The Research and Development Program in Biomedical Fields Oak Ridge Operations Office Report

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'IHE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN BIOMEDICAL FIELDS OAK IIIDCjE OPERATIONS OFFICE BIOXQGICAL RESEARCY, OAK RIDGE NAT lOW LBBBRlhToRp A t the Biology Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, t h e Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Company carries out the largest biomedical program under Oak Ridge Operations. The ORNL Biological Research hgram consists of a group of long-range basic activities in quantitative biology concerned with effects of all kinds of radiations on living material, plant and inheritance, a l t e r biological processes, and modify the normal biochemistry of cells and tissues. are major contributions t o the world's knowledge of biological hazards from radiation, and are indicating the possible means for allevi-ation o r prevention of radiation effects. of mammalian recovery from radiation damage, and new developments of chemical protection are under expanded study beginning with FY 1956. large-scale mouse genetics experiment continues t o provide significant information on changes caused by ionizing radiation in the germ plasm a t several dose levels, including a proposed expansion t o much lower total dose and chronic exposure beginning i n FY 1956. Special efforts are being made to compare e f f e c t s of neutrons with those caused by other radiations, on inheritance, on the production of leukemia, tumors, cataracts, and changes inthe vascular system. The experimental studies are demonstrating how radiations change The fundamental data being provided by t h i s program Studies are under way toward enhancement FY 19% FY 1955 FY 1956 FY 1957 BIOPHYSICS RESEARCH AND TR.4MING. OAK 3IDGE NATIONAL IAEXJRATORY A t the Health Physics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, t h e Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Company undertakes research an3. development, plus training, in the protection of individuals from radiation hazards. The over-all objectives include (a) instrumentat ion for measurement of radiation dose from ioniziqg radiations and neutron exposures, (b) establishment of more dependable permissible levels of radiation exposure, (c ) establishment and evaluation of procedures f o r control of radioactive wastes, and (d) development of pertinent physical, chemical, biological, and engineering data with bearing on problems of human protection. Cooperative research programs are pursued with such agencies as the U.S. Public Health Service,

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Health Physics Division, ORNL. FY 1954 FY 1955 FY 1956 FY 1957 CANCER RESEARCH, MEDICAL DIVISION, OAK RIDGE 1NS"UTE OF NUCLEAR S"DlXs The OFUNS Cancer Research Program emphasizes investigations on use of radioactive materials i n treatment of cancer and related diseases, and concentrates on these med3cal problems t h e accumulated specialized techniques and knowledge available through the several laboratories and their scientists in Oak Ridge. Medical research methods, carried through the develQpmenta1 stages, become released from QRINS for mass evaluation and application i n other hospitals and the affiliated medical schools of the ORINS program. development and evaluation with medical centers throughout t h e nation of teletherapy equipment, and is currently testing a kilocurie rotating cesium unit in (Eak Ridge. leader inthe standardization of Iodine-131 internal dose as applied to radiochemical therapy, and is participating in studies of low-level iodine counting i n the thyroids of the mammalia. A 30-bed hospital facility stimulates and secures OBINS Medical Division has pioneered cooperative I n addition, QRINS i s serving as a pioneer and ORINS, Medical Division, Cancer Research Program. Program Cost $531,000 565, OOO 598,000 610,000 of Tennessee under contract, has as i t s principal objectives (1)t h e accomplishment of research m t h i n Commission and University of Tennessee interests. These interests primarily concern the metabolism and biological effects of fission product elements and similar materials, and studies of their access t o domestic animals i n foodstuffs and i n the drinking water. Such studies are considered of programmatic importance but also of basic application t o long-range agriculture. ( 2 ) Another objective o f the UT-= Program i s t o use t o full effectiveness the external radiation field available for plant and animal studies. (3) Problems of borderline Commission interest, under partial or whole support by the University, are carried out on the physiology and nutrition of the domestic animal as they bear on radiobiology, pathology, and reproduction. the military are a portion of this program. Training ac tioities f o r graduate students and an average scientific and technical man-year effort of 17.0 (Reimbursible) Operates at anet Commission annual cost of $220,000 a t

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The biophysics research program a t Mound Laboratory, operated f o r the Commission by the Monsanto Chemical Company, has devoted its efforts during the past five years t o studies of the toxicity and the pathology produced i n experimental animals by highly-energetic alpha-particle emitters important t o the atomic energy program. The elements studied have principally been polonium and actinium. polonium which have shown that whole-life chronic doses i n rate a t three times the Mound Laboratory working tolerance are ineffective in causing pathology, that probably +he critical organ for - first detectable pathology i n the mammal i s the kidney, and that polonith gives rise ta marked changes in cell growth and behavior. preparatian on these subjects and on the toxicity and pathology of radioactinium and its daughter products. Mound Laboratory has been supported at a level of about 30 scientific - tech ical man-years a t an annual operating cost of $5OO,OOO. this phase of research will cease a t Mound Laboratory. A t present the manpower isin the neighborhood of twelve man-years, and all but three of the personnel have, t o date, arranged for placement elsewhere a t the fiscal year end. Studies have been completed on the toxicity of A series of final reports is i n The biophysics program a t