Massachusetts iNsrrruTE Of technology 
COMMITTEE ON ASSESSMENT OF BIOHAZARDS 
TELEPHONE: (617) 253-5360. 1740 
77 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, 20B-238 
CAMBRIDGE. MASSACHUSETTS 02139 
26 January 1982 
William J. Gartland, Jr., Ph.D. 
Director, Office of Recombinant DNA Activities 
National Institutes of Health 
Building 31, Room 4A52 
Bethesda, Maryland 20205 
Dear Dr. Gartland: 
This is in response to the request for comments on the proposed changes in the 
NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules as published in 
the Federal Register, 4 December 1981 (Vol . 46, No. 233, pages 59368-59383). 
We want to indicate our concern with the proposed change whereby the objective 
review beyond that of the principal investigator is essentially eliminated. 
The exclusive dependence on determinations of appropriate containment by a 
principal investigator is, we feel, premature when the applications of recombinant 
technology are expanding rapidly with respect to the diversity of organisms being 
used and encompass virtually all fields of biological research. 
We urge the Recombinant DNA Advisory Coimiittee to preserve those mechanisms at 
both the institutional and national levels which ensure continuity in judgement 
in determining the appropriate containment requirements when new host vector sys- 
tems are developed, or for other novel applications of this technology. 
Respectfully, 
Daniel F. Liberman, Ph.D. 
for the Committee on Assessment of Biohazards 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
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