DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
BETHESDA, MARYLAND 20014

 

August 21, 1975

Dr. Robert M. Baer

Metadata Corporation

P.O. Box 746

Mill Valley, California 94941

Dear Dr. Baer:

In response to your letter of July 29, 1975, regarding your interests
in the SUMEX~AIM program, we can provide the following information.

With respect to your request for a complete list of projects in the area
of AIM which have received Federal support, we do not have this infor-
mation except in a general way for the National Institutes of Health (NTH).
Even in the case of NIH support the information is of uncertain value
because of the wide variety of research activities that have at least a
peripheral relationship to AIM, a subject which is variably defined by
different scientific interests.

The complexity of the matter of NIH support for AIM is shown by the data

on the enclosed computer printout listing (prepared by the NIH Division ~
of Research Grants) of all currently active PHS grant~ and contract-
supported research involving artificial intelligence. We hope that

this information may be useful to you in your planned teaching program.
Information:on support for AIM research by Federal agencies other than
the PHS may be obtained from the Smithsonian Institurion Sclence Infor~
mation Exchange, 1730 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. (telephone: AC 292:
381-5511).

YF AIS

4

With respect to your question regarding the decision of the SUMEX~AIM
Executive Committee, on the recommendation of the SUMEX-AIM Scientific
Advisory Committee, that the program for hypertension analysis/treatment
at the Oakland Naval Regional Medical Center did not qualify for access

to the facility, there is nothing we can add to the voluminous correspond~
ence over the past several months between you, Dr. Wallin, Dr. Lederberg,
Dr. Levinthal, Dr. Lindberg, and Dr. Brewer, especially Dr. Lederberg's
letter to you of July 2, 1975. We concur with this decision for the
reasons previously commmicated to you.
Dr. Robert M. Baer 2

With respect to your question about the use of the SUMEX-AIM resource for
studies of “organic compounds (chemistry) and protein structure’ (the
DENDRAL program), support for these studies was requested in the original
SUMEX~-AIM grant application to the NIH, and was specifically reviewed and
recommended for approval by the Study Section and the Council. The
inclusion of support for DENDRAL did not need or seek review and approval
from Dr. Lederberg or his staff or the Advisory and Executive Committees.

Your reference to “while an actual AIM project 14s excluded" presumably
refers to the decision mentioned above that the proposal by you and

Dr. Wallin did not meet eligibility requirements. We can only repeat

that this proposal as submitted was given thorough consideration and

found not to meet the requirements. Dr. Lederberg has suggested that

if you believe the request submitted by Dr. Wallin and you for access

to the SUMEX--AIM resource could be more completely and effectively
described, you are welcome to submit a revised request for reconsideration.
To be successfully considered, all of the information asked for in the
questionnaire for prospective users of SUMEX-AIM sent to you by

Dr. Elliott Levinthal on January 17, 1975, would have to be submitted:

and the proposal would have to meet the stated guidelines. It must he
understood that SUMEX-AIM is a research program for the development of

new theory and methodology in AIM. It cannot provide support for on--going
test programs in patient-care regimens or for disc storage capacity for
large data bases. The data storage capacity is totally required for AIM
research per se.

With regard to documented decisions, no verbatim transcripts of the
discussions of the Advisory and Executive Committees have been made. No
considerations other than those previously communicated to you arid

Dr. Wallin in several letters were involved.

In conclusion, we quote with our full concurrence the second paragraph
of Dr. Lederberg's letter of July 2, 1975, to you: “I am sure you
realize that it is impossible for us to sustain an indefinite dialogue
or we will have time for no other activity. I can assure you that your
application was dealt with with very great care and in full accordance
with our established procedures.”

We trust that this response will meet your needs.

Sincerely yours,

James F. O'Donnell, Ph.D.
Acting Chief

Biotechnology Resources Branch
Division of Research Resources

bee: Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Dr. Donald A. B. Lindberg