484 



NEED FOE INDUSTRIAL-GOVERNMENT LIAISON 



Provision should be made to establish an effective liaison between government 

 and industry. If the biochemical vp^ealth of the oceans is to be successfully utilized, 

 there must be brought about a much closer vp-orking relationship between govern- 

 ment and industry. Most pharmaceutical companies are not in a position to under- 

 take the expensive logistics, procurement, and documentation program that is 

 required before a marine organism can be assayed for its pharmacological prop- 

 erties. These initial studies will of necessity have to be funded by government. A 

 great deal of fundamental research will be required in order to develop com- 

 mercially feasible aquaculture techniques for the rearing of marine organisms 

 having marine pharmaceutical potenial. It is noteworthy that at least one com- 

 merical company (Aquarium Systems, Inc., Wickliffe, Ohio) is presently ex- 

 ploring the rearing of marine pharmaceutical organisms. It is important that 

 some sort of a cooperative program be established with private enterprise so that 

 compounds having commercial potential can be profitably marketed and thereby 

 enhance our economy. This is a very critical area that must be carefully evaluated 

 if these biochemical products are to be of economic value to our nation. 



Mr. Rogers. Dr. Halstead, your remarks have been excellent and 

 most impressive. I am sure that the committee will benefit greatly 

 from your testimony. 



Mr. Karth. 



Mr. Kaeth. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



I want to join the chairman in suggesting strongly that this has 

 been a very exciting presentation you have given to us, Doctor. I am 

 not so sure, however, that you are in front of the right committee. 



Dr. Halstead. That may be. 



Mr. Karth. Since you recommend that the National Institute of 

 Marine Medicine and Pharmacology be established in HEW you 

 should also make this presentation before the Education and Labor 

 Committee. 



Mr. Rogers. Will the gentleman yield ? 



Mr. Karth. I will yield. 



Mr. Rogers. I might say that I am ranking member on the Health 

 Subcommittee which has jurisdiction. So maybe we have overlapped 

 a little here and I will make sure that a similar presentation with the 

 Doctor is made to the Health Committee which will have jurisdiction. 



Mr. Karth. That is a subcommittee of this committee. 



Mr. Rogers. Insterstate and Foreign Commerce. 



Mr. Karth. Since it deals with the Department of HEW, I don't 

 know which subcommittee would be the proper one for you to also 

 make this presentation to but I think it is of sufficient interest that 

 you really ought to explore it with the chairman, Doctor, 



I really agree with you that something ought to be done and some of 

 us around here have been talking about this whole ecological question 

 for a number of years now. 



Since the Government has finally become interested I think by virtue 

 of some of the things that you have called to our attention and many 

 that you probably know about and haven't had time to call to our 

 attention, I think it is encouraging that at least we are moving in the 

 right direction or making some noises that we are going to move in 

 the right direction. 



Might I ask this question, Doctor. 



You do propose that an Institute of Marine Medicine and Pharma- 

 colo^ be established in HEW. Since it is dealing primarily with 

 marine medicine I was wondering whether or not, if the Congress is 



