RADSAFE: UNIV OF PITTSBURGH AS DOE "CENTER OF EXCELLENCE" FOR RADIATION SCIENCE RESEARCH

["Donivan Porterfield, LANL CST-3" <dporterfield@lanl.gov>]

FYI
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
June 3, 1997 

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: 
Jayne Brady, 202/586-5806 

ENERGY DEPARTMENT NAMES UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AS "CENTER OF EXCELLENCE"
FOR RADIATION SCIENCE RESEARCH

The University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will be the site
of a Department of Energy (DOE) funded national "center of excellence" 
that will provide training to postdoctoral scientists in the fields of 
radiation research. The university was selected to host the training 
program following a nationwide competition that attracted applications 
representing the combined efforts of 34 universities. DOE will provide 
the university with approximately $1 million a year over the next five
years to conduct the fellowship program. 

"The University of Pittsburgh offered unique strengths in the 
multidisciplinary fields associated with radiation research and 
demonstrated a strong commitment to meet a national need," said Tara 
O'Toole, M.D., M.P.H., DOE's Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety 
and Health. "Over the next decade, the Nation will be confronting policy
and regulatory issues related to radiation -- such as cleanup standards 
for former nuclear sites, nuclear waste disposal, and worker protection 
standards. Specific technical expertise will be needed to assure that 
such decisions, with huge potential implications for taxpayers, are 
strongly grounded in science." 

DOE initiated the program in response to this need and the fact that the 
number of radiation researchers has dwindled as the current generation 
retires. Since 1975, the number of Ph.Ds awarded in radiation protection 
or health physics has dropped by half. 

Approximately 30 scientists will be trained in radiation-related fields 
including health physics, radiobiology, radiation epidemiology, toxicology
of radiation, occupational and environmental medicine and risk assessment.
The two-year training program will include one year of classroom and 
laboratory work at the university and one year of field research at
domestic or international sites, where DOE is sponsoring radiation-related 
health studies. Stipends and travel funds will be provided. 

DOE supports domestic and international research to improve the scientific 
knowledge of the health and environmental effects of ionizing radiation and
to further its ability to protect workers and the public from potential 
harmful effects.  Multidisciplinary environmental and occupational health 
studies are sponsored at Chernobyl and former nuclear weapons production 
sites in Russia. These studies have the potential to vastly expand knowledge
of radiation health effects and the ability to set appropriate worker and 
public health standards. 

Niel Wald, M.D., an internationally recognized researcher and clinician in
radiation health and radiation medicine, will manage the program with the
support of an external advisory committee of distinguished scientists. The
program will be centered in the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School 
of Public Health and involves cooperation with various university
departments including Environmental and Occupational Health, Biostatistics,
Epidemiology, Health Services Administration, Human Genetics, Radiation 
Oncology and Radiology. 

The university is currently accepting applications for the fellowship 
program. Applicants should have recent doctoral degrees in the natural 
or health-related sciences and U.S. citizenship. Additional information 
is available from Dr. Wald at 412/624-2735, fax 412/624-7534 or e-mail
wald@vms.cis.pitt.edu. 

-DOE- 

L-97-018 
Donivan Porterfield                              (505) 667-4710
Los Alamos National Laboratory                   (505) 665-5982 fax
MS K484, CST-3 (Analytical Quality and Chemical Information Management)
Los Alamos, NM  87545                            dporterfield@lanl.gov