STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER Gods

DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS

September 15, 1977

Dr. Gil Omenn

Office of Science and Technology
Executive Office of the President
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Gil:

I have a letter from Frank Press dated June 21 which mentions, in passing,
that his office "is making a study of basic research in mission agencies to
see if goals of these agencies are being met by an adequate basic research
program."

I am sure that you will have your hands full in trying to do this for
the major agencies which have obvious life science connections. In the process,
however, I hoped you would not overlook NASA, which I regret to say is under-
going some upheaval on precisely this axis. Over many years, I have had to
observe that the agency goes ‘gung-ho’ for basic research, exactly when approved
missions are in sight, and drops them during the intervals. The net result is
a rather frustrating inability to make the timely preparations that can optimize
our investments in these immensely costly missions.

The person who has the best perspective on this, from a biological science
standpoint, is probably Richard Young at NASA headtuarters (202-755-3732).
Whatever else, I think you might be quite interested in many of the substantive
details of the program that Dick is running. It has had a sometimes sur-
prisingly basic orientation, but one which is to the greater benefit of the
long term goals of the agency.

With best wishes, as always.
Yours sincerely,

i

Jogshtia Lederberg
Professor of Genetics

JL: ek-f

DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS, STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, STANFORD, CALIFORNIA 94305 ¢ (415) 497-5052