OD/NCI
June 28, 1962
Dear Mrs. Lasker:
It is with the deepest regret that I inform you that effective June 30, 1962, the National Cancer Institute is abolishing the Chemotherapy Board, the Viruses and Cancer Board, the Field Studies Board, and the various panels which have worked with these three boards in developing and guiding our programs in chemotherapy, virology, diagnostic research, biometry, epidemiology, and carcinogenesis. The provisions of President Kennedy's memorandum on conflict of interest were such that it became obvious that the Cancer Institute, with its large industrial contract program, would have to assume responsibility for the review of contract proposals and could no longer turn to outside advisory groups for this purpose.
Obviously, the Cancer Institute has to continue to have expert advice on its programs from nonfederal scientists, and we are developing plans for an alternative system for obtaining this advice. At the moment, there is such an enormous workload involved in clearances for existing committees and committee members that it is impossible to activate any new committees, but as soon as the backlog is cleared up a little, we will develop our alternative plan. The additional workload imposed upon the National Cancer Institute staff in connection with this new responsibility is very large, and I am sure cannot be managed unless we can call upon our experienced advisors on an individual basis to help out with special problems. I know that I can count on you to help in the interim period while we are making the changeover.
Finally, may I express my own personal gratitude and that of the entire Cancer Institute staff for your help in developing these important programs.
Very sincerely yours,
Kenneth M. Endicott, M. D.
Director
National Cancer Institute