UNCLASSIFIED UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION WASHINGTON 25, D.C, February 6, 1953 Mr. Gordon Dean, Chairman U. S. Atomic Energy Commission 1901 Constitution Avenue, N. W. Washington, D, C, Dear Mr. Dean: The Advisory Committee for Biology and Medicine held its thirty-fifth meeting in Washington on January 9 and 10, 1953. The agenda included a visit to the National Bureau of Standards where, we understand, the Atomic Energy Commission supports research in the amount of approximately $821,791 annually. Since $312,726 of this investment goes for the support of Biology and Medicine sponsored research, we were pleased to have an opportunity to inspect the facilities. Our impression was a favorable one. The quality of the research 1s excellent. Its pertinence and applicability to AEC problems will, of course, be partially dependent on the amount of personal attention given it by its AEC sponsors. The close proximity of these excellent facilities afford an enviable opportunity, it seems to us, for those technically inclined persons on the Washington staff, temporarily exiled to administration, to "keep their hand in.” You will recall that in our last communication to you on December 28, 19525 reporting on our December 5-6 meeting at Brookhaven, we mentioned that due to the absence of several members at that meeting, action on certain items was deferred and that a combined report would be submitted on the December and January meetings. Of the many matters discussed, two items seem particularly noteworthy. December meeting. Both were considered at the As a result of its special interest in Brookhaven National Laboratory the Bivision of Biology and Medicine has kept the Committee informed of significant developments in laboratory management and planning. We were aware, therefore, and our inspection of laboratory facilities during our visit there _ tended to confirm, that BNL was rapidly approaching a cross- roads where a decision would have to be made--whether to attempt a program of rehabilitation of the temporary buildings which now house many critical parts of the laboratory, or to *Secretariat Note: On file in Division of Biology & Medicine.