COPEWOOD STREET/CAMOEN. NEW JERSEY 08103/(609) 966-7377 (215) MA 7-4055/CABLE ADDRESS: INMEORES 
INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH 
August 21, 1978 
f 
•• NON-PROFIT' 
Donald S. Frederickson, M.D. 
Director 
National Institutes of Health 
Room 124, Building 1 
Bethesda, Maryland 20014 
Dear Dr. Frederickson: Re: Recombinant DNA Research 
Proposed Revised Guidelines 
I have reviewed the revised guidelines and strongly endorse 
changes which make the guidelines less restrictive. It is obvious 
that fears of possible harmful effects raised by some scientists were 
unwarranted and have not been confirmed by experience. Sensational 
speculative journalistic comment has been recognized as such by the 
public and by leaders in Congress. The dangers are minimal. 
On the other hand, the benefits are real, are being achieved, 
and have great potential for better understanding the chemistry of 
living cells in health and disease. I think time will show the re- 
combinant DNA technique to be the major biological scientific achiev- 
ement of our generation. The proposed revised guidelines are in 
accord with this evaluation and may be relaxed further if and as 
warranted by further study. 
On the matter of legislation, I see no need for Congress to act 
at this time. Control can be exercised through Section 361 of the 
Public Health Service Act. The contents of a letter dated June 1, 1978 
from Senators Kennedy, Javits, Nelson, Stevenson, Williams and 
Schweiker to Joseph Califano set forth the Senate position that regula- 
tion can best be handled without additional legislation. Their 
position is in accord with all the facts that have been developed since 
the guidelines were first drawn up. 
An effort should be made to explain the process to the public 
in terms they can understand when the new guidelines are issued. My 
effort to do this for the local press is enclosed. 
DIRECTOR. LEWIS L. COR I ELL. M.D. . Ph.O 
BOARD OF TRUSTEES: WILLIAM H BELL. JR • STANLEY S BERGEN. JR . M O • KARL H BEYER. JR . M O.. • 
MARVIN COHEN • LEWIS L CORIELL. M.D. . Pm D. . JEAN CORTNER. M O • RAE CROWTHER • 
W ROBERT DAVIS • JOHN T. DORRANCE. JR • ALEXANDER FEINBERG. ESQ • MRS W H. K. FLECK . MRS VIRGINI 
FREDERICK P GREINER. ESQ . MICHAEL J. HAYES • WILLIAM KALELLI S • FRANK K. KELEMEN • 
kenncth n Macdonald . gay a mayer • john f meade. jr • mrs albert b melnik . william r morris • 
WARREN W NICHOLS. M D.. Pm D • WILLIAM G O BRIEN • W. T. READ. M D . 
JONATHAN E. RHOADS. M O. • A. WEIR STEDMAN • F. WILLIAM STORCK . NEIL VANDER DUSSEN 
LLC : dmm 
Enclosure 
. Coriell, M.D., Ph.D. 
Director 
[A-33] 
