HARVARD UNIVERSITY

December 13, 1965

TO: Dr. Paul S. Russell, Oncology Committee

FROM: R. N. Kjellberg

SUBJECT: Cyclotron for Biomedical Use

An opportunity exists for taking over the Harvard Cyclotron primarily for biomedical uses. A few weeks ago, the High Energy Physics Committee of the Harvard Physics Department decided tentatively to close down the Cyclotron January, 1968. At a meeting today the same committee approved a letter to Dean Ford suggesting that the University consider the advisability of continuing the Cyclotron's operation under other than Physics Department auspices. This action reflects the committee's concern for other users of the Cyclotron, especially in the biological and clinical area. The principal condition for its continued existence in the present location

is that the University provide comparable space (3,500 square feet) with an overhead crane for the Physics Department.

Thus, the alternatives for the Cyclotron include:

1) Scrapping it.

2) Transferring it to Northeastern University for relocation. (Professor Weinstein and other members of the Northeastern Physics Department are seriously exploring the possibility of taking over the Cyclotron and relocating it. They would depend heavily on the biomedical users to justify such a plan. )

3) Transferring it to some other Harvard Department (e.g. Medical School) for relocation.

4) Keep it in present location under administration of the Medical School (above).

The Cyclotron produces 10¹¹ protons/sec at 160 million electron volts - capable of penetrating 17 cm. in soft tissue. Dose-rates up to 100,000 rads/min are attainable in small targets (less than 1.0 cm) and up to 200 rads/min for uniform fields as large as 50 cm in diameter.

The Cyclotron currently occupies a building of about 5,000 square feet. The machine, 20' x 10' X 14' in size, weighs a bit over 700 tons.

. Our colleagues in the Physics Department have estimated that the machine could be kept in operation with annual support of about $120, 000. The following is a rough cost breakdown.

-2-

In considering alternatives 2 and 3 above other costs would need reckoning. A new building would cost an estimated $300,000 to which equipment would be added. The estimated cost of moving the machine is in the range of $150,000 - $175,000 and would require 6 months to accomplish.

The potential users of the machine and their estimated participa­tion are as follows:

The above is submitted as a basis of estimating the feasibility of a Cyclotron for biomedical use.

RNK

16 December 1967

Dear Fellow-Sponsor

It is time for me to report in more detail the plans for the cyclotron closing party on December 27. Invitations have been sent to those currently working on the cyclotron and also to a number of “alumni” who contributed substantially to the research program or to the initial construction. There are about 75 names on the list. Adding wives, and deducting a few people who will probably not attend, I estimate that there will be 120 guests. The menu -- without all the mouth-watering details -- will be as follows:

Cocktails and appetizers

Hot buffet dishes and salads

Coffee

Estimated cost is itemized below:

I would welcome contributions towards this budget. After making allowances for the impecuniousness of graduate; students and for the enormous contribution of time and effort by Marguerite Holbrook in getting things done , I make the following suggestions for contributions