"This information which the [state] Task Forceis bringing to light reinforces each member'scommitment to ensuring this kind of activity neverhappens again," said Misilo, who is heading thetask force.
Misilo also said the question of consent willbe vital in investigating the experiments atWrentham and Fernald.
"The Task Force has poured over literallythousands of pages of documents since our workbegan in January," Misilo said, "We will bereviewing archival records and other documents todetermine what kind of informed consentprocedures, if any, were used in this study."
Harvard officials said they learned of thestudy only very recently. Corlette said Harvardhas so far located no additional documentsconcerning the research in question. A search ofChapman's papers has also turned up nothing,Corlette said.
Corlette said Harvard officials were"surprised" to learn that the state had issued apress release about the experiment. Harvard'sstatement came in response to the state's release.
Corlette also said she understood the need topublicize the mental retardation department's 800telephone number.
"At lest some past or present residents of theWrentham School and their families may be learningabout this research for the first time," theHarvard statement said. "We very much regret theanxiety this news may cause them."
"Please know that we are working cooperativelywith the Task Force and others to understand moreabout the research, to seek the identity of theparticipants, and to asses any possible risks totheir health."
"However small the tracer doses of radiationinvolved, the research raises important questionsabout why the residents of the Wrenthem Schoolwere chosen to participate, and we are determinedto purse those questions in light of all availableinformation."
The number of studies which used radioactivematerials and involved former residents ofDepartment of Mental Retardation facilities nowtotals 12, Misilo said. This latest revelationwill be included in the state task force's reporton the experiments, which is due out March 31.
Misilo said the task force now only haspublished research.
"The article raises many questions such as howmuch radiation was involved, what were the longterm health effects on the individuals, whoparticipated in the tests, and were they or theirguardians fully informed about the true nature ofthe tests," Misilo said.
"We don't have answers yet, but our task forcewill attempt to answer these questions," he said.
The published study suggests that staff atWrentham were supportive or helpful in the tests.But it does not disclose whether the youngchildren were aware of the dangers of theradioactive iodine.
"This study...would have been impossiblewithout the full cooperation of the staff of theWrentham State Hospital," the study states.