HARRISON A. WILUAMS, JR., N.J., CHAIRMAN 
JENNINGS RANDOLPH. W. VA. 
CLAIBORNE PELL, R.l. 
EDWARD M. KENNEDY, MASS. 
Gaylord nelson, wis. 
THOMAS F. EAGLETON, MO. 
ALAN CRANSTON, CALIF. 
WILLIAM D. HATHAWAY. MAINE 
DONALD W. RIEGLE, JR., MICH. 
ORRIN G. HATCH, UTAH 
JOHN H. CHAFEE, R.l. 
S. I. HAYAKAWA, CALIF. 
JACOB K. JAVITS, N.Y. 
RICHARD S. SCHWEIKER. PA. 
ROBERT T. STAFFORD. VT. 
^CirUeb J£>{<xle& ^yerxctle 
STEPHEN J. PARADISE. GENERAL COUNSEL 
AND STAFF DIRECTOR 
MARJORIE M. WHITTAKER CHIEF CLERK 
COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES 
WASHINGTON. D C. 20510 
May 2, 1978 
Donald S. Fredrickson, M.D. 
Director 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20014 
Dear Dr. Fredrickson: 
Some U.S. scientists have claimed that (1) scientifi- 
cally and medically important work that is proscribed by 
the National Institutes of Health recombinant DNA guidelines 
or is effectively precluded by the level of containment 
required in this country is proceeding rapidly in other 
nations, and that the United States is consequently falling 
behind in certain major areas of recombinant DNA research, 
and (2) newly implemented NIH administrative regulations 
that require scientists to obtain approval from the Office 
of Recombinant DNA Activities for minor modification of an 
approved experimental protocol have led to prolonged delays 
in carrying out experiments permitted by the guidelines. 
In considering the effects of the proposed recombinant DNA 
legislation on scientific research in this area, it would 
be useful to have answers to the following questions: 
1. Is recombinant DNA research currently going on 
in nations where guidelines for this research are not in 
2. Are there some nations that do not intend to 
promulgate special guidelines for recombinant DNA research? 
3. Are there some nations where observance of guide- 
lines is entirely voluntary? 
4. How many nations have legally enforceable guide- 
lines, and what are these nations? 
5. How do the guidelines of the major scientifically 
advanced nations in Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and 
Asia compare with those of the United States? Are there 
less or greater restrictions on the research? 
effect? 
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