170 
May 4, 1971 
Dr. D. Carleton Gajdusek, Chief 
Chronic Disease Studies Section 
National Institute of Neurological Diseases 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20014 
Dear Dr. Gajdusek: 
Your letter to Dr. Nierenberg has been directed to me for reply. In 
January the National Advisory Board of the R/V Alpha Helix heartily endorsed 
your proposed viral research on natives from the Southern Solomon and Northern 
New Hebrides Islands, assigning it a time period in the fall of 1972. Now a 
projected schedule for Alpha Helix ship operations has been drawn up with the 
dates 9 September through 9 November 1972 set aside for your research program. 
As stated in Dr. Nierenberg ’s letter, the invitation to conduct these 
studies is dependent entirely upon continuing support of the Alpha Helix 
operations by the National Science Foundation. 
The Alpha Helix completed in February a highly successful two-month 
research program in Antarctica and is presently beginning a two-month effort at 
Eniwetock on coral reef metabolism. We feel that the administration of the 
scientific program is working efficiently and regard optimistically the 
continuing vital role of the R/V Alpha Helix in the support of experimental 
biological research for the United States. 
This office will work closely with you and others of your department at the 
NIH Laboratories in planning for a most productive research effort in 1972. The 
enclosed booklet, " Alpha Helix Research Program, 1969-1970," outlines areas of 
support and responsibility. A necessary first step is that you submit to me a 
budget including requests for scientific equipment, supplies and estimated 
transportation charges for personnel and the supporting gear. 
The Alpha Helix has a walk-in freezer laboratory of 48 square feet which is 
held at -20“C, a 24 cubic foot refrigerator-freezer in the main laboratory and a 
21 cubic foot freezer chest held at -18°C. If none of the foregoing satisfy 
your requirements for the viral work, specify a suitable unit in the budget 
request . 
It is planned that the floating laboratories of the Alpha Helix will 
support three separate human medical programs in the Western Pacific during 
1972, under chief scientists Damon, Gajdusek, and Carr. Dr. Damon's work at 
Auki, Ulawa, and Ontong Java is scheduled for the period 11 July through 8 
September with the scientific staff embarking and disembarking at Honiara. This 
port seems a good choice for logistics of your program also. 
Dr. Carr's program follows in the vicinity of Pingelap Island in the 
Caroline Islands. 
We look forward to assisting you in preparations for the viral studies in 
1972. Best wishes to you in your current studies. 
Walter Garey 
