MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 
CENTER FOR CANCER RESEARCH 
77 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02139 
September 20, 1976 
Donald S. Fredrickson, M.D. 
Director 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20014 
Dear Don, 
This letter is a response to your request of 27 August 1976 
for my opinion on the patent applications for recombinant DNA 
discoveries . 
It seems to me that the Institutional Patent Agreement is 
meant to stimulate use of new inventions made on grants from 
NIH. In the recombinant DNA area, there is hardly need for more 
stimulation. The over-riding concern here is that the potentialities 
in recombinant DNA research be realized in an orderly and safe 
manner. I would therefore opt, I think, for the 3rd alternative 
on page 3 of your letter. If I understand the alternatives, this 
would best assure openness and speed of publication but would give 
the Department at least knowledge of who is using recombinant DNA 
methods for what. Any royalties could be used to establish a re- 
search award fund for universities and/or to continue work on 
safety and ethical aspects of recombinant work. 
What I would oppose would be any exclusive licensing scheme 
or control of the products by individual universities. Taxes pay 
for the work and it should belong to the public. 
Sincerely, 
DB/mts 
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