UNIVERSITY of PENNSYLVANIA 
PHILADELPHIA 19104 
Faculty of Arts and Sciences 
Department of Biology 
Biology Building G5 
February 3, 1983 
Dr. W. J. Gartland, Jr. 
Director, Office of Recombinant DNA Activity 
National Institutes of Health 
Bethesda, MD 20205 
Dear Dr. Gartland: 
No problems have arisen using the new guidelines; the rules are 
not stringent and most of the work done here is exempt or requires 
registration only. 
We have stopped meeting regularly, simply circulating the 
material with my recommendations for comment by the members. Any 
member may have a meeting called if he considers it appropriate. 
Any disagreements with my recommendations are discussed on the phone 
and the results reported to the membership for comment. 
Our IBC has only recombinant DNA responsibilities; we have 
discussed assuming a larger role in general biosafety parallel to 
that of radiation and chemical safety, but turnover in the administration 
has prevented implementation of these recommendations. The original 
institutional response was to meet the requirements of the NIH Guidelines. 
Although the present committee could provide a nucleus for a larger 
biosafety committee more members with different skills would be 
required . 
Sincerely 
Chairman, IBC 
DJO : be 
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