Letter to G W Beadle, Subject: Formation of an Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine

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Kerckhoff Biological Laboratory California Institute of Technology One of the most important steps to be taken by the Atomic Energy Commission is the formation of an Advisory Committe e for Biology and Medicine to advise and recommend directly to the Commission general policies in the field of medical and biological research and health. t i m e and thought - both by the Conmission and many informal advisors - has gone i n t o the selection of the seven men of broad experience, wisdom and judgement, representative of the - medical and bio log it al sciences, whom w e are asking t o serve on such an Advieory Committee, will consent t o act as a member of this group. We have asked Dr. Alan Gregg t o serve a e Chairman. We are asking Drs. D. W.' and E. C. Stakman t o serve as the other members. Dre. Gregg, I, Goodpasture, Hastings and Bfonk, who served on the temporary Medical Board of Review which m e t during the week of June 16 to make a preliminary study and report on the Commission's policies and programe i n the field of medical research, have all accepted our invitation to serve on the Advisory Conn n it tee. You may be familiar with the report of the Medical Board of Review, since the entire report was released t o the press. The report expresses i n clear terms t h e problems which confront the Conrmisaion and which must be solved if we are t o be successful of the report, I am enclosing one f o r your review. enclosing for your general information a copy of the At anic Energy A c t of 1946 under which the Commission operates. We earnestly hope that you I n case you heve not seen a complete copy You will note from the report that the Board of Review recommends the formation of an Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine, the principal functions of which would be t o recommend directly to the Cornision general policies in the

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f i e l d of research and health. The report further recommends the appointment of a Medical Director by the Commission i n consultation with the Advisory Committee f o r Biology and Medicine. In the importance of this we heartily concur. Even before assuming control of the atomic energy project the Commission recognized the need of strong medical and biological research advice. know of no phase of t h e Commission's work i n which sound policy direction i s more urgently required o r holds more promise for the peaceful applications of atomic energy. however, that before calling upon the time and public devotion of the men who would form a permanent Advisory Committee, the Commission should first explore carefully existing policies and programs i n the field of medical and biological research and formulate, atleast in a preliminary way, the direction which the Commission's activities in this field should take. I n order that you may become acquainted somewhat with the Conanission's thinking i n this matter, I shall describe briefly in this letter some of t h e background leading up to the appointment of a permanent The Commision felt, It was evident very early in the program of our predecessor, the Manhattan District, that many novel and difficult problems of safety and health would be encountered. from the very poisonous character of a number of the substances produced and used inthe project. A Medical Advisory group was organized and a number of research contracts were made with various medical schools and universities f o r study of these problems, and a safety and health physics group was attached to each major laboratory where work with reactors, weapons, or special materials was done. Necessarily, most of this work was highly clad fie d and this inevitably meant that the medical group working on this project was set apart from the rest of their colleagues. A large amout: of work was done and much was learned about the tolerance levels and s a f e t y precautions to be taken in relation to atomic energy studies. Much additional information was obtained from a study of the effect a of radioactive materials as a result of the use of the atomic bomb i n Japan and a t Bikini. intensively bya number of very a b l e investigators, it is recognized that our knowledge of this subject is still very limited. These problems arose both from the intense radiations associated with the fission process and _ _ Although this work was carried forward I n carrying out the health and safety aspects of the Hanhattan Districes work, it became increasingly apparent t h a t discoveries and developments i n the field of atomic energy would have enormously valuable appllkcations t o fundamental biological and medical research and t o the treatment of disease. Medical and biological work was begun ina number of research centers throughout a wo un try and has been gr east ly accelerated i n the past year by the distribution of numerous radioisotopes from Oak Ridge t o qualified

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Soon after the Commission assumed responsibilty for the operation of the projects previously carried on by the Manhattan District,an Interim Medical Advisory Committee, composed of men who had earlier advised the Manhattan District, was called together and asked to prepare a report describing the current programs and t o make recommendations concernhg the programs which the Commission might support during the coming year. A comprehensive report was prepared by t h e Interim Medical Advisory Committee and was discussed with Dr. Stafford Warren, the Chairman of the Interim Medical Advisory Committee, early this year. The Comnission found t h a t it could not evaluate the programs recoaxmended by the Interim Medical Advisory Committee u n t i l it had explored the problem of dividing the areas of research in the field of medical and biological sciences between those f o r which the Commission most assume exclusive responsibility and the very much wider areas of research i n these fields in which the Commission would naturally be interested byt which should be supported by many groups. The Colnmission also felt that it would be desirable in exploring this problem t o obtain the fresh approach and advice of a group not previously associated with the project. The Medical Board of Review undertook t h i s review. The Cummission considers their constructive report to be an outstanding contribution t o the solution of the problem. In order t h a t the Cotmission can implement and go forward with their reconnnendations, the next step must be t o have the Advisory Cornnittee f r iology and Medicine become operative. this c&be of a stature comparable t o our General Advisory Conslittee (a niwn Comnittee provided i n the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 and appointed by the President from civilian life) and that it W i l l function in much the same way. The General Advisory Cormnittee functions 8s a largely independent body and, i n addition t o reviewing Commission programs, makes policy recommendations on i t s own working sub-committees and the scheduling of its meetings are determined by the Corn n it tee itself. The Commission, of course, furnished necessary services and facilities, and reimburses Committee members for expenses and per diem allowance while engaged in Committee We propose that The organization of the General Advisory Committee i n t o We also consider extremely urgent the early appointment of a Director of Biology and Medicine, operating on a level with the Directors of Research, Production, Engineering a n d Military Application, whose positions are established by the Atomic Energy Act, and hope t o consult with the Advisory Committee on this subject at a nearly date.

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The Comniasion - indeed the entire country - w i l l benefit I hope that we mayhear favorably from you at an early from your services on the Advisory Committee for Biology and

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Itus ta the tkbWn08 of the Carmissioners from the oity, your letter of August 14 has been of the Cds a ion for your aooeptanoe to aot aa a member o f the Advisory Committee for Biology and Xedicine. As y o u know, the Committee will be looked upon t o advise the Com i as ion on general polioy in the field of media d end biologioal researoh and health. !$I wish to express the appreoiatlon Ke hop the first meeting of the Advisory Committee rill take plaoe in the very near future, and we will get in touoh with you soon i n regard to plans and arrangements f o r this meeting.