marrow Function as Measured by t h e Uptake of - _ Radiophosphorus in Certain Chemical Fractions" Department of Public Health, Nashville, Tennessee - Investigations in the Field of Thoracic Surgery''

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(4) Vassar Laboratory, Ltd., Inc., New York City - Tunturi - Wesearch on the Anatomy and Physiology* tamination of Personnel and Equipment Exposed to aFate of Insecticides during the Processing of Enviroment in the Development of Races or SubProperties of the Skin as Related to the Mechanism of Burn Production and Heat Sensation" New England Deaconess Hospitd. Systematic study of the effects of ionizing radiation of various energies on animals and on human tissues, utilizing for the latter purpose tissues removed in the course of surgical operations being carried out as a part of the usual clinical work of the hospital. Duration of project - April 1, 1950 to June 30, 1953 - -

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Equipment 5,950 Q u i p & Supp 19,600 Equip & Supp 10,900 Health Physics 1,OOOV Health Phys. 1,000Supplies 1,500 Animals 1,800 Animals 6,400 Animals 4 0 I _ Health Physics 150 Travel 3 0 0 d Travelu 300 mittee ,a stimulating parting message owing to his leaving the Commission'on April 1 5 and wherein he expressed his interest'in medical and biological problems. the Committee also that he would like t o be called upon for any assistance in the future that he may be able t o render in connection with research problems. Research Proposal for Consideration - New England Deaconess He stated to Dr. Shields Warren and Dr. A . Baird Hastings, who are associated with the New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston left the meeting while the Committee considered the request from the New England Deaconess Hospital for a research contract for programmatic investigations over a period of at least three years covering a systematic study of the effects of ionizing radiation of various energies on animals arid on human tissues,.utilizing for the latter purpose tissues

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out as apart of the usual clinical work of the hospital. Dr.Tuttle explained tothe Committee the scope of the work which would be undertaken if t h e proposal were approved. I n view of the relationship of Dr. Warren tohis staff, Dr.Tuttle suggested to the Cod t teeth at they give the proposal critical review. the Committee t o be super - critical and t o state any unfavorable criticisms about the proposal, including its weakest points. Dr. Gregg, the Chairman, asked I n connection with the discussion on the project, Dr, Tuttle stated that the usual policy of the Division of Biology and Medicine has been t o avoid supporting any substantial segment of any non-project laboratory with the country that it i s not generally feasible toget programmatic research work done on a more economic21 basis, because of the relative scarcity of integrated teams of surgeons, physiologists and radiologists who have first, an interest in the radiation therapy problem, and secondly, the physical facilities and added personnel t o place on such problems. Therefore, it had been concluded that in order to get the work done, physical facilities will have t o be expanded t o some degree and that the AF,C would have t o underwrite a substantial portion of the cost of the laboratory operations. However, it has been found i n surveys throughout

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The Committee discussed the scientific scope of the project i n considerqble detail and unanimously recommended approval of t h i s proposal. The Committee asked, however, that the contract a s negotiated be submitted tothe members of the Committee for final scrutiny. ",3 Biological Biological Abstracts. D r . Alberto Thompson of the Office of wherein representatives of the AEC, Department of Defense and the Public Health Service met with Dr, John T. Flp and Dr.Steuart Mudd of IfBiological Abstractslf for the purpose of discussing their request for financial assistance from various government agencies. If such a request is approved, it would enable them t o bring the indices t o Biological Abstracts out more nearly on time rather than having them run about 18 months behind,and this, they believe, would be advantageous t o the interested Government agencies. It was proposed also that they could improve their coverage and get out a cumulative index. The Committee were of the opinioni that the subject should be considered in detail by representatives of the respective agencies and that it should be brought to their attention in a formal proposal for their recommendations at a later date. . _

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Shugg overall picture of the budget f o r the individual program. He explained the Shugg presented the AEC emphasizing each ing ;harts which depicted the cash requirements as well as the contract authority for the Commission. studied the charts and interjected with questions as tothe .ratio of expenditures for the planned programs. M r . Shugg informally discussed the space requirements of the AEC and advised the Committee that an additional Wing a t T-3 Building had been assigned t o the AEC. Meeting of Meeting of Medical and Laboratory Directors - February 10 meeting of medical and laboratory directors in biology and Mr. Derry summarized the discussions of the medicine held on February 10 and 11, 1950. a n agreement had been reached on tolerance standards and He stated that that Dr. Warren had sent t o the Managers of Operations a statement of the permissible radiation dose standards that areto be used in the laboratories. Division of Research. interesting review of the activities of the Research Division and i t s research program which included the handling of . -

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Fellowships Fellowships, Dr.Tuttle and Dr. Pearson reported on the Fellowship Program, stating that as of the find day for filing postdoctoral fellowship applications a t the National Research Council under the modified program, six applications had been received in medical sciences, thirteen in biology and fifteen in physical sciences. The Cdt tee felt deep concern for the furtherance of the program in view of the few applicants f o r postdoctoral fellowships. with the number of applicants received last year, t h e current number was negligible. mately three hundred applications have been received. was believed t h a t the vast difference in numbers between postdoctoral and predoctoral applications may be attributed t o the need of a man just entering the study of science f o r of postdoctoral fellowship applications and probably i s due in part to the requirement that the recipient ' s project require access to restricted informatian. The Chairmm pointed out that there is a shortage of doctors inthe United States, especially i n the research and public health field,A full discussion was held on the program including t h e new regional arrangements. understanding that the fellowships are regional i n point Inthe predoctoral sciences approxiThis isin great contrast t o the number It w a s the Committeels

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of award but not regional in point of origin of application. The Committee reiterated its previous views and recommended that the Fellowship Program be continued and strengthened in both the biological and medical sciences. Civil Defense Planning. has been made in the civil defense planning. the Executive Session before the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy at which Conunissioner Dean, Dr. Warren, M r . Derry and he participated. that the training programs for both the monitors and for physicians are getting under way, Strategic Bombing Survey reports on Hiroshima and Nagasaki are in the process of being declassified by the military and that the medical report on the Naval Technical Mission Mr. Bowman outlined the progress that He repdrted on The Committee was gratified to learn to Japan has been declassified. psychological survey project which is being sponsored by the Division of Biology and Medicine and proposed to be undertaken by the University of Michigan. determined by consultations with Dr. Dwight W. Chapman of the Research and Development Board and representatives of the Troop Information Branch of the Information and Education Division, Office of the Secretary of Defense that such a M r . Ward Miller reported on the It has been

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survey would not be a duplication of efforts. mittee expressed the hope that the Commission Will approve this project and that it will get underway a t an early interested in the development of an inexpensive, rugged, . reliable and simple type radiation monitor. instrument has been developed by t h e New York Operations Radiological Laboratory and is expected t o sell for approxiAtomic Bomb Casualty Commission. joint meeting with the Atomic Bomb Casualty Codas ion which he attended with Dr. Gregg and Dr, Wearn atthe National Taylor were present t o explain the Japanese phase of t h e operations. The general picture was presented of a proposed expanded full scale operation utilizing the three centers of Hiroshima, Kure and Nagasaki a t an operating level of someMr. Derry pointed out that the Cds sion was vitally Dr. Warren reported on a Colonel Carl Tessmer and Dr,Grant thing over $7,OOO,OOO a year. It was pointed out by Dr. Warren that such a program was entirely out of scale with the rest of the activities there would be only one major center so far as medical activities were concerned -- that at Hiroshima; that there would be genetic studies at all three regions; and that Therefore, at a later meeting it was proposed

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occasional spot surveys for specific points might be operated in Hiroshima to these other points. It was determined at this later meeting that the budget in any one year would not exceed $2,500,000. A staff paper is being prepared for Connnission consideration which will summarize the activities of the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission to date, together with recommendations of the Division of Biology and Medicine for the c&tailment of the program, and recommendations for a limited budget. on the general research of Biology and Medicine program and concluded that several of the programs should be biological effects of tritium should be stressed. the sense of the Committee that the important aspects of radiation toxicology in the field of radiobiology, soils, intermediary metabolism and animal physiology should be given increased emphasis. The Codttee considered the emphasis The Codttee believed that the work on the In connection with the review of the biological research program, Dr. Stakman plans to make a study of the report from the Agriculture Department on "The Improvement of Soil Management and Crop Production Through Investigation with 180tOpeS" and report his findings as to plant research to the Committee at their next, meeting,

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" A current chart (pie) depicting the ratio of the research program i n biology and medicine will be presented for further study a t the next meeting. of the Biophysics Branch and the following outline lists interests which the Division is desirous of promulgating Dr. Claus reviewed the current status as its program. INTERESTS OF APPLIED BIOPHYSICS (HEALTH PHYSICS) BRANCH 1. TOLERANCE TOWARD EXTERNAL RADIATION, including t h e activity includes research projects which are set up specifically for the purpose of determining: - setting of permissible limits of exposure. This tolerance toward whole-body radiation, particularly gamma rays and neutrons ductive mechanisms) toward gamma rays and neutrons tolerance of external organs (as skin and eyes) toward a l l radiation, alpha, beta, gamma and TOLERANCE TOWARD INTERNAL EMITTERS is determined from observed pathological and genetical effects of radiations from the various isotopes and from the manner i n which the isotopes are selectively concentrated in the various organs of t h e body, Permissible concentrations of radioactive isotopes i n food, air, water and general environment, at levels which are innocuous t o human, animal and plant life may then be determined. research projects which are set up specifically to assist i n determining permissible concentrations of radioactive isotopes within the various …