US Deparrvent of Exercy

ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY

9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, flinois 60439 Hlephone 312/972-
July 4, 1980

Honorable Alan Cranston
229 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 10510

Dear Senator Cranston:

On rare occasions, several scientific discoveries link up to profoundly
alter our future. Initially the implications are evident to only a few, and the
challenge is to be among them.

Such a convergence of new information and technologies has occurred in
biology and related fields which now offers immense opportunity. We can now plan
a comprehensive program in which all, or at least a large fraction of the esti-
mated 30,000 to 50,000 different proteins of which human cells are made can be
Separated, indexed, mapped, and correlated with human diseases and disorders for
use in diagnosis and treatment.

The majority of human illness, including cancer, degenerative diseases
(including the various forms of arthritis), aging, and all genetic disease are
either due to or reflect alterations in the structure, placement, or amount of
one of these thousands of proteins. An alteration in any one of them may produce
illness.

At a recent meeting held in Washington under. the auspices of the Fund for
Integrative Biomedical Research, the feasibility of a major effort to map. human
proteins was given careful evaluation. Present at those discussions were cell
biologists, those of us who have pioneered the electrophoretic techniques for
protein mapping, and experts in scientific management with extensive experience
in the application of computer technology in large scale, highly-technical
programs.

It was our conclusion, reaffirmed at a number of other similar meetings,
that it is now technically feasible to separate and index in a systematic manner
a very large fraction of all proteins found in man and simultaneously to correl-
ate their structure and presence in the human body with the occurrence of
specific diseases and disorders. The various parts of the technology required to
carry this work to completion exist in the U.S.Department of Energy, in the NIH,
DOD, NASA, and in several high-technology industries.

The implications of this work defy present imagination. The result would
be a redefinition of pathology and much of medicine at the molecular level.
With a single step our knowledge of the fundamentals of human health, aging and
disease would be vastly increased. Disease could be diagnosed very early and
treated with a level of accuracy and effectiveness far beyond that available in
the practice of medicine today.

The University of Chicago Argonne Universities Association
‘

Honorable Alan Cranston -2- July 4, 1980

In the ordinary course of events, we estimate that a relatively complete
index of the proteins of man would be completed in 30 to 50 years, given no
focussed effort or integration. Were there a well organized NASA~style effort to
explore inner space, we estimate that the same work could be done in six years.

Until now the major limiting factor in research of this type is that it has
been conducted on a small scale in a few laboratories - a fractionated approach
which does not insure the precise standardization of techniques required to
assemble a comprehensive and unifed data base on human proteins. To accomplish
the goals of mapping and correlation will require a program of national scope and
size.

It is difficult to convey the breadth of the effort required, the forseeable
implications for human health and the quality of life, or the excitement which
now surrounds this work. What I hope can be conveyed is first the dramatic change
in the future of medicine which can now be brought about; and secondly, the
overriding necessity for leadership in this emerging area.

There is no precedent in the biomedical sciences for a integrated effort of
the type now required, hence no mechanism for implementation exists which would
be suitable and effective.

During the very brief history of the human indexing program the scientists
involved have been cooperative, and the work has been international. Many
foreign scientists have been trained in the techniques of indexing in American
laboratories. For example, some 40 individuals have been trained in our labora-
tory. These scientists have come from Norway, Germany, England, Canda, and
France. In addition, we have been approached to train staff for the Institute of
Human Genetics in Moscow.

As the medical, and ultimately industrial, implications of this work have
become appreciated, an atmosphere of international competition is beginning
to emerge alongside the heretofore dominant spirit of international cooperation.
Of course, all of mankind will be the benefactors even if this work should evolve
into an international competition. While the economic implications are great, I
do not believe the driving force behind the emerging competition is economic
alone. The prestige associated with leadership on the world stage in an area so
fundamental to human well-being may far exceed the prestige associated with
leadership in either space or nuclear energy.

I believe it is in the vital interest of the United States to launch a
comprehensive effort to separate and index these basic building-blocks of human
life. This would require team work and collaboration by American scientists
from all over the country.

In view of the urgency of this work, I am prepared to take whatever steps
are, in your judgement, required to help launch it. For example, I would be
happy to arrange a briefing for you and others by a number of scientists from
the government,academic, and industrial laboratories involved, to review the
present status of this work.

With my highest regards,
Sincerely,

Norman G. Anderson
Molecular Anatomy Program