17A 
March 1, 1972 
Dr. D. Carleton Gajdusek, Chief 
Chronic Disease Studies Section 
National Institute of Neurological Diseases 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20014 
Dear Dr. Gajdusek: 
It was a distinctive pleasure for me to meet with you and your associates 
for the discussion of the upcoming Alpha Helix supported research in the 
Solomons and New Hebrides Islands. Provided the subjects can be easily brought 
on and off the ship, the Alpha Helix should constitute a highly effective 
clinical laboratory. 
Dr. Damon, whose program precedes yours, will leave his Bucky Miniature 
Model E portable x-ray unit aboard for your work. This unit operates at about 
24V. They shoot 8" x 10", 10" x 12" and 14" x 17" plates, but other sizes can 
be used. 
Your requested needs for as much as 12 ft3 of the walk-in freezer space 
and 1 ft3 of refrigerator space for pharmaceuticals prior to your program can 
be accomodated. 
Your letter of 15 February listing 10 of your participating scientists has 
been happily received. We plan to send within 10 days the computer sheets for 
equipment and supply requests to the seven participants from NIH. Judith Meyer 
informs me that the requests from the scientists listed from other institutions 
will be coordinated by she and Dr. Wiesenfeld. 
It is planned that the supporting gear and personnel from your program will 
be off-loaded at Ponape prior to start of the Carr work at Pingelap. By now Dr. 
Carr has contacted you, and I understand there is a good possibility of some 
members of your group collaborating with his study. As many as 8 scientific 
accomodations are potentially available. It is not likely, however, that the 
Alpha Helix can leave any of your people at Puluwat, Pulusuk or Satawal. 
Our Institution must soon initiate through the State Department a request 
for permission to operate the Alpha Helix in the vicinity of the Solomon and New 
Hebrides Islands. This request must necessarily mention the nature of the 
proposed research work and present a document permitting its conduct. Having 
been apprised by you of the difficulties encountered when dealing with the 
British-French Condominium, we will await your prompt reply regarding the 
suggested procedure. 
The Alpha Helix sailed yesterday for the Bering Sea. We look forward 
enthusiastically to the research programs of the coming months, feeling 
confident that the proposed bio-medical studies will be most effectively 
supported by the facilities of this unique laboratory ship. 
Best wishes. 
Walter Garey 
