May 29, 1962

Mr. R. Sargent Shriver, Jr.
Peace Corps

806 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Room 513

Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. Shriver:

Having recently returned from Jepen | wes very disappointed not
to have found any word of the Foundation's reaction to Dorfman's proposal.
{ hope this has been approved and that there was simply same oversight
in my hearing about It. Or perhaps f was mistaken to hope that there
could be a pranpter reaction based only on my Own personal judgement. |
can very well understand how busy and preoecupled you must be and am
sorry to pester you about an Incidental Issue.

The NIH Study Section made a site visit to go over our program
In brain protein chemistry, unfortunately, while { was away. However,
Dr. Shooter was there end together with some of my other colleagues was able
to make a very effective presentation. My informal understanding Is that
the basic principles of the project were very wall received and can be
assured of effective long term support from the NIH. They were concerned,
however, ebout the commitment of a large grant at this early stage when
we really did not have our people lined up for this particular project, and
the actual award for the first yeer will probably be cut substantially
below my request. They Indicated, however, that they would be prepared to
react within a reasonable length of time If the event required additional
funds for the actual starting up of the full program according to my
(perhaps too) optimistic projections. Altogether this is a perfectly
acceptable outcome except for the Implication of stil! more paper work that
will have to be done to assure the financial support for the work, none of
which Is especially helpful in keaping me In the labora@ory. This problem
has been very much aggravated altogether In recent months by directives
from the NIH which are a reaction to congressional pressure for more effective
additing of research grants. 1 am sure these concerns are Infinétesimal
compared with the operation of a government agency, but they certainly do
not give very much assurance of the far-sightedness with which the federal
largess can be administered in fields such as higher education.

Following my suggestions, as | had written you earlier, Dr. frena
Koprowska at Hahnemann Medical Coltege In Philadelphia has organized a
very large scale study directed towards the cytological prediction of
Mr. R. Sargent Shriver, Jr. 2 May 29, 1962

propensity to the birth of mongol offspring. If she can get the NIH

support merited by her seppliication, this should be one more promising
attack on that problem.

With best regards,

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics

JL/jc