Meeting the Challenges of Cytokine Administration During Nuclear Incident Response

Dr. C. Norman Coleman initiated the establishment of a working group within the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to explore ways in which federal planning and guidance could better foster effective and efficient nuclear detonation response, with initial attention to cytokine use in the public health and medical response. Dr. Coleman recognized the difference between planning guidance (what to do) and a strategy (how to do it). He developed actionable strategies to improve our nation’s nuclear preparedness, including scarce resources triage protocols, 1 cytokine and evacuation priorities, 2 and the Exposure And Symptom Triage (EAST) tool. 3 Despite his absence and in his spirit, this working group, nicknamed “The Solutions Lab,” is continuing the work on actionable strategies for nuclear preparedness.