we Aff

January 9, 1975

Dr. Mathilde Solowey, Executive Secretary
NIH Grants Peer Review Study Team ae
Building 31, Room 4A35 . -
National Institutes of Health i

Bethesda, Maryland 20014

Dear Dr. Solowey,

I am interested to learn of the hearing that will be held
in San Prancisco on February 19th.

During my service on the National Advisory Mental Health Council
I was deeply interested in the workings of the peer review system and
believed at that time that some useful reforms were possible within a
framework that permitted the maximization of the advantages form this
method of objective evaluation of research proposals. In addition, I have
served at various times on a number of intermediate review groups and
as an investigator 66rcourse have been the recipient of both good and sone-
times very bad news at the hands of this same systen,

For these reasons I would welcome an opportunity to have a place
on your hearing schedule. Unfortunately, I will not be available until
the mid-afternoon of February 19th but if you could find time for ne
for sometime after 2:30 PM I would be happy to have an opportunity to
speak,

Please let me know what you expect by way of written matertal prior
to that time. I have to say that an important ingredient to maintain the
integrity of the peer review System is a properly constituted and staff~
supported council which, for many institutes, has the legislative mandate
for the review process but whose ability to perform this function has varied
considerably from time to time and from one institute to another in accordance

with the criteria that have been used for appointing members to these councils. . -

Sincerely yours,

Joshua Lederberg

Chairman

Department of Genetics
Enclosure: c.v.