DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE |
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE

HEALTH SERVICES AND MENTAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

December 12, 1978

 

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

DIVISION OF SPECIAL MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH, IR
Our Reference: SMRC oe a SAINT ELIZABETHS HOSPITAL - WAW BUILDING
~ ~~,

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20032

’ wo | oe AREA CODE 202 TEL: 574-7572
' of

Dr. Joshua Lederberg \ - 8 )

Office of the President EEE a net

The Rockefeller University ONLEE Ter

1230 York Avenue —

New York, New York 10021
Dear Dr. Lederberg:

I was pleased to have the opportunity to visit the Rockefeller University and the
Payne Whitney Clinic. I had heard a great deal about you and Bob Michels, of
course, and was glad that our paths finally crossed.

I have reviewed the list of researchers in biological psychiatry I gave you and it is
fairly complete. You may find three or four more people who do not immediately
come to my mind. Please let me know if I can be of help in providing further
information on any of these scientists.

To address your questions concerning biological psychiatry, I am enclosing a paper
which was incorporated into the final report of the President's Commission on
Mental Health which specifies the importance of this arena. As you note, the
direct and indirect costs of schizophrenia are about the same as those for cancer,
yet the Federal research support is miniscule. In addition to the financial, social
and personal impact, speculating about its cause carries an intrinsic interest for all
men.

To respond to your more important concern, I believe there is something that the
Rockefeller-Payne Whitney can do that would significantly add to efforts already
going on at other institutions. Since you are both private institutions, of no little
repute, you have the freedom and opportunity to direct your efforts. Your choice
will be viewed with considerable respect. I hope you decide to invest in biological
psychiatry. It would certainly help balance the already excellent programs at the
Payne Whitney and, perhaps, in a modest way, do what the Sloan-Kettering has
done for cancer.

Finally, would you be robbing Peter to pay Paul? I do not think so. I believe there
are enough dissatisfed scientists(not malcontents) in their current settings who
would welcome the opportunity to work at the Rockefeller University.
Dr. Joshua Lederberg
I am enclosing a copy of our first paper on the CAT scan and schizophrenia.

Best wishes and,

Sincerely yours,

Abbe!

Richard J. Wyatt, M.D.
Chief, Laboratory of
Clinical Psychopharmacology
Enclosures

cc: Dr. Michels

ftom