STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER 
STANPORO. CAUPORNiA 94 Mi • (4Ii) 497-1711 
Staivo«> Umvuvty Sokxm. or Uaotcnm 
Dt p mtmnt af 
Omt m m Omtaft 
December 29, 1981 
Director, Office of Recomblnent DMA Activities 
National Institutes of Health 
Building 31, Room 4 A 52 
Bethesda, HD. 20205 
Dear Sir: 
I am writing to comment on the proposed revision of the NIH 
guidelines for research Involving recombinant DNA molecules. I 
strongly support the RAC proposal that appeared In the Federal 
Register of 12-4-81. As a clinical specialist In Infectious dis- 
eases and a researcher In animal virology, I have long felt that 
the risks of cloning eukaryotic (viral or cellular) DNAs In either 
prokaryotes or eukaryotes have been greatly exaggerated and that the 
NIH guidelines have been far too restrictive In this area. Some 
research has been unjustifiably slowed by the current regulations 
In my view. The new RAC proposals come much closer to an appro- 
priate position In this area In my opinion. 
Sincerely yours 
William S. Robinson, H.D. 
Professor of Medicine 
(623) 
j 
