National Radiobiology Archives
by Charles R. Watson
Notice: The National Radiobiology Archives (NRA) have been transferred to Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. To inquire about NRA materials or learn more about the Northwestern University Radiobiology Archives (NURA) visit: https://sites.northwestern.edu/nura/
Introduction
The U.S. National Radiobiology Archives (NRA) is an archival program that was started in 1989 to collect, organize, and catalog data, laboratory notebooks, and animal tissue specimens from government (i.e. DOE and its predecessor agencies) sponsored radiobiology life-span studies performed at various National Laboratories and universities since the 1940’s. These archived records and specimens that are stored and maintained in a centralized facility and are available for additional future research or analyses.
The NRA is part of a greater international program that includes the European Radiobiology Archives (ERA) and the Japanese Radiobiology Archives (JRA)1. Dr. Chuck Watson (NRA Database Consultant) served as the U.S. representative on the ERA Advisory Board. The board oversaw the development of an internet version of the ERA, called ERA-PRO. This activity wasfunded by European Community and managed by the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection.
Radiobiological Studies
Rodent and Nonhuman Primate Studies
Results from some 30,000 mice from studies comparing various strains have been transferred from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory. In addition, records, data, and many microscope slides from life-span studies on some 4,000 rats that were used for plutonium inhalation studies at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and biokinetic and pathological data from experiments on more than 300 nonhuman primates have been added to the archive collection.
Life-Span Studies Using Beagle Dogs
The major thrust of the early studies was to determine the level, rate, and extent of the radiological and toxicological effects induced by ingested or inhaled radionuclides, including plutonium and other transuranics. Over several decades, a variety of life-span studies using beagle dogs were initiated at the Argonne National Laboratory, University of California at Davis, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute, and the University of Utah. The results and many microscope slides from these life-span studies, totaling some 6000 dogs, have been transferred to the NRA and are now available to researchers.
The Atlas of Experimentally-Induced Neoplasia in the Beagle Dog
The Atlas of Experimentally-Induced Neoplasia in the Beagle Dog2 facilitates comparison of neoplastic lesions observed by pathologists from the five laboratories. Different types of bone tumors, radiation-induced myeloid leukemia, liver tumors, lung tumors, and thyroid tumors are described and a standardized SNODOG morphology code is given for each diagnosis. The atlas also includes over 120 detailed histopathologic photographs. The original histopatholgic slides from the beagle studies are housed in the NRA.
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Study Descriptions
Brief descriptions of NRA tissue and document collections can be accessed using the following links:
NRA Tissue Archives
NRA Document Archives
International Radiobiology Archives of Long-Term Animal Studies provides more detailed descriptions of NRA, ERA, and JRA studies as well as brief histories of the three archival programs:
International Radiobiology Archives of Long-Term Animal Studies
NRA Transfers to the USTUR
The NRA program was transferred from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), operating for the U.S. Department of Energy, to the USTUR operations at WSU in 1996. The initial transfer included a limited collection of paraffin-embedded tissue blocks, microscope slides, clinical notes, pathologist observations, and several pieces of computer equipment. These specimens have been cataloged and are housed with the USTUR archives. Although the original archive collection at the NRA included formalin and/or alcohol-fixed tissues and thousands of radiographic films, concerns over the storage of such hazardous materials, coupled with budgetary constraints, led to proper disposal of these items which therefore were not transferred to the Registries with the other materials.
NRA Transfers to Northwestern University
In 2010, the all materials associated with the NRA program were transferred to Northwestern University. Northwestern already housed tissues from mice and beagles that had been externally irradiated with neutron or gamma radiation. Data associated with these archives was available online, and samples could be requested through their website. Thus, it was a natural to consolidate the NRA program with the radiobiological archive at Northwestern. NRA materials have been incorporated into the Northwestern University Radiobiology Archives (NURA).
Northwestern University Radiobiology Archives
NURA data
References
- Gerber, G. B.; Watson, C.R.; Sugahara, T.; Okuda, S. International Radiobiology Archives of Long- Term Animal Studies, Vol. 1, Descriptions of Participating Institutions and Studies. Report DOE/RL-96-72. U.S. Department of Energy, Richland, WA. July 1996.
- Watson, C. R.; Dagle, G. E.; Benjamin, S. A.; Fritz, T. E.; Gillett, N. A.; Haley, P. J.; Hahn, F. F.; Muggenburg, B. A.; Pool, R. R.; Seed, T. M.; Taylor, G. N.;Tolle, D. V. Atlas of Experimentally-Induced Neoplasia in the Beagle Dog. Battelle Memorial Institute. 1997.