Draft Minutes Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine Fifth Meeting Held at Atomic Energy Commission Los Alamos, New Mexico, January 9, 1948

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Advisory Conmittee f o r Biology and Medicine The fifth meeting of the Advisory Conmittee for Biology and Medicine of the Atomic Xnergy Commieslon was convened by the Chairman, Dr. Alan Gregg, at 9:OO A.H., io t h e Administration Building at Los Alamos, New Mexico. Present at the meeting were: Dr. Alan Gregg, I)r, George W, Bronk and Dr. Shields Warren, Interim Director, Members of the staff of the AF,C who were present at The Draft Minutes of the Meet- o f December 13, 1947 were considered. D r , Stakman moved that they be accepted a e read, Dr. Haatings seconded the motion and it was Consideration of Proposed Liet of Consultants for Cases of Illness and InJurg Alleged t o Result from Special ILrearda: The following list of consultants was proposed t o serve with suitable renuneration as advisors to the Commission orits representatives in cases which are alleged to result from 1058480 DOE ARCH IV U

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Fried all, Qmer (Rad.) We stern R e serve &. GregG este d the addition of the name of 2. Xaxwell Winthrobe, Internist, Salt Lake City, Utah.Dr, & stings moved that the list of consultants proposed\with the addition of Dr. Winthrobe be approved. Dr. Stakman seconded and it was carried Pub11cat ion 6 of Publications- of t h e Division of Biology and Medicine: In Division o f view o f the resp one i bil it y laid upon the UC for the dissemfnation of scientific informat ion, this subject was discussed In general preliminary terms by t h e Committee. Dr. Bronk w&ested that an announcement be published i n the JOURNAL of t h e AMERICAN EEDICAL ASSOCIATION and SCIENCE regarding the general availability of the Abstracts of Be classified Bocument~," The desirability of paying for a suitable number of rep rl nt a of articles published in this field waa also diacussed. It was felt that kh& 8- broad policy of the AEC and its Advisory Committee in thio field should first be determined, In sdditlon, I t VBB suggested that the DiY i6iOn determine the wishee of the ,regional laboratories insofar as availability of publicat lone is concerned.

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of Schools and Projected meetirg with representatives of certain medical schools end allied institutions : The following letter has been forwarded tothe addresses Frank P. Graham, President, University of North Caroline, W . R. Berryhill, Dean, School of Hedical Sciences, Univ. John W. Harrelson, Chancellor, State College of Agri, Thurman D. Kitchin, President , Wake Forest College, Wake C. C. Carpenter, Dean, School of Medicine, Wake Forest Col., Walter H. Moursund, Dean, School of Medicine, Baylor Univ., Houston, Tex. V. V. Eouston, President, Rice Institute, Houston, Tex. &.Robert L. Steams, President, Univ. of Colo., Boulder, Colo. Ward Darley, Dean, School of Medicine, Denver, Colo. Dr. Caleb F. Gates, President, Univ, of Denver, Denver, colo. Harry K. Newburn, President, Univ. of Oregon, Eugene, Ore. David W. E. b i r d , Dean, School of I4edicine, Unlv. of Ore., Dr, P e t e r H. Odegard, President, Beed College, Portland, Ore. Dr. August Leroy Strand, President, Oregon State College, & Engineering of the Univ. of N. C., Raleigh, N.C, "In line with Its p9licy of intensive e ipl oration of the Channels whereby atomic energy may be applied f o r the benefit of mankind, the Atomic hergy Commission has recently constituted a Divlslon of Biology and b di cine, and i t s Advisory Committee are deeply concerned with the shortage of trained personnel, both for practical control and application and f o r basic research, To meet, i n part, this shortage, the Commission now has under consideration a proposal t o institute a series of fellowships at the postCoctoral level for physicirms, biologist s and physicists interested i n biology o r medicine, for Bachelors o f Science would also be envisaged. Less intensive training "In t h e course of our coneideration of possible fellowehip training programs, various inst itut ions have been considered for the establishment of training facilities on a regional basis. It is felt that six groups of institutions may be particularly suited t o carry on this training:

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Duke University, Schocl of hdi c inc and College of Arts and Sciences; University of North Carolina School of Medicine and College of Arts and Sciences; North Carolina State College of Agriculture and kg in ee ring of the University of iJorth Carolina and Wake Forest College, School o f Medicine and College of Arts and Sciences. University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Baylor University, School of Medicine and Dentistry and Rice Institute. Univemity of Colorado School of Medicine end University of Denver, School of Engineering. Unlver s i t y of California (Lo8 Angale 8 ) . Scho 01 of University of Oregon, School of Medicine, and the Universfty of Oregon, Reed College and Oregon HA training progran has already been undertaken by the University of Roche ster and tent at lve arrangements have been made for one at the University of Call - for nia, Loa hg elea. HYou will note that the groups of schools have been considered in relation to possible cooperative effort between schools of Medicine and Department 8 of Phyeica and Mathematics, and in relation to geographical! loca- #In order t o explore further the various aspects of such a training program, it would be appreciated if youor Borne other representative of your in at it uti on could attend a conference whlch Isto be held at the office of the Atomic fenere;y Conmission, 19th Street and Constitution Avenue, Washington, D. C. on expected t o last until mid-efternoon. will be glad t o defray your e ~ pena es. ~

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Use of Army Use of Army Institute of Pathology for Central Registry and Respository of Medical and Biological Materials Rel at iq to Atomic Energy. The Interim Director problem of a central unit $ o r mat.erial. In view Zhf i t s s?l.endid record and excellent organization, it 7686 felt that the Amy Institute of Pathology is uniquely fitted for such a de signat ion. Accordingly, the Interim Director recommended that the ddvloory Committee for the Division of Biology and Medicine approve the designation of the Army Institute of Pethology as the central registry and repository of medical and biological materials relating to atomic energy, Dr, Hastinge moved that this recornendation be accepted. Dr. Stakman seconded and t h e not Ion was carried unanimously. Sabbatical leaves for staff members at the various institutions. In view of the natural l sols tion and there et ric ted functions of the biological and medical laboratories of the dEC, it was recommended by the' Interim Director that the Advi ~ o r yCommittee for Biology and Medicine recommend that the AEC authorize It e contractors t o grant non-cumulat ive leave in the amount of six months every three years t o Senior Scientists working in biology and medicine for the furthering of their research in universities or other Institutions approved by t h e Division of Biology and Medicine. Dr, Stakman moved that t h i s recommendation be approved, Dr, Beadle eeconded it and the motion was carried unanimously. It was

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Selection of Teru pq ' s Absence: In view of the fact that Dr. Alan Gree will be absent from this country from January 21 t o April 15, 1948, Dr. that Dr. Ernest Goodpasture be desk nate d ashvice Chairran of the AdviEory Committee f o r Biology and Hedicine, Dr, Bro& seconded the motion an8 it was carried Beeearch Projects for Consfderatlon: Unfvereity of California - Re search Projects pro Robert Stone: for Consideration It was announced that Ih., Robert Stone, Profefieor of Radiology of the School of Medicine, University of Calif omla, has forwarded a request for funds t o cover the construction of a building and an instrument at the TJniversity of California Hospital for the study of the radio-biological effects of high-energy radi at ion. He& so reqiie a t ed that sufficient funds be granted for the continuation of research projects e on atomic energy already under way i n hio daboratories, It was felt that further Information regarding the projected installat ions at the University of Culif ornia. Berkeley and $ d dSM Francisco, (be obtained before the request f o r construction i s acted upon. Dr. Bronk moved that further sufficient funds be allocated for the extension of Dr, Stone's research contract forB one-year period beginning February 1, 1948, and that further appropriation of funds to this project be held In abeyance until further information i s obtained and the subject of overhead negotiated,

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Since 1940, there has been in progreas a joint study \ by physicians of the Peter Bent Srigham Hospital end the Center of the Uss a chu sett8Institute of Tfiechology. This group has made may important contributions on the role of iron, zinc m d other metals in the metabolism o f human erythrocytes and leukbcytee and it iakstudying the alterationa of theRe proceases i n blood dyscrasias. Recent develop menta emphaaite the importance of einc in the white blood cell a in relation to leukemia. This group of physician8 has requeated that the U C assume support of their work bg allocating $73,650. It WES the desire of the Cornittee tbt t h i s request be considered during the coning month and be acted upon at the February meeting of the Cornittee. California Institute of Technology - Dr. George Beadle: The primary objedtive of this research would be t o elucidate the nature of radiation icd3ced gene and chromasonal changes. The investigation would be divided into three parts, the first, t o use Neurospora Crass ina study of those genes that control specif IC chemical react ian e concerned with metabolism including the bio ~ yn the si eof biologically signifi cant compounds. The second part of the investigation will study in detail the nature of radiation-induced nut at ional changea i n Drosophila bla nog aster both genetically and The third division aims to learn as much as possible

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about the hereditary changes produced i n Indian corn by various types of high energy rs di at ions.It will coEpare these w i t h c'hanges that OCCUT spontaneously and that may be in&uced by other mutagenic agents t o make use of such hereditary modifications i n increasing our uiderstanding of the hereditary mechanism at a basic level, and t o develop methods by which induced chromosomal aberrations may be used in physiological studies and i n corn improvenent. It i s requested that the AXC entertain request for aupport of P a r t s Two and Three. Dr. Haetings recommended that the Office pof Naval Research be notified that funds in the amount of $58,260 are available t o be allocated to California Institute of Technology for support of aFrt of the progra$ on the Genetics and Cytological Effects of Iilgh Energy Radiation. These fund8 are allocated for nA Study of Radiation Induced Gene and Chromosomal Nutations in Drosophilan and "A Study a. Dr. Warren etat ed that he had recently interviewed Dr. Pml Hahn who stated that he would remain In Nashville, Tennessee, and, accordingly, Dr. Warren has written toDr. C. P. Ehoads requesting further Information on further Dr. Franklin IlcLean, Temporary Medical Director f o r LO8

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Alan os discussed with the Advisory Cornittee the relation between Lo6 Alamos and the 'dashington University School of Medicine, St. Louia, Mo. It was pointed out that there has always been a close relation between these two institutions which has worked tothe mutual benefit o f both parties. In view of the unusual opportunities af for ted at Los A ~ ~ o s ad the specific charge by Congress tothe AEC 53W! that opportunity for work in this field should be widely dissembated, it was felt that the opportunities should not be restricted by a formal arrangement with any one medial school.

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Eigh School Zigh School Fellowships: The aOvisability for establish4ag Fellow ship 8 a fellowship progrm which would select candidates at the high school graduate level was discussed. opinion of the Advisory Cornittee that such a program should be held i n abeyance until the remainder of the.. - training progran It wae the unanircous k a 3 been act ivated. Eealth Physic6 Health Physics and Biology Program: The proposed outline and Biology which had been eubmitted %y t h e Health Physics Group headed by Program Dr. K. Z. Morgan at the Clinton National Laboratories was ! reviewed. The problem of desired bacErgrouad f o r such trainees I was discussed and the importance of adequate training i n physiology and biology war3 emphasized. Outline of putline of Budget: Tentative outline of a budget f o r 1948 Budget which was a a follows: A. 5 million dollars - Division of Biology and Medicine (Included cancer. D i d not include existing programs and construction, e.g. Rochester.) B. 10 million dollars - Division of Research Chemistry. ............. 2 million dollars Physics. ................2 million dollars A. Dipidon of Bio lom and Medicine

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(Firm figure morally obligated) 2 , Division of Research (1) Office of H a s 1 Research - ~,000,000-800,000....$ 3,200,000 (Would like to increase $2,000,000) course of adminiatration in relation to research. The Advisory Committee discussed t h e future of the establishing sufficient orKanization t o administer research contracts wae pointed out by Dr. Goodpasture. It -3 the opinion of t h e Committee that the Vice Chairman should discuss with the General Manager the fe aei bil it y of such an organization and ascertain the wiahes of the Commission on the No rite is P*afeaso~?.of Legal Medicine at Earvard University.

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a sound physicist who i s a nen-cer of the Tracer lab. organizatfon, He has available nmerous contacts with t h e Departnent of Physics inthe sum of $13,279.20 t o Contract sj4~5O41076,Project #7 for the purpose of studying "Localized Burning o f Skin by External Beta Bay Emitters.'' It is anticipated t bt aside from the importance of such knowledge and the basic problem of biological reaction t o radiant energy it should heve an inroedlate practical u ~ ein establishing safe and dangerous dosage for the nany workers in the radioactive fie lC now handling beta ray emitters. Through proper choice it i s possible to select a particular isotope with a piew t o irradiating a predeterrriined thickness o f &in. The k;?sic data would be &rived fron experiments performed on the pig for previous lnve ~ tiga tion shave disclosed kernarkable similarity in the reactions and injury thresholds of porcine and human animals. It is expected that a significant amount of data w i l l be obtained within a year. It is likely that the desirability cjf expanding thew data and ~f exploring further the b Hog ical effects of beta …