Congress May Honor Three University Polio Scientists

Members of Congress have proposed a joint resolution which would express the gratitude of the nation to three University scientists whose work contributed to the development of the Salk polio vaccine.

The three men cited by the bill are: Dr. John F. Enders, associate professor of Bacteriology and Immunology at the Medical School, Dr. Thomas H. Weller, Richard Pearson Strong Professor at the School of Public Health, and Dr. Frederick C. Robbins, a former associate of Enders and Weller, now at Western Reserve Medical School.

Senator William A. Partell (R-Conn.) proposed the bill before the Senate Monday, and Representative Thomas J. Dodd (D-Conn.) introduced the measure into the House last week.

Although the two resolutions are not identical, both state that Enders, Weller, and Robbins paved the way for the final development of the vaccine by Dr. Jonas Salk when, in 1949, they discovered that the virus can multiply in tissue from primates.

A bill should be passed before Friday to give Salk the first Distinguished Civilian Achievement Medal ever presented. There are also five other measures in Congress to honor Salk, Raymond D. Hurley, Purtell's legislative assistant, explained.

The Enders-Weller-Robbins resolution is now under the jurisdiction of the Labor Committee, and should be approved as soon as the committee members have time to review it, Hurley said.