Letter to L L Strauss, Subject: Recent Activities of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine

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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION PIX. Lewis L. Strauss I would like to rep9rt t o you on the recent activities of the Advisory Committee for Biologp'and Medicine and t o apprise you of a few of the significant developments -which have occurred i n connection with the Committee1 s most r e c e n t meetings: Before doing so, however, perhaps it might be timely and helpful t o summarize very briefly the functions of the Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine, as we have interpreted them, and the working relationship which exists between the Committee and the Division of Biology and Medicine. Technically, the Committee is advisory tothe Commission, not t o the Division of Biology and Medicine. it as wise, o r within the scope of our authority, t o approve o r disapprove specific actions of the Division, is competent to make operating decisions. Evidence tothe contrary would be regarded by t h e Committee a s a personnel matter and would be discussed with t h e Commission on that basis. function t o be that of assisting the Division i n sighting and identifying research program; and guiding the Division in the initiation and support of research i n order t o assure best utilization of available facilities As retiring acting chairman of the Committee I might make the further obtservations that the Commitce serves as a nems between the Commission and the medical and biological academic world, and re would like to believe that it assists i n maintaining scientific vigor in t h e Commission's research program. the Committee on research policy matters and i n decisions involving health and safety should be of service to t h e Commission. I n order t o assure optimum effectiveness it has been the Committee's desire and the Division's practice t o make it possible for the Committee t o hear We have not, a s a general rule, regarded The presumption is that the Division Rather, the Committee regards i t s * its research objectives; helping to formulate a wellibalanced and integrated 9 7 and sci ent5fic potential. I n addition, the guidance of

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about health problem and program responsibilities from the operating people who have then, and t o visit and inspect AZC facilities. ?or these reasons, atleast three of the five yearly meetings are held a t locations where the Division has a substantial research or health protection interest. .From the Committeets view this practice has aided the Comittee greatly i n understanding these problems. On May 8 and 9 , with the approval of the Commission, t h e Advisory Committee fo? faology and.Medicine met with representatives of the Canadian Atomic Energy Project i n Chalk River under the auspices of t h e Technical Cooperation Program. The Canadians were most grateful for the opportunity t o exchange information of mutual interest and their hospitality reflected subjects discussed and decisions reached. There are two points, however, which I believe are particularly significant and should be of interest to The minutes of this meeting contain in detail the 1. It i s evident that the Canadians have led the way i n making available for medical purposes high specific activity cobalt sources for teletherapy and have demonstrated that cobalt therapy can be achieved with a relatively small capital investment, when compared with multi-million volt X-ray 2. The Canadians are keenly aware of their strategic position between the United States and .the polar route of a possible Russian attack. Consequently, some of t h e lethargy which i s found i n the United States on civil defense matters i s almost completely absent there. interest in the civil defense program i n the United States and especially those phases which had to do with protective construction and prevention against and treatment of radiation, thermal and b l a s t injury. We all came away more convinced than ever that in so far as United States civil defense i s concerned, the international boundary l i n e should serve as a reminder of our interdependence, especially i n the biomedical field wherein most of the data are unclassified. It was the unanimous feeling of the Committee thata closer liaison should be maintained with the Canadians. They expressed considerable More recently, namely, on June 26, 27 and 28, 1953, the Committee met i n Boston f o r the purpose of reviewing the research programs supported by the Division atthe Cancer Research Institute of the New kg land Deaconess Hospital, the Wassachusetts General Hospital, and t h e School of Medicine

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reviewed the research programs at all the e institutions. Cormnittee( s reactions tothe programs reviewed were these: Tile Cornnittee k spec ted the physical facilities and Cancer Tiesearch Institute, New England Deaconess Xospital, Warren a t this recently dedicated institution involves a number of unique investigations related to acil.te radiation injury. histopathological and histochemical studies with t h e new ultrav5olet absorption color-translating microscope, the endocrine changes i n parabiotic rats, and the hematologic aspects of radiation injwy. special emphasis has been placed on the pulmonary pathology resulting from the inhalation of particulate material, a subject of fundamental concern i n the genesis of lung carcinoma. a t the Massachusetts General Hospital i s headed by Dr. Joseph C. Aub. group,.comprising an unusual collection of scientific talent, is mainly interested inthe investigation of biochemical effects of radiation a t cellular and subcellular levels. Brookhaven National Laboratory involving neutron capture treatment of bra& tumors isa cooperative effort with Dr, Sweet who isa member of the Massachusetts General Hospital research group, The research conducted under the direction of D r . Shields You may recall that the program atthe Harvard Medical School. (F.Y. 1953 - @30,448). After reviewing t h e research underway a t Harvard, it was the opinion of the Committee that the work generally is basic research of excellent quality, into several distinct fields, each with its group leader. The biophysical laboratory, which includes many service functions t o other parts of the University, is the largest single program. Eiiochemistry i s directed by Aub, and special pathology by Dr. Shields Warren. to learn that i n addition t o the studies previously conducted on the effects of ingested radioisotopes, the Harvard group proposes t o study radiation changes in human and experimental pulmonary tissues preliminary t o more intensive work related to the effects of radioactive particles. More precise quantitative answers t o questions pertaining tothe effects of such inhaled particles are urgently needed. Over the weekend the Committee reviewed the Off-Site Research Program which now involves 370 contracts i n over 150 institutions throughout the of the grant-like, joint participation variety. I n connection with this The Committee was pleased O f this number there are approximately 264 contracts which are

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review, t h e Froblern of overhead reinfoursement on f..rant-lii-e contracts was reported by Dr. Alan Gregg in his letter to Chairman Gordon Dean of unequivocal recommendation that all institutions receive uniform'treatment and that there be a clear and workable AEC policy on overhead uniformly Our previous deliberations on this thorny problem were At this meeting, the Committee made the strong and The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled t o be held atthe AEC i n Washington, D.C. on September 11 and 1 2 , 1953. The meeting i n Boston, which Iwas privileged t o chair, marked my last meeting as a member of the Advisory Committee. policy that members serve on a rotary basis, one of the seven members retiring each year. you were serving your first term as Commissioner,.that I accepted M r . Lilienthal ts appointment t o serve on the Committee. this opportunity t o try to tell you how much it has meant to m e to have had t h e privilege of serving on this Committee. It has been a most stimulating and educational experience t o serve with this splendid and outstanding group of men on the Committee and inthe Division of Biology and Medicine. Throughout the six years there was full and frank discussion of every problem and the highest ideals and standards were maintained. The members were motivated by a determination t o maintain the highest type of program, always conscious that the opportunity was ever present for constructive advice t o the Commission. work of the Committee has been most heartening. For m e it was a rich and rewarding experience and Is hall continue t o have the keenest interest in the work of the Commission and especially in that of the Division of Biology and Medicine. With best wishes €or every success i n your regime a s Chairman of t h e Atomic A s you how, it is Committee You may recall that it was i n September of 1947, when I should like t o take The confidence shown by the Commission inthe