Memo to David E. Lilienthal, Subject: Seventeenth Meeting of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine Was Held September 9 and 10, 1949, in Washington D.C.

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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION The seventeenth meeting of the Adviclorg Cornittee for Biology and Medicine w a s held on Prim and Saturday, September 9 and 10, 1949, with the exception of Dr. AJan Gmgg, who is in Europe. AJ.1 of the members of the Committee were present Since our la et meeting we have read with considerable Interest the SMh Semiannual Report t o the Congress. of this report is a real tribute to the individuals who’contributed t o #e feel tbat the high qmity A review of the research prodects w h i c h have been approved by the Division o f Biology and Medicine since our la et meeting etimulated discussion of several aspects of such aprogram. The Committee 18 pleased t o learn of the progress that is being made In e8tabliiiMng uniform procedures for research contracts, projects, we felt that conaideration should be glven t o the increased abin l stra%iv eburden which suchprojecta place on institutions and allowances made f o r It. In furtherance of our discussion at the June meeting the scope of the basic research program vas Sgain presented. chart which showed the relative emphasis that is being placed on various phases of research Including the w o r k carried on at the In regard t o overhead on llhe Committee studied a of the Committee that the blopbyaics program ahorjlld ral important problems were suggested f o r study, the winion of the Committee that the blopbyaics program shorjlld ral important problems were suggested f o r study,

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i.e., the time intensity factor; the exchange o f energy between the environment and the cell ; the stud,, o f the energetics of the metabolic process involved inthe exchange of ions in the environment and the interior of the cells; enzyme chemistry; the utilization of our modern knowledge-of microwave techniques t o develop better our information on the kinetics of very rapid reactions; enzyne reactions t o radiation w e ; quantitative histochem>etry; study on the exact composition of intracellular fluids and the cdhof,qS. These subjects and many others in the broad field of blOphy8iCS were bested for strengthening of the program, It was o w feeling that research in basic sciences i s as important and as much a responsibility of the Commission and of the Division of Biology and Medicine as any o f the present o r planned The Deputy Director gave a helpful review of his recent visit to Japan wherein he surveyed the s ct iv it les of the Atomic Bomb Ca8dty Commission at Hiroshima,,Kure and Magasski, Dr. Bowers' rvey covered all phases serology, parasitology, laboratory facilities, construction, housing facilities, etc. ' Inasmuch as large sums o f money are being expended from Federal funds f o r this program, we feel that periodic reappraisals are eeeential. It i s our purpose t o stady Dr. Boners' full report ta the Commission before giving our aapiesceoce t o the current program, In connection with Dr. Bowera' oral report, a letter from Dr. Lewis weed requesting the approval of the Atomic Energy Commission of a plan to. establish a Board of Commissionere within the Japanese National Institute of Health that would have a voice i n the affairs of the Atomic Bomb Caeualty Commission was carefully revlared. The Cammi-agreed i n principle that the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission should collaborate with the Japanese National Institute, but that i t is premature t o implement definite plans, further meeting before a fihal recommendation i e made, of the program including organization studiesbin hematology, genetics., In no cam wag the proposed plan considered Howewer, they propose t o discuss this question at a We were pleased t o learn that the Civil Defense program is under the able guidance of M r . Harry L, Bowman, Professor of Civil Engineering at Drexel Institute of Technology, and that he is worMng on the'material that will be serviceable t o the Rational Securlty Resources Board i p - planning t h e i r program.. Mr. Bowman 8UUUQarited fiis recent report OD disaster plans of t h e Oak Ridge Operations Office, which we understand is being studied by the Production Division before submission to the Comiseion for their consideration.

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IMS~IUC~as several o f the members o f the Committee feel that in the near future they will have to retire from the Cornittee, we discussed a rotating change o f the membership. Both Dr. Hastings and Dr. 3eaQe have expressed a desire t o resign f r o m the Committee on Jane 30, 1950. Lots were then drawn f o r the remaining members and they will & tire a8 follows: name was not placed among the '&q as we feel it is highly desirable It was unanimously agreed that hereafter the policy would be f o r members t o rotate at the rate of one member per year. that new member8 be appointed in time t o permit their being invited t o attend several meetings before the retirement of any member. -Dr. Warren is plannfng t o take this change in the Committee tcp with the Commission a% an wly date. It was suggested We considered the FellowahipSrogram in l i g h t of the recent Congressional hearings and the rider that has been placed in t h e Atomic Energy Commission Appropriation Act which makes obligatory a f u l l baCkgr0-d T.B.1. clearance for each candidate for an Atomic %era Commission Fellowship unanimous I n volc/ng,its opinion that the Pellowship Program rahonld be continued despite the conditions Imposed by the present statute. 'phey peacetime applications and the humanitarian aspects of atomic energg as contrasted wlth the necessary restrlctione that muat be placed on As a result o f the discussions the, 'Committee was effort should be made t o educat.e the public in the Mention might be made of the report of the Medical Board o f R e ~ e wIn relation t o the Fellowship Program o f June 1947 In which it was strongly aecarity, secrecy in the f i e l d of 'biological and medlcal research'be followed it would have advanced science generally i n the unrestricted aspects of atomic energy and attracted poxe young men into the field. In connection with the fellowship program, i t waa the opinion of the Committee that if an applicant fora fellowship I s denled clear ace, - the applicant then should 'be permitted t o appear f o r a hearing in 9 8 ne believe that i f this recommendation had been more widsly We are hopePal that some procedure will be worked out

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satisfactorily in the not too distant future whereby this recommendation could be placed into effect, The members of the Committee have sent their specific recornendations t o the Director of the Division sytting forth their views on hou best t o carry forward the Fellowship Pqgram, Dr. Warren will correlate these l btk eq qin d forward a statement with his recommendations t o the General 'Manager. It was the view o f the Committee that it would be well t o emphasize the peacetime Mc t ions of the Commission by giving the open aspect8 o f the meetings of the Advisory Committee f o r Biology and Medicine t o the press. %e next meeting of the Committee 56 schedtiled t o be held at oak Xational Laboratory on November 11 and 12, 1949, It is our understanding that Biology and Medicine