of your Conmittee's concern for the rapid dissemination of research 
results in recombinant DNA research and would especially welcome your 
thoughts on this matter. For example, would you view patent claims as 
an impediment to the operation and functions of your Committee? What 
experience, if any, have you or your colleagues or institution had 
with patent claims in this regard? 
I have asked Bill Gartland to assign about an hour on the agenda 
of your meeting to review patent policy, and have asked Joe Perpich 
and Norm Latker, the Department Patent Counsel, to attend the meeting 
for this discussion. 
I would appreciate your views on Department patent policy as 
it relates to the conduct of your research, the operations of your 
Committee, and the suggested policy options I have outlined above. 
I Intend also to solicit advice on this matter from other Interested 
parties in the scientific community and in the public and private 
sectors . 
Thank you very much for your consideration of this most important 
matter . 
Sincerely yours, 
/s/ Donald S. Fredrickson, M.D. 
Donald S. Fredrickson, M.D. 
Director 
3 Enclosures 
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