3 
162 of them. The plans proposed by the institutions call for 
approximately $53 million to be invested by private industry for 
development under the licenses awarded through this mechanism. 
Since the review of the Department’s patent policies has not yet 
been completed, it would be premature to comment on the GSA 
amendment to the Federal Procurement Regulations mentioned in your 
letter . 
Patenting of Recombinant DNA Research Inventions 
In June 1976, shortly before the release of the NIH Guidelines on 
recombinant DNA research, Dr. Robert M. Rosenzweig, Vice President for 
Public Affairs at Stanford University, sent me a letter asking NIH to 
review DHEW policies relating to the patenting of recombinant DNA 
research inventions. Dr. Rosenzweig noted that both Stanford and the 
University of California were applying for patent protection for 
recombinant DNA research inventions developed by their investigators 
under NIH support. However, in view of the intense public interest in 
this research generally, the two universities felt the need for a formal 
advisory opinion by NIH on the patenting of recombinant DNA inventions 
developed under NIH grants or contracts. A number of other universities 
indicated similar interest in obtaining the official views of NIH. 
Prior to making an official pronouncement of DHEW-NIH policy with 
respect to patenting of recombinant DNA research inventions, NIH decided 
to solicit comments from a broad range of individuals and institutions 
including the scientific community, the public and the private sector. 
[Appendix B — 247] 
