Document text
Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
Page 1
For iielease ii;d ppers Sunday, Developments in the field of nuclear science have opened a n entirely new TieLd o f hunan endeavor which should be exploited as rapidly as possible. The potential benefits in t!ie medical sciences are mong Che most important opportunities offered in this new field of man * s knowledge. Recognizing the importance of carefully planned and coordinated programs of ned ical research, the United States Atonic kergy Comnission appointed a Medical Board of Review t o examine the Comnission's programs and policies in this field and t o mice recormendations for the guidance of the Commission irr conducting its own progran of medical research and i n formulating policies regarding research carried on by non-governmental Pending the completion of its report pad the study of there a ort by the Co mission,the 'hledical hard of Review is issuing this interim statement in recognition of the soundness and effectiveness of the programs and policies being folloxed by the Coimission and its contractors. The members 'of t h e Board were; Dr. Xobert F. Loeb, Lambert Professor o f Xedicine, Columbia University, l<em York City, Cllairmn, University of Perxisylvenia, Fhiladelphia, and Chairman, National Dr.Val lace0. Fern, Professor o f Physiolqgy, University o f Rochester School of liedicine and Dsntistry, Rochester, N. Y. Gasser, Director, Rockefeller Institute for
Page 2
i)r. Alan Gregg, Girector f o r Ekdical Sciences, Zockefeller Fouiidation, Ke-u Vork City. Dr.A.Baird Hastiligs, Professor of Biological Chemistry, ilarvard Lledical School, Boston, ifass. Assisting t'ne Board was aska ff co,nposed 03 Major air chard Lis Brundage, LC., ofthe Atonic Energy Comiiission Medical Ijivision a t Lieut. Albert E. Xolland Jr., M.C., of ' the Medical Division a t Oak Ridge. The Board has spent five days reviewing the medical, biological and health physics phases ofthe United States atomic energy program, and i s submitting tothe Atonic E:iergy Comxission a report which the members of the 3oaz-d !lope will serve as ci helpful guide tothe Commission in carrying out its mprecedented resp on sibi lit is s. The members of the i3oard hzrve very strongly aBproved the measures taken by the Atonic Exorgy Co;rJnission'j and by its predecessor, the Manhattan Engineer District ; 02thc Yar Departmenk, for the Fr otec tion of personnel engsged in the program of development of atomic dangcrous occupation one of the s cfcs t in America. The effective health and suf e ty xork has made a potentially The accomplishments i n tho field of health and safety area result of the close association of the medical and biological scientists with the physicists and engineers, in Che solution of be continued and encouraged, This s s soc in tion and collaboration should The entire pro j act of nuclear developnent i s an outstanding example of the benefits which can be realized through not only the close collaboratioxr of specialists in amy fields of soiencu and engineering, but also through the close cooperation of govsrnmental research groups with those of academic arid industrial rcs ihr ch in st it uk ions, effective utilization of the natioii's resaarch resources. field of medical and biological research, it means the closest possible cooperation bztween medical rosearch groups adthe Atomic Energy Comission, and a car of ul planning of the Commission's program. This requires careful planning to in sure the most
Page 3
contact Setwean tho universities rad the at q:ic energy prograii, 2nd recommends tht this policy be co:ctinued m d expanded wherever possible. The Atornic Energy Comnission i s czrryiny out an extensive pr0gra.n o f medical mid bio logic21research in fields directly related to its own i ict iv it ios and rz sp on sibi lit is s. This program should ba continued The Board i s n-tking specific recomnendations tothe Commission with r csp oct to the policies and extent of suFport for research cz r ried 011 outside of thc Cormissiools fac ili tics. The shortage of qualified personnel i s one of the most critical problems i n the ent irc field of medical end bio lg ical research r The Board i s recomxndiag totne Co:TiiiiissiorL tht it give all possible su_oport tothe r;rogrsms for tho training of par some l. Assistance in the tr cia ing of rdsx.rch ;.rorkers i s probably the sing lo most important form of sui:cort which the Comaissim can give to iso tops front he Coi,missiocfs facilities. encrgy progrcm offi;rs great cr pro aise of Scn ef it to rnrnkind. 210 phase oftha & tonic Thc Eorrd has boen izprossed by the p of css ios al competence and progressive at t it u dz s of tk per s or asl of the Cornxission Eind its contractors in the fic ld of medical research. unanimous in their belief that the medic21 End biological research pog rn ns of the Ccmission ere being properly conducted, The Board nerlbers are