Minutes Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine Thirty-Sixth Meeting

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ThG t.'lirty-sixth meeting of the Advisory Committee f o r Eiology and I.ieedicine was held a t the iirgonne iVztiona1 Laboratory 2nd the d go nne Cailcer Research Hospital on Fridzy and Szturday, Piarch 13 and 14, 1953, J3r, Gioaccbino Fail la Former mcmber and consultantt Qr, B. Bahd Hastings Capt. Harrj. H. Haight, USN ibir. Bvcrly Thompson Dr. Astin Pii. Bxes ilrgonne Cancer Research Hospital2 Argonne National Labpatory Division of Eiiological and I5edica-L ilesemch The Committee visited the new Biology Building 2nd spent an interesting day, Dr. i3rues and his staff outlined thc activities of the v&ous programs and the facilities of the laboratories were inspccted, Many commendations were expressed

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3n t h e ncw building with its excellently plmned lzboratories. t o th2 Corn it teeth at the laboratories h?-d been plnnned with vision and that the facilities will. lend themselves t o constructive rcseacli. =tias of research were discussed which included neutron toxicity, radium to fi city and other internal radioelement toxicity. chronic gmma ray toxicity program has been planned and it will be initiated in a few months; in the meantime, a small program on soft X-ray effects on large aninals is t o be cer ried out. Dr. &ues eq laine d that a (Notes L copy of the outline of activities under the Division of Biological and Nedical Research may be found i n Central FUes of t h e Division of Biology and Iviedicine,) rirgonne Cancer Rescnch Hospital The meeting of the AiCzpYiw a s convened at the Is go me Cancer Research Hospital a t 9300 Lii. with the Chairman of the Comniittee presiding. the Division o f Biological Sciences, University of Chicago, welcomed t h c Committee as the first official body that hcd visited the Hospital. the organization and described the act iv it ics of thi: four major divisions. He spoke of Coggeshall stated that Dr, Jacobson, as Director, and Dr. Kasterlik, as k x nci ate Director, will be responsible for the conduct of research and the operational plsn of the Hospital, & in Ute s of meeting of January 9 and 10, 1953 The Chairman presented t h e draft minutes of the thirty - fifth meeting held on JSnUmy 9 2nd 10, 1953, for consideration. Dr, Stalanan mmed, and Dr. Fail la seconded, the motion t h a t the i;linutes be q?proved subject t o review of any points

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that my be ra is cd by lc tter with Dr. 'Bugher at a later date. The motion was Report on -visit t o fiiwetok Janu ay concmning the possibility of establishing a marine biological field of study program a t Eniwetok. i n associztion with the Office of Naval Rssearch and the Pacific Science bard, took a committee of outstanding marine biologists t o Esliwetok s o they could see Dr. Bugher reviewed thc discussion that took place atthe Committce meeting held i n Ec stated that in view of that discussion Dr. Wilbur, first hand and give an independent evalustion of the proposed project. Dr, W i l b u r reported that the group reviowed the facilities that were presently available for a smd1 biological station and they als:, made a brief biological survey af two of thc outlying islands - Japtan and Rigi li. The possibilities for biological studies lare found t o be very good, ad particularly so for studies of ecological changes related to test activities, It ms stated by Dr,IU bur that the physical facilities on Perry Island are excellent, Le,, air-conditioned building (unoccupied), sea water can be nade available, maintenance of hil dings and equipment presents no problems, boats are available with crews and maintenance, with living accomilodations unusually good m d an excellent mess f o r It was brought out that th me are no faciLities available for Dr. Wilbur advised further that if use i s - made of the lxlilding that is nGw availeble, it would have t o be released for the test activity yrogrm, or for a period of thrce or four months a year* The visiting group felt this was a serious consideration. In view of this situation

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consider put tins u:2 a small building for the exclusive use Gf 2 biological reprcsentativc statidncd a t Eniwetok suggested thzt it W ~ d dbe t ~ d lt o personnel could utilize such a building throughout the conditioning, wmld not exceed a cost of @~,oOO, It was estimated that such a building, including plumbing 2nd air & .Lft a a full discussion and in view of the many problems that would be encountered, the Committee stated that before proceeding with plans for os tabl ik nga biological station at Ehiwetok that it should be ascertained t h e extent of interest of biologists i n having such a station made availeblc. Speoifiaally, the Committee would like to have an indication of sci ents ic investigators who might wish t o undertake biological studies at Eniwctok during the next year and a half. Followin& this .discussion the Committee voted unanimously that Dr. asher should interpret their feeling as one of real interest in the project and that he sliould feel completely free t o formulate a plan o f procedure that wjll involve the eqpensc: and involve decisions i n point of ,organization and report tothe Committee atthe next meeting if possible, B,Bugher was of the opinion thata very specific proposition which involves particular p2oplc, particular programs, and cost est in at es could be prepared and made available by the next meeting. Alist of Eniwetok facilities is attached Status of 195'4 budget informative review of the status of the 1954 budget as it pertains tothe ~ A E Cand pw ti cula rly to tne Division of 3i.010 ~2nd tiedicips. He told of the requirement Dr. mgher providcd the meeting 56th an

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tflat d l construction which was not imncdic?.tcly required f w the prosecution of tht ;3roL:rs.m itself had t o be suspzndcd even though authorized; and thst construction on certain projects, even though already under way, had t o 'be stopped pending the current review by the Bureau of the Wldget. Committee that in view of the specific orders of curtailment, the 1954 budget estimates do not contain my provisions form j or construction. depicting the budget cstirn-tes, entitled t5%rnmary by Programs and Locations" for the fiscal years 1952, 1953 and 1954, were carefully studied, and they are included as p u t of the minutes. Two te ble s presented seemed li ko aver j " firm set of figures 2nd it also means, coming i n this form as far along i n the budget year as this, that there has been extraordinarily sound work done on the part of the staff, of the group i n W.mhingtm, t o got as nearly 2s possible a rock bottom figureq" In further discussion on the programs, appreciation expressed on our part atleast and a recognition of the fact that "1think it would be too bad tolet this go by without our two budget makers, D r . Warren and Dr, Bugher, have kEpt these figuros i n a realistic area, free from gadding in thc past. It has won the respect of the Weau of thc Budget and thGrefore brings it up t o the present time i n such a Next meeting Dr, 5ughe.r advised the Committee that the next meet- is t o be held a t Chalk River, Ontario, Canada, on May 8 and 9, 1952.

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The Cormittee went i q t o Ekecutive Session a t 11:OO Lh., and the meeting adjourned a t 11130 iL.Iir. for the purpost: of inspectint: thc facilities of the Lrg(3nne Cancer ResGarch Ilospitd. and t o Zttend the opening cerenanies. hrgonne Cancer Rosecmch The Committee participated in the ueremoniGs opening the new cancer research facility., which is the culmination o f several years of hard work and intelligent plmning of so m m y peoplc. The contrib tion made by the iDC i n providing thk funds for the Hospital designed eqeci.Kl3.y for cancer research using radioactive materials opens :: new era of sci ents ic approach and is a true Dr. Jacobson conducted the Committee on an inspection of the facilities while his staff outlined tk research progrms., 1, dedication luncheon was held a t the Goldblatt Wcniorial Hospital with Dr.. Coggoshall acting as Chairman. Dr. Bugher introduced Dc, Idarrcn and said that Dr. Warren would speak for Pi. 3ean and the Dr- Greggts remzrks a r e attachcd as Lpptadices IfBt1 and “C?* cercmmies were concluded a t 3:OO P.14. Copies of Dr. liarrents and

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LIST OF EKCWETOIC FLCILITIES Temporatwe and humidity controlled room; running sea water (Transite l i n e s ) and aquaria; dark morns and photographic equipment; constant tenperaturc: baths; incubator; centrifuge. No micrmcopes. Other equipment depnding upon needs. Ids hope t h a t this will be provided b;r the Navy without charge. present there is daily transportation of personnel and equipment between San Francisco, Honolulu, Kwajalcin, and Eniwetok. Available for transyortation t o islands o f Eniwetok atoll... Instrument shops and mechine shops Services available throughout t h e year. These m e very satisfactory. no charge f o r room. .No families o r female investigators permitted A n excellent mess a t $lO,sO per week, A t least a fV clearance d l be required, and ltQfl clcarance would be highly desirable 2 s it will permit the individual to remain a t Eniwetok during preparations for test activities. Cibrwy, sports, movies nightly.