Document text
Machine-read from the scan, so expect some errors. Lines that couldn’t be read are left out.
Page 1
REPORT OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR , Note by the So ore tam 1. The attached letter from the Chairman, Advieory Cormnittee for Biology and Medioine, Is ol rou late d for the Informetion of the 3iOlOgY and Mediolne for I4il it ary Application Asst, Qen. Mgr. Adm, ha8 been referred to the Division of
Page 2
Honorable Lewis L. Strauss, Chairman United States Atomic Energy Commission Atomic Energy Project at the University of California in Loa Angeles on December 3 and 4 J 1954. On Janua ~ y 1955, we visited the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, t o review the accomplishments of that institution in the utilization of atomic me rgy in medicine and biology and t o review the AEC program a t the School of Applied Fisheries. Following this,a two-day neeting was held at Hanford, Energy Project at UCLA and his staff pre sm ted a program which outlined the most important facets of the UCLA Atomio Energy Project,Our attention was focused especially on the proposed medical research reactor for the new medical center, the building vhich isto house it, and UCLA's plans for the research program 60 be developed around this unique instrument. It l a our understanding that the reactor is to be used for research, research i n medical therapy inoluding the treatment of human pat lent e, the training of students In the use of re ao tore for reeearoh and Ijedioine, and inthe produotion of isotopeeJ especially shortlived ones, for use and distribution locally in accordance with at the project,He commented on the relationships between studies on inhalation problems and those directed to problems assooiated with ingestion of radioactive material, the effect of radiation on tissues, including the bone marrow, and the searoh f o r I n conneotion with our study of the problem6 pe ou liar to UCLA, it was suggested that it might be well t o arrange for inter project exchange of scientists, who have been a t AEC projects or laboratories for several years, for six months' periods. Such a rotating policy might stimulate new thoughts and programs. Dr. Bugher i s planning t o have this matter studied by the staff Dr. Warren personally conducted u s on atour of the UCLA medical center.We felt that the medloal center is being completed none too s@on i n view of the fact that there has been a migration of over two million people t o Los Angeles County since 1947, and rnedlctl a rh ct ice is in a somewhat chaotic state. The Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine visited the A t Loa Angeles, Dr.Stafford Warren, Director of the Atomic Dr. Warren spoke of the diver a if ie dye tl nter role ted programs The char acts r
Page 3
of the Atomic Energy Project and the Medical Center a t UCLA reflect the inspiration and personal leadership of its director, During Dr. Bugher's review of the current activities of the Division, he brought out t h a t the Bareau of the Budget had eliminated from the funds t o be requested of the Congress for the AEC those for the construction of a new medical center at the Brookhaven National Laboratory - on the basis that according t o budgetary assumptions theye was t o be no public works program for the Fiscal Year 1956. a new medical center at Brookhaven i s of utmost concern to this committee, We feel that the present hospital at Brockhaven i s a potential fire hazard and it i s dangerous for the AEC t o be willing to house patients there in. The fac il it is s are inadequate and under present conditions it is diff i ou lt to obtain and retain 0. suitable medical staff.Afull disoussion was held on this problem at the meeting held a t UCLA. A t that time the Committee voted t o recommend that "the Brookhaven medical program should be proceeded with as expeditiously a s possible - that new, permanent type buildings are needed and we urge that funds be appropriated I n reviewing the report of the Interagenoy Group studying unclaosified research contraots from the standpoint of "Loyalty of the Principal Investigator " the Committee was impressed with the policy now being followed by the National Science Foundation, However, i n connection with AEC grants, the Committee believed that the present policy should be oontinued - that there should not be a regular name cheok of principal investigators on uno lassi fie d contracts at reputable institutions. presented interesting over-all discussions, the objectives of their programs and the scope and progress of the work i n biology and biophysios. We were brought up t o date on t h e enormous work going on inthe Columbia River basin which conoerns not only the AEC but other agencies of the government and states. Emphasis i s being wisely placed on the waste disposal program, which isa najor problem, W e continue t o believe that long term projects are and has supplied important personnel t o many other laboratories The elimination of such funds to initiate The staff of the Radiologloal Soiences Department a t Hanford The degree t o which Hanford has acted as a training school . came as a surprise and isa notable achievement. We were pleased to learn from Dr. Bugher that the agenda for the International Conferenoe will include matters dealing with bio logi o al and medical research problems. This l a BO important tothe welfare of mankind. Dr. Pearson and Mr. Eisenbud conoerning the recent, extremely successful United States - Japan Conference on Radiobiology i n Tokyo. The Committee was in full agreement with Dr. Bugher thr,t it would be provident to initiate immediately another oceurographic and medical research now i n progress a t UCLA, the UnlVerSltY of Washington, and t h e Henford Works. The meetings were extremely We were greatly impreased by the exo ellen t reports given by We were impressed with the general calibre of the biological
Page 4
W e look forward to sce lng you a t the next meeting of the Committee, which will be held at the AEC I n Washington on Friday and Saturday, March 11 and 12, 1955. sel eot lng me t o be their new Chairman. Atthe meeting held a t UCLA the Cornittee honored me by Qloaoohino Fall la, Chairman