VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY 
Di: . William J. Gartland, Jr. 
Director, Office of Recombinant 
DNA Activities 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, Maryland 20205 
Dear Dr. Gartland: 
SUBJECT: Solicitation of Comments on 
Revised Guidelines for Research 
Involving Recombinant DNA 
Molecules 
In answer to your recent inquiry, I submit the following comments. 
1. We have no problem at present with the revised guidelines. 
2. Because all but one project at Vanderbilt University is now 
classified as exempt, there are no matters which are taking large 
amounts of time. 
3. We have no particular disagreements or criticisms of the 
present guidelines. 
4. Our IBC used to meet several times a year. Under the new 
guidelines, we do not have to meet more than once a semester or 
once a year. 
5. Our IBC has no other responsibilities other than dealing with 
recombinant DNA research. Our committee has informed the top 
administration of the University that it does not wish to serve 
as a general biosafety committee and that the University should 
make other arrangements to deal with other possible hazards. 
Yours sincerely,. 
<L tti V 
""Oscar Touster 
Professor and 
j (HUM 
Chairman 
OT/sm 
[536] 
