INSTITUTE OF SOCIETY, ETHICS AND THE LIFE SCIENCES 
Hastings Center 
DAN I ( l CAllAHAN 
Director 
October 5, 1976 
Dr. Donald S. Fredrickson 
Director 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20014 
Dear Dr. Fredrickson: 
Somewhat tardily, I am responding to your letter of September 8, 
soliciting my views on the question of patent applications in the area 
of recombinant DMA research activity. 
Wc have discussed the issue here, and agree that it is both an 
important and yet difficult one. In general, it seems important to us 
that the government have some way of both controlling and monitoring 
research on recombinant DNA. For that reason, it does seem to us that 
some special provisions are necessary. 
Of the various options mentioned in your letter, Option 3 seems to us 
to make the most sense. That is, institutions should be asked to assign all 
inventions made in performance of recombinant DNA research to the Department 
of Health, Education and Welfare. That option, as we understand it, would 
allow the greatest possible leeway to the Department. It would not necessarily 
stifle the private pursuit of recombinant DNA research, since the Department 
could Indeed license various patented inventions, and yet at the same time 
it would allow the public to be protected from some of the untoward 
possibilities of DNA research--by the mechanism of the selection of those 
who would be licensed, and perhaps further conditions concerning the 
monitoring of the license. 
I would emphasize that I am not speaking here for the Institute, but 
rather speaking for myself, after informal consultation with various 
people here. 
Sincerely, 
Daniel Callahan 
DC/ern 
[135] 
360 BROADWAY 
HASTINCS-ON-HUDSON, N. Y. 10706 
(910 478-0500 
