Howard Htighes Medical Institute Wiese 398 Brookline Avenue Suite Eight ele fayll Boston, Massachusetts 02215-5497 Telephone (617) 734-5960 Scientiam George F. Cahill, Jr., M.D. Director of Research August 1, 1983 Daniel Nathans, M.D. Howard Hughes Medica! Institute Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine 702 Preclinical Teaching Building /Genetics Baltimore MD 21205 Dear Dan: I thought it about time | drop a note to you to tell you about some things relative to the Institute which are slightly more confidential than those reported by Joan Deazley in the "Grapevine" or by me in the Annual Report. First, a few words about our asset, Hughes Aircraft. It is flourishing, and | can't think of a better description! Since it has had the privilege, as a privately-held concern, to take long-term initiatives and risks in many engineering problems, this almost unique situation is now paying off. Thus the Institute has never had more long-term stability and security. One result is that our "in-depth" reviews will be extended to a 4 to 5 year cycle instead of their present 3 years, so after the next go around, all will be 5 years. Also, instead of our annual Miami pilgrimage being the location of the reviews, they will be "on site". for the Investigators and Senior Investigators. The Associate Investigators will vary between 3 and 5 years, some on site and some as previously in Miami, especially those on their own budgets. It is obvious that full-site visits for some of the Associate Investigators is economically and time-wise cumbersome. Secondly, you may have heard that the Institute is considering new locations as well as expanding at some of its present affiliations. This is true, and is the result of a number of meetings of the Medical Advisory Board and outside consultants. Also, a fourth program, Neuroscience, has been added to our previous. three; Genetics, Immunology and Metabolic Regulation. Discussions are now underway in Boston, Baltimore, New York and San _ Francisco concerning manpower and space for neuroscience. The negotiations in New York, with Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Presbyterian Medical Center involve Eric Kandel, Jimmie Schwartz and Richard Axel and are sufficiently far along to be considered almost complete. Those at the other three locations are still in the early stages. Daniel Nathans, M.D. August 1, 1983 Page 2. As far as new locations are concerned, the listing is_ still confidential, since in certain locations we may not be able to obtain sufficient space or an appropriately negotiated agreement to meet our needs, so it would be best at the present that these not be aired publicly. But the list is fairly obvious. Since we want to be where there is the best science, just scanning down the rank list of NIH annual funding would be a pretty good - in fact, darned good - guestimate! | bring this up because this will require much recruiting where {| will need your help, advice, and suggestions. Also, some of you may, for very good academic reasons, wish an _ alternative Institute location and, of course, this will be given very strong consideration prior to outside recruiting. As Ken Wright and | come around for our annual fall budget meetings, keep this in mind or, obviously, call me at any time. Several of these new locations should be fairly far along in our negotiations by September of this year, and ! will keep you posted. Next, we are moving along only too slowly on our development of more formalized educational programs within the Institute, but the intent has not lost any of its enthusiasm. With our present expansion plans, this may be delayed even further, but now with Don Fredrickson formally on board, we have more thinking power working on the topic, so it should move along later this year. Next, you may have seen in the newspaper that again, HHMI is in court concerning governance, wills, etc. The Hughes relatives have joined with the Attorney General of Delaware to contest our bylaws relating to who is in charge of the Institute (and, of course, the Aircraft). The judge, really the Chancellor of the State of Delaware, has heard the issues and will pass judgment in September. In any case, this should not affect the Institute's scientific operations in any way and certainly not in the immediate future, but | felt obliged to add this should you be concerned. In any case, it is certain we will have an expanded Executive Committee, probably with four new and very distinguished members, some distinguished in business circles and others in science. Turning to workshops, two are presently scheduled for the fall. October 31, November I, 2 Non H-2 Type ! Antigens Bob Rich November 14-16 Protein Phosphatases Tom Soderling and a larger or mega-workshop, really a symposium, January 9-12, 1984 Molecular Biology and Evolutionary Theory Ned Boyer. Daniel Nathans, M.D. August 1, 1983 Page 3. Although the attendance lists for all three of these are at capacity, we can squeeze in Institute Investigators (and Associate Investigators) should they be eager to attend, providing not too many want to, in which case I have a problem! Anyway, let me know if you want to attend so | can speak to the workshop convenor as well as cajoling Joan Deazley to add more individuals to the list and to get hotel space, etc. Another point is again under much discussion - namely, outside (mainly NIH) funding to our Investigators. It is the feeling of the Executive Committee that the Institute assume more of the overall funding, especially the RO-1s to our Investigators, leaving alone, the center grants, PO-1s, Training Grants, etc., since these are by and large more collaborative with the University or Hospital. As the Institute makes more stable and long-term commitments, the concern over keeping a finger in the NIH pie should diminish, and many will appreciate the relief of not having to pound out the competing renewals, etc. Again, we will discuss this further on our fall visits. Finally, speaking for the Officers and Boards, and for myself, especially as | go through and file the submitted manuscripts, it is an exciting time in biomedical science and HHMI! is certainly on center stage in much of the activity. Have a fine Summer. Sincerely yours, wnt a“ C.-4> George F. Cahill, Jr., M.D. Director of Research GFC:ec **%*% A REMINDER: Ken Wright and | will be in Baltimore on Thursday, September Ist to go over with you the 1984 budget.