August 12, 1952

ire. Wiidred P. Holbrook
Adminks tr. Secy., Bd. S304. Adv.
dane Coffin Catids Pund

New Haven 14, Coun.

Dear iffs, Holbrook:

I aa always glad to have an opportualty to restate my appreciations
to the Jane Goffin Childs Fund for ite help to me at the outset of ay
ecientific career.

Wy regearoh program ts mich along previonsivy established lines, fooussed
primarily on the genetics of bacteria, Ya are becoming sore and acre interested
fa the properties of syabiotic viruses in lysogenic strains of bacteria, and
are atadyins them from a ganetie wiewpoint. Many sach viruses seem to have
the remarcabla property of transferring genetic factors from the host cells
on which they ere grown to new hosts which they may subsequently infect.

Tt have a frirly active group of associates vorking with me in the
Laboratory, inelading (for the coming year)four post-—doctorates (Mra. Lederberg
inelndeig) and tro grviuate students and some xseistants. Ancther student,

Dr. Zinder, has gradunted and teken 2 position et the Rockefeller Institutéen.
Tha laboratory is anpnorted by geeants from the Nations) Institutes of Health
and the Ronkefeller Foundation, and br wagsarch contracts with the Chemieal
Gerps and Atomic Energy Commission, aa welt as intreagmral support. One of

the fellows who is coming this fall is anbsidised by the World Nealth Omgani~
gatton.

As wkstheue ducing the tenure of my Childe Yund gellowship, ay activity
has been related to cencer research only on a very thevreéiéal basie, although
I would be the last to mininize the necessity of such approaches. I was invited
to give a pager at the lest National Cancer Congreas at Cinncionati, and
did so on this basia.

I enclose some reprints in liwa of a Literature list. The paper marked 1)
is a review covering work over the last six years, and carries an naknowledgaent
to the Fund for ite early support.

2 S, 27 Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg
Assceiate Profeasor of Genetics