Iom

[Jerrel]

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From: Joellenbeck, Lois

Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 2:36 PM

Cc: Joellenbeck, Lois

Subject: new IOM study on Shipboard Hazard and Defense

***We invite you to share this announcement of a new study at the Institute of Medicine (IOM) with other interested individuals or organizations***

In response to the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 and an ensuing request from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the IOM has assembled a committee of experts to conduct an epidemiological study comparing the health status of the SHAD veterans with a comparison population. This study will build on knowledge gained from a prior study conducted by IOM between 2003 and 2007.

As part of the data collection process, the committee will plan and conduct meetings to receive suggestions and input from SHAD veterans about their experiences so that the study can be informed by the insights of these veterans.

The first meeting of the Committee on Shipboard Hazard and Defense will take place on January 19-20, 2012, in Washington , DC. A second meeting is planned for February 23-24, 2012 in California .

The charge to the committee and a list of the membership of the committee is available at http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/projectview.aspx?key=IOM-BSP-10-08 and at an IOM study site: http://www.iom.edu/Activities/Veterans/SHADII.aspx

Background

From 1962 to 1973, more than 5,800 military personnel, mostly Navy personnel and Marines, participated in Project SHAD (Shipboard Hazard and Defense) -- a series of tests of U.S. warship vulnerability to biological and chemical warfare agents. Only some of the involved military personnel were aware of these tests at the time. Many of these tests used simulants, which are substances with the physical properties of chemical or biological warfare agents, that were thought at the time to be harmless. The existence of these tests came to light many decades later.

In 2007, the Institute of Medicine ’s Medical Follow-up Agency (MFUA) published a report on the long term health effects of participation in Project SHAD, based on the results of a health survey (the report is available at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11900). In the new study, an expert committee will work in conjunction with IOM's MFUA and build on knowledge gained from the previous IOM study. The SHAD II study will use the established list of SHAD participants and the comparison population determined from the prior study.

The results of the study will be reported in a brief IOM report by the study committee and an analytic paper for publication.

Input can be provided to the committee through written comments and materials submitted over the course of the study, and through brief presentations at the committee meetings that will be held in January and February 2012.

Written materials can be submitted to the committee through the IOM staff at the postal address shown below. Please note that any comments or materials submitted to the committee in paper or electronic form will normally become part of the study’s public record.

Questions about the study or providing materials for the committee’s consideration should be directed to study director Lois Joellenbeck (ljoellen@nas.edu) or program associate Jon Sanders (jsanders@nas.edu).

Lois Joellenbeck, Dr.P.H.

Study Director

Institute of Medicine

The National Academies

500 Fifth St. N.W.

Washington, DC 20001

202-334-1715

ljoellen@nas.edu

[carlie]

and paternally transmitted effects to offspring."

Berta,

This last one above has been a huge concern of mine (on the father's part) for a long time now.

[Berta]

Here is some updated info regarding the IOM meeting as to Project SHAD.

"First meeting of IOM SHAD II Committee January 19 in Washington, DC

***We invite you to share this announcement with other interested indivi duals or organizations***

In response to the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 and an ensuing request from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the IOM has assembled a committee of experts to conduct an epidemiological study comparing the health status of the SHAD veterans with a comparison population. This study will build on knowledge gained from a prior study conducted by IOM between 2003 and 2007.

As part of the data collection process, the committee will plan and conduct meetings to receive suggestions and input from SHAD veter ans about their experiences so that the study can be informed by the insights of these veterans.

The first meeting of the Committee on Shipboard Hazard and Defense will take place on January 19-20, 2012, at the Keck Center of the National Academies, 500 Fifth St. NW, Washington, DC. An agenda for the open session of the meeting on January 19^th is available at http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/projectview.aspx?key=IOM-BSP-10-08 and at an IOM study site: http://www.iom.edu/Activities/Vet erans/SHADII.aspx A second committee meeting will be held February 23-24, 2012, in Sacramento, California.

If you would be interested in providing brief comments at the meeting on January 19 in Washington, DC or on February 23 at the meeting in Sacramento, CA, please contact Jon Sanders at jsanders@nas.edu. On January 19, public comments will be heard during the late afternoon. Time constraints may limit the number of speakers who can be accommodated, but all written submissions will be welcome.

Written materials can be submitted to the committee through the IOM staff at the e-mail or postal addr esses shown below. Please note that any comments or materials submitted to the committee in paper or electronic form will normally become part of the study’s public record.

Committee on Shipboard Hazard and Defense II

Institute of Medicine, Keck 775

500 Fifth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20001

SHADStudyII@nas.edu

Background

From 1962 to 1973, more than 5,800 military personnel, mostly Navy personnel and Marines, participated in Project SHAD (Shipboard Hazard and Defense) -- a series of tests of U.S. warship vulnerability to biological and chemical warfare agents. Only some of the involved military personnel were aware of these tests at the time. Many of these tests used simulants, which are substances with the physical properties of chemical or biological warfare agents, that were thought at the time to be harmless. The existence of these tests came to light many decades later.

In 2007, the Institute of Medicine’s Medical Follow-up Agency (MFUA) published a report on the long term health effects of participation in Project SHAD, based on the results of a health survey (the repo rt is available at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11900). In the new study, an expert committee will work in conjunction with IOM's MFUA and build on knowledge gained from the previous IOM study. The SHAD II study will use the established list of SHAD participants and the comparison population determined from the prior study.

The results of the study will be provided in a brief IOM report by the study committee and an analytic paper for publication.

Questions about the study or providing materials for the committee’s consideration should be directed to study director

Lois Joellenbeck, Dr.P.H.

Study Director

Institute of Medicine

The National Academies

500 Fifth St. N.W.

Washington, DC 20001

202-334-1715

ljoellen@nas.edu "

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