Attachment 1

                         August 15, 1947
                                 
                               10CE
                                 
Doctor Stafford Warren, Professor of Biophysics
School of Medicine
University of California
Los Angeles, California

Dear Staff:

A Section of Radioisotope Research has been established within
the Research and Education Service, Department of Medicine and
Surgery of the Veterans Administration.  Doctor George M. Lyon
has been appointed Chief of this Section.

The activities of the Section will be directed toward bringing to
the veteran the benefits of atomic energy in so far as they are
applicable in the field of medicine.

The specific mission of the Radioisotope Research Section is "to
further within the facilities of the Veterans Administration the
use of radioisotope in (1) basic research in biology and
physiology, (2) the investigations directed toward the
development and use of diagnostic techniques in which tracers may
be utilized and (3) in the safe and medically intelligent use of
the radioisotopes in such clinical conditions as may seem
desirable".

It is desirable that veterans have the benefit of treatment with
radioisotopes when such is indicated by sound medical judgment. 
To do this will require special precautions as to safety and as
to the professional qualifications of those administering these
new therapeutic agents if the best interest of the patient and of
the Veterans Administration are to be served.

It is desirable that veterans have the advantage of the
employment of radioisotopes in such diagnostic techniques as are
medically sound and that as new applications are developed and
are accorded appropriate medical approval, they be added to the
diagnostic (Illegible) in those institutions so equipped and
prepared for their use.

				1

20/Warren, Dr. Stafford

Doctor Stafford Warren

within the hospitals of the Veterans Administration there is an
important reservoir of valuable clinical material.  The
administrative facilities and as professional organization of the
Veteran Administration in large measure and to favor the
harvesting of valuable information through the conduct of
investigations of an approved nature within these hospitals.  The
close association of the staff of many of these hospitals with
outstanding teaching and research centers through the Dean's
Committee favors the conduct of investigations and the
appropriate utilization of radioisotopes within certain hospitals
of the Veterans Administration on a high plane of medical
acceptance.

To fulfill the obvious responsibility of the Veterans
Administration to the veterans, and to take advantage of the
opportunities offered jointly by this trust and by the
introduction of radioisotopes into the field of medicine, it is
necessary that an overall policy be developed which will serve as
a guide to the development and conduct of this program within the
facilities of the Veterans Administration.  To this and it is
proposed that a Central Advisory Committee on Radioisotope
Research be appointed to consult with, and (Illegible), the Chief
of the Section in matters regarding policy, and to make specific
recommendations as to safety requirements.

It is desirable to point out also that at least some of the
benefits to be derived from such a program will not be limited to
the veterans alone but will extend as well to the citizens of the
nation.  Such a point is exemplified by the possibility of
evaluating on a statistically sound basis, the place to be
accorded the utilization of p32 in the treatment of patients with
chronic leukemia and with Hodgkins disease.  The number of
patients who could be so treated under controlled conditions is
greater than that presented from any other source.  As time goes
on there will be continuous opportunity for similar
contributions.

It is proposed that the Central Advisory Committee be composed of
five members, three of whom would be outstanding authorities
intimately familiar with the human applications of radioisotopes
and two who would be outstanding authorities in the broad field
of planning medical research but not necessarily experienced in
the specialized field of radioisotope applications.

It is also contemplated that upon the recommendation of the
Central Advisory Committee that certain individuals particularly
qualified in a specific field of investigation or professional
experience be called upon to serve in a consultative capacity and
to confer with members of the Committee or with the Chief of the
Radioisotope Research Section, in such manner as may be
recommended by the Committee.  There are some individuals with a
very advanced experience in certain highly specialized fields of
research in which isotopes have been employed, or in which it
might be desirable to attempt to employ them     

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Doctor Stafford Warren

mechanism for the occasional employment of such individuals in
the capacity of a consultant would materially enhance the
opportunities of the Central Advisory Committee in its
relationship to the program to be developed with the Veterans
Administration.

It is proposed that this Central Advisory Committee have an
initial meeting in Washington, D.C., as soon after September
first as is practicable and that thereafter infrequent meetings
be held at intervals of not more than twice a year.

It is believed that the Central Advisory Committee can provide
this highly desirable and vitally important advisory service
almost entirely through making themselves available to the Chief
of the Section for consultation by letter, by telephone or by
personal visits on the part of the Chief of the Section or his
representatives.

It is appreciated that those who would make desirable members of
the Central Advisory Committee are extremely busy individuals and
that it is essential to conserve their time and energies.  On the
other hand, it is believed possible to so streamline the
activities of the Central Advisory Committee that with the wealth
of information and experience already possessed by the proposed
members of the Committee, the necessary advice and counsel on the
policy making level can be obtained without undue hardships on
any member.

To this end it is proposed that the Chief of the Section prepare
a suggested policy and plan with respect to implementing this
program, and that this together with an exposition of what had
been done in this line prior to July 1, 1947, be presented to the
members well in advance of the initial organizing meeting.

You are requested to accept appointment as a consultant to the
Central Office of the Veterans Administration to serve on the
Central Advisory Committee.  In this capacity compensation will
be on the basis of fifty dollars per day for such service.  The
cost of travel and the per diem will be paid by the Government to
care for necessary expenses incurred in rendering such services.

Those who have been asked to serve on this Committee are Doctors
Stafford Warren, Hugh Morgan, Perrin Long, Hymar L. Friedall and
Shields Warren.

This is a very long letter and I blame George Lyon for being the
(Illegible) bose author.  He is, however, giving an extremely
clear exposition of our problems and of the responsibilities of
the proposed Central Advisory Committee.  I do hope

                                 3


Doctor Stafford Warren

that you will be able to come in and help us all by accepting an
appointment on thiitally important advisory service
almost entirely through making themselves available to the Chief
of the Section for consultation by letter, by telephone or by
personal visits on the part of the Chief of the Section or his
representatives.

It is appreciated that those who would make desirable members of
the Central Advisory Committee are extremely busy individuals and
that it is essential to conserve their time and energies.  On the
other hand, it is believed possible to so streamline the
activities of the Central Advisory Committee that with the wealth
of information and experience already possessed by the proposed
members of the Committee, the necessary advice and counsel on the
policy making level can be obtained without undue hardships on
any member.

To this end it is proposed that the Chief of the Section prepare
a suggested policy and plan with respect to implementing this
program, and that this together with an exposition of what had
been done in this line prior to July 1, 1947, be presented to the
members well in advance of the initial organizing meeting.

You are requested to accept appointment as a consultant to the
Central Office of the Veterans Administration to serve on the
Central Advisory Committee.  In this capacity compensation will
be on the basis of fifty dollars per day for such service.  The
cost of travel and the per diem will be paid by the Government to
care for necessary expenses incurred in rendering such services.

Those who have been asked to serve on this Committee are Doctors
Stafford Warren, Hugh Morgan, Perrin Long, Hymar L. Friedall and
Shields Warren.

This is a very long letter and I blame George Lyon for being the
(Illegible) bose author.  He is, however, giving an extremely
clear exposition of our problems and of the responsibilities of
the proposed Central Advisory Committee.  I do hope

                                 3


Doctor Stafford Warren

that you will be able to come in and help us all by accepting an
appointment on this Committee which will have such important
responsibilities.

With kind personal regards.

                         Sincerely yours


                         E. H. CUSHING, M. D.
                         Acting Chief Medical Director

                                                       		4

                          UNITED STATES 
                     ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION