EUROPEAN MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCILS ( EMRC) 
EMRC is an association of representatives of national medical 
research councils (or their equivalent) that was created in May 1971 for 
the purpose of fostering collaboration in medical research among member 
organizations. Important functions of EMRC include exchanging informa- 
tion, providing advice, and stimulating cooperative research projects. 
At a meeting convened in March 1977 in Berne, EMRC concluded that: 
• uniformity of safety standards and monitoring of recombinant 
DNA activities was desirable among member countries; 
• EMRC should be involved in assisting harmonization of standards 
and procedures; 
• steps should be taken to register all recombinant DNA activities 
in Europe, but with flexibility to permit adaptation to the 
rapidly changing developments in this field; and 
• given the range of activities being undertaken by other inter- 
national organizations, EMRC will limit its role to suggesting 
changes in the proposals of the European Science Foundation 
( ESF ) . 
To carry out this role, the following were appointed to represent 
EMRC in the deliberations of the European Liaison Committee for Recombin- 
ant DNA Research of ESF: Dr. S. Owen of the United Kingdom, Professor B. 
Gustafsson of Sweden, and Professor E. Weibel of Switzerland. 
In addition, progress reports were received from national represent- 
atives at the September 1977 meeting in Copenhagen, and an overall 
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