Be JAN 7 1972

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WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION |

  
  

ORGANISATION MONDIALE
DE LA SANTE

LER
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1211 GENEVE 27 - SUISSE

1211 GENEVA 27 - SWITZERLAND
Télégr.: UNISANTE-Genéve

Telegr.: UNISANTE-Geneva
Tél. 346061 Télex. 22335

In reply please refer s/136/2 4 January 1972

Priére de rappeler la référence:

Dear Josh,

You will recall our conversation when I was in California about
your joining the Advisory Committee on Medical Research (ACMR), although
you indicated you would not be able to attend the session from 26-30 June
in 1972 because of previous commitments, I sent you from Philadelphia
some background information on the ACMR.

Dr Candau was very glad to hear of your willingness to serve on the
ACMR and he will send you shortly a letter of invitation. In order to
keep the rotation of appointments in harmony, the invitation will be made
to begin in 1972 with the hope that you still might find it possible to
attend. We should particularly like you to do so in view of a round-table
discussion I am trying to arrange as part of the agenda for the 1972 meeting.
This would consist of a discussion of the implications for WHO research with
respect to the controversy about pursuing research in certain sensitive areas
such as genetic engineering, recombination experiments with infective micro-
organisms, and research with tumour viruses, As you know, Macfarlane Burnet has
been one of the strong proponents of slowing down and even stopping research in
molecular biology, and this is causing great concern in research circles. I
am trying to arrange his attendance at the forthcoming ACMR. In addition
to the listed ACMR members we expect Lwoff, Monod (who will probably take
Lwoff*s place as a full member of the ACMR), Koprowski and perhaps one or
two others to attend. We hope very much therefore that you will be able to
arrange your schedule so as to be at the 1972 session also,

With all good wishes.

Yours sincerely,

hen

Martin Kaplan