Tobacco Documents Online

N K91 68L0G:: Grant Application No. 4SSD, Raymond Bosse, Ph.D., V.A.Outpatient Clinic, Boston,lVlassachusetts "A Smoking Research Program in the Normative Aging Study" CTR is supporting at least four investigations which appear to be related in the general area of smAking and behavioral manifestations. The project under present consideration has a long history of support from CTR with Dr. Bosse being the most recent of several principal investigators. "The primary ain in the past has been concerned with "multidisciplinary effects of smoking", and It ia stated that new infonnatiun relevant to smoking behavior and the aging individual has bcen ident3fied almost annual/i. 'The working hypothesis pertains to existing variable differences 1--tween smokers, former smokers, and never-smokers. It is stated that behavioral differences in the respective groups have been repeatedly identified. Details of several projects anticipated for completion in 1977 are presented in abstract form and these are listed in the materials available to me as Grant No. 455BR2, though on the faccersheet of these materials the number given is 455D. The preWninary write-up in categories 6 and 7 of the face-sheet are a bit vague, though one can assume that previous hypotheses should remain appropriate and require continued tes&z. 7Che material in the Appendices list a variety of cardiovascular and pulmonary function studies, neuro:ogical, physiological and environmental evaluations which are in the plannang. A definite value for the longitudinal potential would be correlation of findings from autopsies. It Is stated that 60 deaths have occurred among over 2000 volunteers from those originally selected; h; oni~w,evcr, I cannot find any statement rxlevant to how many autopsies were obtained on these duals, but it does appear that there have been some problems in this particular area in which efforts are now being made to resolve. I'here is no question about the pertinence of this particular project. However, I have re- viewed briefly the materials pertaining to other projects being supported by the CfR plus the historical background of the Normative Aging Study, including funds allocated for the eeveral enorts. I think it might be of value for our group to study briefly each of the projects under current support by the GTR and search for similarities and dissimilarities involved in the efforts of each individual research program. In shoat, I think we should ferret out duplicatioa of effort and artive at judgments based upon the most efficient programs pertinent to rclevance to CTR, aa well as scientific merit. Perhaps having the respective scientists available for a brief seminar .i*t effectively attack these goals and objectives, and at the same time, the Oaerit of the overall dort may be embellished. In short, the program outlined by Dr. Bosse is of defia3te irrtenest; pniarest appeats to be oe target, but it should be evaluated as part of an overall effort r.nder CPR apAonLip. U 1e, . ~!.~l ISGS 6' ~ J4S .1t~UJ ~.. _ _~`__._._