AY"
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Al
MEDICAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE
nal page of. the draft Smoking. and Health Rese
arch
.'brief refers to a proposed.
conference of medical research
scientists.
a suggestion of Dr. Jim Hogg, Associate Professor ;)L
of Pathology McGill U.: ,being. his personal view as a'
medical research worker. Since the draft. was written' the
idea was discussed with Dr. Peter Macklem, Director Meakins-
Christie Laboratory, who concurred with the merit of the
suggestion and volunteered his help.
It van agreed. that smoking., as an, e3tablirhed fa-ct of life,
is: a fitting subject for fundamental medical re-search. In
fact understanding of the mechanisms by which smoke affects
'bodily cells could aid general understanding of causation
c@f certain diseases, even from agents other than smoke.
Thus smoke in a sense provides a good: laboratory material
to use to explore disease causation as affected by "pollution"'
in general. 00
t
Both Dr. Hogg 6nd Dr. Macklem pointed out that the best research
is that which contains a good fit between the skills, ingenuity
and personal motivation of' the researcher, and the program..
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2
"do his own thing"
-19 I re d.. A researcher wants to
requ
-but
is. willing to undertake sponsored 'mission orientee
W-
Iresearch provided his particular role is compatible with
alents .
hi 8 own 'Get of values and t
..Dr. Macklem felt it would be desirable to invite a small
:-group of we di c al. scientists who are eminent in a number
of different-branches of research. He believes strongly
in the -@enefits of inter-disciplinary analysis of problems,
and that vit@ adequate preparation the proposed., conference
could stimulate the formulation of epecific@ research proposals.
It. is most important that the conference be organized under
the auspices of respectedscientists.
.'The.otructure and sponsorship of the conference would need
to be explored carefully with senior officials of the Dept.
of National Health and;. Welfare as well as. Dr. Macklem and
big associates.
RM
May 30/73
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