Summary Minutes of Director’s Advisory Committee Meeting 
PREFACE 
In September 1977, the National Institutes of Health published 
in the Federal Register a proposed revision of the NIH Guidelines 
for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules, which have been in 
effect since June 1976. A public meeting to provide a forum for review 
of proposed changes in the Guidelines was held at NIH December 15 and 
16, 1977. Dr. Donald Fredrickson, NIH Director, presented the proposed 
Guidelines for comment both by members of his Advisory Conmittee and 
by invited and public witnesses from the areas of environmental, com- 
merical, organized labor, scientific and the public interest. 
Vftien the original Guidelines were proposed in February 1976, the 
Director's Advisory Committee heard testimony from many witnesses. 
Dr. Fredrickson and his staff carefully considered the testimony and 
other comments before the Guidelines were promulgated on July 1976. 
A similar procedure will be followed in considering proposed changes 
in the Guidelines, with Advisory Committee members being asked to 
set down their views in writing and submit them to Dr. Fredrickson 
by January 16, 1978. 
Hiis supplemental issue contains the summary minutes of the 
December 15-16 meeting. It also includes a background document prepared 
to assist the Advisory Corranittee and others whose advice the Director 
will seek before making a final decision. 
Hie background document is in two parts. Part A was prepared by 
the Office of the Director, NIH; Part B, by the Recombinant DNA Molecule 
Program! Advisory Committee, the expert group that drafted the original 
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