Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee - 2/10-11/92 
the HGTS could be developed following the February RAC meeting. 
Some HGTS members were concerned that the RAC would lose the expertise represented 
on the HGTS, and that the new arrangement would not actually shorten the review 
process. Some members stated that the dissolution of the HGTS might even increase the 
time required for reviews, especially if an investigator was asked to reappear before the 
RAC one or two times. One suggestion, which was quickly tabled, was to hold the HGTS 
meetings the day before the RAC meeting. It was then suggested that the HGTS 
gradually relinquish its responsibility to the RAC over the course of a year while 
immediately relinquishing review of human gene therapy protocols. This transitional year 
would allow the HGTS to continue the study of data management issues and to research 
the matter of germ line gene therapy. The HGTS unanimously approved a motion to be 
presented to the RAC that the HGTS should be dissolved. 
Committee motion 
Mr. Mannix read a draft motion on this transition: 
"Whereas, the RAC recognizes a change in the nature of its workload that entails a 
greater number and scope of experiments involving human subjects and a concurrent 
decline in the review of experiments that do not involve humans; 
"Therefore, in the interests of continuity and consistency in the RACs standards of 
review, improved communication with the research community, economy, and 
timelines of its review procedures; 
"Be it resolved, that the Director should take the following steps to integrate the 
RAC and the HGTS over the next year: 
"1. The membership of the RAC should be realigned so that it includes a greater 
expertise in human gene transfer and the scientific, medical, ethical, and 
social issues surrounding it, while ad hoc consultants are used to supplement 
that expertise as needed to address other areas within RACs purview. 
"2. This realignment should be achieved by appointing to full membership in the 
RAC all of those members in the subcommittee who are not already members 
of the RAC, as soon as the expiration of an incumbent's term will allow. In 
the meantime, all subcommittee members should attend the RACs meetings 
and participate as fully as possible as ad hoc consultants, pending full 
appointment to the RAC. 
Recombinant DNA Research, Volume 15 
[349] 
