Banbury Center

) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
p
P.O. Box 534, Cold Spring Harbor, New York 11724 (516)549-0507

15 December 1980

Dr. Edward David, President

Exxon Research and Engineering Company
P.O. Box 101

Florham Park, New Jersey 07932

Dear Dr. David:

As I promised in my letter of 17 November, I am transmitting to you a
proposal for Exxon Corporation support of Banbury Center conferences and
conference reports on scientific aspects of biological risk assessment.
To save time, IJ also am sending a copy of this proposal with brief notes
to Dr. Vaun Newill and Dr. Joshua Lederberg, who are both, as you know,
vitally interested in the issues addressed at Banbury.

The proposal requests support of core organizational expense and publication
costs totaling $300,000 a year. We need this sum to guarantee smoothness
of operation and intellectual independence.

I should mention as examples of the types of meetings held here those we
are planning in 1981-82: the quantification of occupational cancer,
hereditary factors in cancer, nitrosamines in human cancer, carcinogenic
potency, new techniques of chemical dosimetry and the measurement of
health effects from chemical waste disposal. Other examples, of course,
are provided by the eight technical conferences already held during the
Center's first two and a half years. s

Under separate cover, I am sending along copies of the first five Banbury
Reports, published in the last 18 months, as examples of the work we do

here. I enclose a copy of the latest Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and
Banbury Center annual reports.

Naturally, I stand ready to meet with you or persons you designate to
discuss the proposal further and answer questions. I appreciate deeply

your interest in our Banbury program, established through Jim Watson's
vision.

With best wishes,

Sincerely,

Victor K. McElheny
Director

VKM/bt
Enclosures