Minutes Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine Seventeenth Meeting Held at Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, D.C., September 10, 1949

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Adv!sory Committee for Biology and Kedicine The seventeenth meeting o f the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine o f the Atomic Energy Commission the Vice Chairman, qrhi ' nest Goodpasture, presiding, Dr. Alan Gregg was unable t o be present Atomic Enerq Commission Dlvision of Biology & Medicine National Research Coma

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---___Seniaunu.al Zemrt, The Comit t ce commended the staff of the Atomic Energy Commission and particularly the staffs of the Division of Biology and Medicine an& the Division o f Public and TechnLcal Information Service as well as area, personnel and cooperating investigators who contributed' ?h,,m#ing t h e Sixth Semiannual Report, which was focused pilmarily on the biological and medical aspects o f atomic energy, such an outstanding Mixutes o f Meeting o f June 11, 1949, The minutes of the last meeting (&ne '11, 1949) were approved unanimously on a motion mzde by Dr. Hastings and seconded by Dr, Report on Research Projects, The projects whfch have been approved and also those declined by the Division of Biology and Medicine since i t s last meeting were reviewed with particular emphasis placed on the universities and other institutions and the overhead problem was fully discussed, They are listed after this %e adminis.i;ration of t h e contyacts at the The Committee was pleased to learn that procedures are being worked out whereby basic research contracts i n most instances iv ll l reflect a breakdown of specific

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'ILerns and the ~bl;\iai cosi o f the scientific work lnvoived Instead o f allocating large morai.sof money t o items listed as admin%stratlve and overhead e-Tenses, By est all l shing a nniform policy the item for overhead will in most instances be reduced o r elimlnated and contracts will b$?ter reflect their truo cost, ad n ln is tr atl ve pro ce dura.11 be less costly and less birrdensone for universities and ln bt it ut lons to handle. Some advantages of fl x ed price contracts were brought outa The trend toward longer term support was approved, a, Projects appr ov. Phos-phorus3' for the Precise Localization o f Xdward 3, West - 6A Study of Labeled Acetic Acid and Ethanol I n RelatSon t o Fat i4etabolism" - (4) Presbyter%anHospital ofthe City of Chicaoo - (5) Peter Bent Brigham Hospitp.1 - Dro Francis De Depletion and Repair: the Hurnan Being with the Aid of Isotopes"- Biochemicd Studies in

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o f Rad2etion 'Upon the Developent o f Eat fiInvestigation o f the Effects o f Agents Used Inthe Treatment of Cancer, &ray and Nitrogen Mustards on t h e 1munolog:fc Response of Experi- " Irradiation of Gastric Mucosa by Intra gastric Contract extended for one year top emit the ABCC t o continue medical and genetic studies Dle thy st ll best r ol ,and a Study ofits bfetabolisn Biochemical and Physiological Action of Th rog be Bnricu1tin-e and Iteckanlcal College of Texas -

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''l'he Synthesis of I sotopic Carbon Compounds Uszd Organic Acids i n & Gr Plants and Microorganisns - Studie.F-of Bio logic d Nitrogen Eixation with "%'he Production of Mutant Strains of Xxglenoid Rage l late s and the fr Use in the Stu&v of Carbon (7) University o f Wfsconsin - Dr. David E, Green -nStudies on t h e Cyclophorase System of Aninal Proposals extended since June 10 neetlxg "Comparison of Effects of X-rays, Neutrons and Concentrate Compounds inthe Development.of the

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Radiation 2ffs ct s of Internally Adninistered nA%diation Work on t h e Parasitic wasp, Habrochemistry and Nutrition of Unicellular Organisms and t h e Bequironent of Vkrieties of Mutants Induced by Radiation“ and Tracer Studies i n 3iology“ A?hys5.0k:fiarrJ1cal Study ofthe Node of Action o f Antibacterial Agent sli sToxicity and Antibiotic Betatron of Compouds Forming Complexes with Hetrrls and Effect of Trace Elements on Bact eriai Metabolism” ”Permeability of Natural Membrane t o Gases

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Properties of Intra cc Uul ar Constituents" X-Irradiation m d Radioactive Isotopes on the Leukemic Agents f n r Therapeutic Value Against Transmitted Xouse Leukemiau ment of a Method of Assaying t h e Heparin Content In-mstigation o f Protein Synthesis by Use of S;lpport o f &sic Research. In continuation of the discussion at the June meeting the scope of the basic research program was thoroughly examinede The Connittee considered the distribution by fields of the A3C research grants as recornended by the Division of Bio lom and lledicine and they reaffirned their previnus recommendation that the mount o f research in basic scientific fields should be increased, though without curtp-iltng present c r projected progranmatic Furthermore, 5.t; Ifas the Ccmnittce's feeling tnat research in the basic sciences i s as important; and as

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much ,p. resp nn rib ili ty of tho Cm n is sion an6 of the Divisicn It i ~ a st h e sense ofthe Cornnittee that research i n the biophysics program shculd be brozdened. Specifically, several inportant problems were suggested for study, i,e., the tine factor, egg, "is the effect of' rediatim the sanle for a cert,ain perfod''r>%b&~q irrespective of whether that period of tine is contlnums o r interrupted", the nechanism of the persistence of effects ; the exchange of energy between the environnent and the cell ; the study ofthe energetics; the metabolic procseses involved inthe exchange of ions between the environnent md the interior of the cells; cnzyze chemistry; the utilization of our ncdern knowledge o f nicrowave techniques t o develop better our icf ~ r mati or ,on the r?.echanlsn o f very rapid reaction; enzyne reaction to radi atl on danage; qu mt it at ive histochemistry; study on the exact composition af intra - cellular fluids and the colloids, These subjects and nmy others inthe broad field of biophysics were sug,oested for strengthening t h e bionhyslcs program gave a comprehensive review o f his recent y is jt to Japan, wherein he sm-veyed the activities of the Atonic Bomb Casualty Conmissinn at Hiroshima, Kure, Nagasaki and Toyko, The Deputy Director

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Dri Boners( survey Covered all phases nf the ABCC prngi*m, including hhca drganization o f studies i n Henamedicine, as well as laboratory facilities, construction, housing facilities, etc, Inasmuch as large suns o f mcney are being ec ended from Federal funds Por the Committee that periodic reappraisals are essential, his program, it was the sense o f Furthermore, it is their pcrpose t o study Dr. Bowers’ full report to the Connlsslon and t o reexanine the program as tothe probability of “,e obtaining the desired . objectives i n reasonable time m d at justifiable cost before giving their qpr ov d to the current program as adn-l.nistered by the National Research Council, A proposal of joint organ iz a tim of the DC Cad the Japan National Institute of Health, sutmitted by the NRG, was considered, It was believed t o be unwise and -O a k Ridge Disaster Plans, o f Civil bg in ee ring at Drexel Institute of Technology and Consultant tothe Division of Biology and Medicine summarized his report on Oak Ridge Oyeration disaster plans and problems which he hail made at the instance o f the Director o f the Division of Bio loa and Medicine. He No definite action was hken, pending further

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eq ha sized the fol lob l ng recormendxtions cf this re pmt : (1) The dec is im to place the prc?.jcct;ed Z-29 p l m t in the space between K-25 and K-27 consLitutes an unnecessary hazard whJch i s not justified by considera+ tlcrns of either cost or production and should be (2) "he equipment i n Building 706-D which produces an inportant research component should be given prote &ion coarensurate with its importance (unless it be concluded th t the present plan t o rebuild within a year adequately cares for the facility). (3) %'he use o f any type o f block construction - brick, concrete, o r precast slabs -- should be banned i n favor o f (a) poured i n place reenforced concrete walls which are tied to the building frame or, (b) corrugated asbestos which \Jill read ll y shatter and not becone dangerous n is si les. (4) The dm(originally constructed as a road fill)in 0,k Creek which forms a l&e and receives the waste froln t h e Y-12 plant should be strengthened against danger frm a flash flood by a continuous wall of steel (5) The projected disaster plan for the town of Oak llidce shculd be pushed t o completion,

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disaster plans for the town of Oak ,singe are received front he Manager of Oak Ridge Operatfons Office. --Civil Defense Planning:. Dr, tqarren reyorted on the progress clarle i n the Civil Defense Pla h ing Progran, He stated thst Nrp”’;%~wnanhad nssuned the supervision of this program for the Divisi m of Bio lom and Nedicine and that he i s working on plans that will be serviceable t o the National Security Resources Board insetting q of its responsibilities, The Comission i s seeking clarification I n conjunctinn with this,Mr, John Derry told of a meeting which will be held i n Chicago on October 12, 1949 on Disaster Stock;,,iiing i n which Dr, lqarren d.11 act as this meeting t o exchange ideas regarding the subject of radiation detection instrurients for disaster purposes3 Representatives of all the areas will attend Dre llarren stated that the Weapons Effects Handbook may be ready fnr print jag the early part of Decenbero I n connection with this book, it was his opinion thata physicians’ and a lay first aid nanual should be prepared ina short forn wlth one section on decontamination and the other section on the effects

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Chalk River on Septcr?.ber 24 and 30 when a three-nation posal standarfis and the pe miss i ble dose stnnr?ards, Eleven leadin,:: rm-U,olo,qists and health physic l sts will represent the United States, changes i n its nembership, Dr, &stings and Dr. Beadle expressed a desire to retire on June 30, 1950, Dr. Hastings moved that hereafter the pol9cy of the Connittee should be that its rnenbership sho ad rotate on an ann.ilal basis o It was seconded by Dro Wear, and unanlnously mere fore,it 19as agreed that the Cornittee uould accept the resignatinns of Dro Hastin,Ts and Dra Beadle as of June 30, 1950 a d the remaining members with the exception of Dr, Gregg would retire as determined by lot Dr, E. lie Goodpasture June 30, 1952 It was suggested that the new proposed nenbers f o r replacement be invited to attend several neetings before

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The Director will present this suggested change In policy tothe General Manacer and ihe Co mission for repnrt made by tf&&cting Chief o f the Biology 3ranch wherein he revtewed the activities of the Division that The Cormittee was interested in the nay be classified under the broad scope o f education, Dr, Pearson stated that the oak Ridge Institute of Xuclear Studies and its isotope training prog rm is designed to train people inthe technique and the use of radioisotopes; the progr,m has been developed jointly with the Oak Ridge Natinnnl Laboratory and the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies whereby students pursuing work for the doctorate who have completed ail ofthe course requirenents at; the institut inns nay be appointed tothe Oak RiQe National Laboratoxy for the purpose o f carrying on research which may be used as naterial fora Since some o f the national laboratories are somewhat isolated from acadenic insti-Lutlnns It i s itesirable that some plans be developed and encouraged t o provide for an exchange of university faclrlty and staff members from naticlnal laboratories, A progrm has been developed,

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menbers f'ron unlversi-ties and colleges on a leave basis for periods o f three months, six months, a year and preferably two years. at o t h e r laboratories as soon as there are adequate facilities and aqditional staff can be accommodated, A similar plan will be developed He further tb-$miq&that i t would be desirable t o work out some arrangement vhereby staff members of the national laboratories could be given a leave of absence for work in universities and colleges, Indust rial cI nd us trial Health, Ik- Warren discnssed industrial health in relation to items that are procured as a unit against; those procured on a contract basis, This proQIem had cone up i n connection with the Colorado Plateau Rnd elsewhere as t o the responsibil5ty of the Atomic Energy Commission for the health of the personnel of an establishment working on material. produced for the Atomic 3nergy Commission, Dr, Varren stated that a tentative plan had been suggested In connection with the Colorado Pk teau wherein the State Boards of Health would accept the responsibility for the policing end the AEC would assist them wlth He further discussed the beryllosis problem as

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one Item for study ab tothe responsibi1it;q of A3C tovard Specifically, the Mer. York Operations Office had requested advice on whether they had to s qe mise and p alice each plant whhere they may have a contract, Mr, Bennett Boskey, Deputy General Cowsel, explained tothe ' Chni bee the various clauses of' an BEC contract; with particular emphsiu placed on the clause committing a contractor t o abide by A3C health and safety "he Committee did not take any specific action on t h e problem, nevertheless, the &Iscussion leaned toward holding tWi ezch contractor should be responsible for the health and safety of his employees and that fis much responsibility as possi'ble for inspection and policing rest on the state and municipal agencies. Future Tests, Dr, Varren reported on t h e Eniwetok program in relation to the biologlcd, experiments that have been agreed Gpon by the ad hoc committee and approved by liJ" Division at. Los Llamos, Conferences ha.ve been held with representatives of the Armed Services and the U, S, Public Health Seralcc concerning the extent of their participation. The general principle has been adopted that the Comission will be responsible f o r the overseas operation which will be aproximately $1,700,000 f o r the

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t o ?repare detailed syecificpt-ions for procurement and construction of an an id station in Japtan. Fellowships Fel.iowshins. The Ccmmlttee considered t h e Bellowship Program in light of the recent Congressional hearings md the rider th z k has been placed i n the A X Appropriation Act for ,the fiscal0 which makes obiigatoiy afull l?BI clearance for each candidate for an BEG Fello!ftih.lp l'he Committee was unanimous i n voicing their opinions that t h e E'ellovshi? Program should be continued despite the conditions b posed by the present statute. I t was the recomendati.on of the Committee that if an app li cat for a fell ov ship is denled a clearance, the applicant should be permitted t o acpear forz !w*s.- ing in his om behalf. !?hey expressed the opinion …