Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee - 10/16/90 
Dr. Robert Murray said that the basis for his motion was to take 
into consideration the opinions expressed in these regional 
hearings and formalize them so that RAC can decide on whether it 
should continue with business as usual or whether some changes 
should be made and that such recommendations would indeed be 
forwarded to the Director of NIH and the Secretary of DHHS. 
Dr. McGarrity asked if the group would be expected to deal with 
specific points in regard to revision of the NIH Guidelines which 
are in progress and were part of the discussion at the regional 
meetings such as the proposed new definition of "recombinant DNA" 
and oversight of environmental release which have been under 
study by chartered subcommittees. 
Dr. Robert Murray said he felt the thrust of the group that he 
was proposing would be to discuss the composition and function of 
the RAC as opposed to specific changes to the NIH Guidelines . He 
added that some of these issues could impact on those assessments 
but that they would not be themselves the focus of the group. 
Dr. Carmen asked if Dr. R. Murray considered that there would be 
a dual inquiry, one dealing with the questions discussed at the 
regional meetings and another dealing with the overall issue of 
the composition and overall function of the RAC. Dr. Robert 
Murray said that these issues do intertwine but he felt they 
could be dealt with by such a working group. Dr. Carmen said he 
disagreed with a dual approach noting that the RAC had many 
problems before it of great importance, such as the relationship 
between the RAC and the Human Gene Therapy Subcommittee which 
must be considered within the next six months. 
Dr. Riley asked for clarification on the issue of changing the 
definition of "recombinant DNA." Dr. McGarrity said that this 
was one of the questions posed at the regional hearings and that 
he expected the summary of the regional hearings would include a 
summary of feelings on this issue which can then be acted on by 
the RAC as it sees fit during its deliberations. Dr. Robert 
Murray said he did not feel this issue was impacted by his motion 
and that really his motion was in response to more general issues 
raised in the regional hearings and to show the public that the 
RAC does react to suggestions from the public. 
Dr. Murray underlined that the proposed working group would not 
make any report based on the summary presented at the February 
meeting of the RAC, but is being established to begin a process 
of introspective self-examination to begin to look at the future 
role of RAC. 
There was a short discussion of the issue of whether the RAC 
would be voting on the recommendations of the subcommittee on 
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Recombinant DNA Research, Volume 14 
