NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 
WASHINGTON. DC. 20550 
December 9. 1977 
OFFICE OF THE 
DIRECTOR 
Dr. Donald S. Freder ickson 
Director 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20014 
Dear Dr. Freder ickson : 
As you know, in August 1976 the National Science Board 
adopted substantial parts of the guidelines of the 
National Institutes of Health (NIH) on the conduct of 
recombinant DNA research as National Science Foundation 
policy. I am now pleased to advise you that at its meet- 
ing on November 17, 1977, the Board adopted a resolution, 
of which a copy is enclosed, endorsing both the process 
by which the NIH has been revising the guidelines and the 
efforts of the NIH to publicize the proposed revisions. 
The Foundation is particularly pleased with the continuing 
efforts, to keep the guidelines flexible and adapted to new 
scientific developments. We remain anxious to cooperate 
with you in your efforts to ensure both the safety of the 
public and the advance of science to the public benefit. 
Enclosure 
cc : Dr. Norman Hackerman, Chairman, NSB 
Dr. Eloise Clark, Assistant Director for 
Biological, Behavioral, and Social Sciences, NSF 
Sincerely yours, 
Richard C . Atkinson 
Director 
[Appendix A — 108] 
