OPEN 
WAR DEPARTMENT 
OFFICE OF THE SURGEON GENERAL 
Washington 25, D, C, 
DATE 17 April 1947 
MRE OF DIRECTOR OF COMMISSION Dr. Joseph E. Smadel 
SUBJECT : Report of Organisation of Commission on Immunization 
1. The Surgeon General, accepting the recommendation of 12 February 
1947 by the Army Epidemiological Board, authorized the formation of a 
Commission on Immunization to function under the jurisdiction of the 
Board, and, named Dr, J, E* Smadel as Director of the new Commission 
for the current and succeeding fiscal year. The Commission was instructed 
to "provide for surveys and evaluation of the present status of various 
immunizing agents and to develop research in the various fields of 
immunology," 
2, Organization of the Commission on Immunization has proceeded 
along lines similar to those followed by other Commissions of the Board, 
The following persons have indicated their acceptance of nomination; 
Members 
P, L* Horsfall, Jr., New York 
R* S, Muckenfuss, New York 
J. E, Smadel (Director), Washington 
Associates 
K* Goodner, Philadelphia 
I* M* Morgan, Baltimore 
A. M* Pappenheimer, Jr*, New York 
F, F, Schwentker, Baltimore 
C, V, Seastone, Jr*, Madison 
H, P, Treffers, New Haven 
D* W* Watson, Madison 
Dr* Michael Heidelberger has stated his willingness to provide 
advice to the Commission but the press of other work makes him hesitant 
about serving as an associate* It is hoped that he will accept formal 
association with the group* It is realized that the present members and 
associates are particularly suited for providing advice and for accom- 
plishing work in the fundamental laboratory aspects of the field of 
immunology. It is the concensus that these aspects should be emphasized 
now. However, when advances in the fundamental problems have reached the 
stage at which field trials appear indicated, then the personnel of the 
Commission should bo re-aligned to include scientists with more exhaustive 
training in clinical medicine, epidemiology, and statistical analysis. 3, The general plan of the Commission for the immediate future 
envisions the encouragement of work designed to obtain highly purified 
forms of certain of the immunogenic agents which are now available in 
relatively crude states* This will bo done for at least two reasons; 
(a) the occurrence of untoward reactions from extraneous material 
present in the current preparations might bo avoided, and (b) such 
purified materials would bo highly suitable for combination into 
polyvalent vaccines, the use of which have already been explored. 
The search for methods of group immunization under controlled conditions 
which approach those resulting from the "seasoning of troops" will also 
be pursued. It is also planned to provide secretarial and bibliographic 
assistance to highly competent persons who may bo willing to prepare 
exhaustive critical reviews of certain subjects of importance to the 
Commission, 
4. At the moment there appears little inclination on the part of 
members and associates to ask for financial support. Certain ones are 
so situated that they cannot accept funds and some have funds from other 
sources which permit them to work on the problems of interest to themselves 
and the Commission, It is not anticipated that this unique situation will 
continue for long. 
/ 
JOSEPH E. SMADEL, M. D. 
Director 
2