DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE

PUBLIG HEALTH SERVICE
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
BETHESDA, MARYLAND 20014

December 9, 1976
In reply refer to:
CA 16896-19

   

r. Joshua Lederberg

Professor and Chairman

Department of Genetics

Stanford University School
of Medicine

Stanford, California 94305

Dear Dr. Lederberg:

The Microbial Chemistry Study Section at its recent November 1976 meeting
decided on a DEFERRAL action for your above referenced renewal grant appli-
cation in order to secure additional information. The Study Section found
difficulty in formulating a more definitive recommendation because of the
manner in which the material within the body of your application was pre-
sented. Your specific aims have broadly stated in essence that your objec-
tives are to study bacterial transformation. The research plan and protocols
which you have presented to attain your objective(s) are similar, if I may
use the analogy, to the outlines brushed in by an artist of international
reputation. Unfortunately, the Study Section cannot view such a presenta-
tion and in good faith fulfill its responsibility of public accountability
for its judgments. What we need now are the finer brushstrokes that will
paint in the details you have in mind so that others may find themselves
better able to evaluate the finalized picture.

Though the objective of studying transformation may be worthy, your overall
proposal does not suggest specific models, does not suggest specific maechan-
isms for investigation, and does not describe specific experiments that might
generate specific models for recombination. The other components of your
proposal raise questions of a similar nature; exactly what and how are things
to be pursued? I might add that the Study Section is not interested in re-
‘ceiving additional information that may be pertinent to your computer proj-
ect(s); we are specifically interested in receiving information on biological
experimentation.

The Study Section will hold its next meeting on March 17-19, 1977, and its
recommendations for that meeting will be reviewed by the May 1977 National
Cancer Advisory Board meeting.
Dr. Lederberg -~2- 12/9/76

It would be most helpful, in view of the mentioned meeting dates, if any
additional information you may submit were to reach my office by Febru-
ary 1, 1977. Should you wish to contact me, I can be reached by calling
(301) 496-7130. Material should be forwarded directly to my office.

Sincerely,

Eighth

Gustave Silber, Ph.D.

Executive Secretary

Microbial Chemistry Study Section
Division of Research Grants