SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
STANFORD UNIVERSITY, STANFORD, GALIFORNIA 94305

June 2, 1978

JOSHUA LEDERBERG
JosePH D. GRANT PROFESSOR
OF GENETICS

l

Prof. Orio Ciferri
Instituto de Microbiologia
E Fisiologia Vegetale

Universita di Pavia
Via Sant'Epifanio, 14
27100 Pavia

ITALY

Dear Orio:

Eric Shooter has reminded me that I may have been remiss in
keeping you up to date about the rapidly changing situation of
programs as between New York and Palo Alto. Until a.short while
ago, I thought it would be highly likely that Dennis Smith could
be moving with me to continue the applications of GC/MS in a
clinical context as well as for some environmental health
problems. However, he has now firmly decided to remain at Stanford
but in a role where he will revert back to more computer oriented
and theoretical work rather than analytical laboratory investigations.
I am afraid that leaves the particular programs that we had discussed
collaborations about very much up in the air and I am at a loss to
know what more constructive information I can give you at the
present time.

The immediate situation is that I will be staying in California
until the end of August although I officially take office on the
first of July. I will be commuting fairly regularly in the interval
but can usually be found here at Stanford until then. I just do
not foresee any concrete way in which I will be personally involved
in any of these biochemical studies at least for a number of months
after my arrival. Thereafter I will be looking into what can be
organized and may have more to report. I would certainly be sorry
if we could not find some credible opportunity to continue our
personal association on matters of scientific substance but it
looks as if this will have to be deferred for some time in the light
of the move in my location and situation.

In these circumstances I really would like to encourage Eric
and yourself to pursue any alternative option that suits either of
you. I am sure you will also be in touch with Luca about any further
discussions you may have.

There will be some fairly deep-seated reorganization of space
and equipment around the genetics department during the next few
months. In all likelihood the GC/MS computer system will be packed
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Ciferri
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up and sent to Rockefeller as there is no very promising opportunity
for using it here and I am confident that this will reemerge, even
without Dennis, at Rockefeller University in the course of time.
Stanley Cohen will be succeeding me next month as the chairman of the
department and I am sure that you agree that that is a very strong
appointment indeed.

So, I am afraid that just leaves us up in the air for the time
being. If I have left out mention of anything further useful that
I can do please let me know.

Yours with all best wishes, as always,

Joshua Lederberg
Department of Genetics
JL/gel