When asked, Misilo declined to say whether heconsidered Harvard and MIT institutions which"have the means" to compensate test victims.

The task force used records donated to Harvardby Benda's estate to identify the subjects ofnutrition experiments.

In the 1940s, '50s and '60s, Harvard hadextraordinarily close ties to Fernald, accordingto a 1959 report. Scores of Medical School, Schoolof Public Health and other graduate studentsattended annual lectures, workshops anddemonstrations at the school.

Acting Vice President for Government, Communityand Public Affairs Jane H. Corlette said Monday ina telephone interview that she could not discussthe report or its findings until she had read it."It's way too early to comment," Corlette said.

A statement released Monday afternoon by theUniversity news office said Harvard officials arestill reviewing the report.

"It's too early to speculate," said Universityspokesperson Joe Wrinn, the only Harvard officialwho attended Monday's press conference at whichthe task force released the report.

A University committee chaired by Professor ofMedicine Emeritus Walter H. Abelmann is currentlyconducting its own in house review of Harvardhuman subject research.

J. David Litster, vice president and dean forresearch at MIT, indicated he did not think hisinstitution will have to compensate test subjects.

"I think the task force concluded that no harmwas done," Litster said.

Asked by reporters to explain how such basicviolations of human rights might have happened,Department of Mental Retardation CommissionerPhilip Campbell said discrimination againstdisabled people had been the main factor.

"The most overriding issue is that people withdisabilities are often devalued in society," saidCampbell, who established the task force.

In an awkward moment for the task force,Charles Dyer, a subject of one of Benda'sexperiments and a task force member, appeared toquestion some of the report's findings. Dyer, 53,said he thought it was possible that test subjectshad suffered health effects and wondered whetherthe government or universities might be coveringup the existence of experiments.

"We were brought up here to be taught thingsand to learn. But we were used, and I don't thinkthat's right," said Dyer, who is now a truckdriver receiving worker's compensation. "It seemslike everything is being covered up."

Austin LaRocque, a 53-year-old constructionworker, was Dyer's friend and also a test subjectduring his nine years at Fernald. He said thepublicity resulting from the state investigationhas hurt his career and personal life.

"This has affected me in many ways. It hasaffected my family," said LaRocque, a member ofthe task force. "I had to use an assumed name andI've lost jobs because of this school [Fernald]."