DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. EDUCATION. AND WELFARE 
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE 
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 
BETHESDA. MARYLAND 20014 
November 30, 1977 
[See list of invited witnesses on page xvi of Summary Minutes.] 
Dear Dr. 
I am pleased that you have accepted my invitation to serve as a witness 
in providing testimony at the special meeting of the Advisory Committee 
to the Director, NIH, on December 15-16, 1977. The Committee will 
convene at 9:00 a.m., December 15, in conference room 6C, building 31, 
on the NIH campus, Bethesda, Maryland. 
The purpose of the meeting is to provide a forum for public review and 
comment on the proposed changes to the Guidelines which set conditions 
under which recombinant DNA molecule research may be conducted or 
supported by the National Institutes of Health. The proposed Guidelines 
have been submitted to me in the form of a recommendation for action 
by the NIH Recombinant DNA Molecule Research Advisory Committee. 
Before taking action on this recommendation, I am anxious to receive 
comments from as many segments of society as possible. 
In February 1976, when the original Guidelines were proposed, the 
Director's Advisory Committee heard testimony from many witnesses. 
Having heard the testimony, the members of the Committee offered both 
oral and written comments which were carefully considered before the 
Guidelines were promulgated in July of 1976. 
A similar procedure will be followed for consideration of the proposed 
changes in the Guidelines. The Director's Committee will hear many 
points of view expressed by witnesses recommended by organizations 
and associations known to be concerned about recombinant DNA 
research. The invited witnesses represent science, industry, the 
environment, labor and agriculture. Enclosed is a list of invited 
witnesses. You may wish to contact other witnesses in order to 
coordinate your comments. 
In addition to invited witnesses, other witnesses who wish to comment 
on the proposed revisions to the Guidelines will be given reasonable 
opportunity to do so. 
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