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STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
STANFORD, CALIFORNIA 94305 (415) 497-5801

October 4, 1974

STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
SUMEX Computer PROJECT

Department of Genetics

Professor J. Lederberg

Principal Investigator

I believe that Saul Amarel has already been in touch with you about
plans for the organization of a National Advisory Committee to the SUMEX-AIM
Program. As principal investigator for the SUMEX project and chairman of its
Executive Committee, it is my pleasure to invite you to serve on that
advisory committee and to help us in the organization of a national community
that can advance the sophisticated applications of computing for health
research and care. I intentionally stress the constructive aspects of your
responsibilities, although these of course cannot be separated from the
critical one, of advising on the relative merits of the range of proposals
for utilization of different aspects of the SUMEX~AIM system.

It is of course impossible to find interest and expertise in these areas
disassociated from active involvement with these kinds of capabilities and
I wish to assure you that your service on this committee will in no way
prejudice the consideration of any other role you may wish to adopt.

The appointments to this committee are intended to be for a term of
one year, effective October 1, 1974, Dr. Amarel has agreed to serve as
temporary chairman of the Advisory Committee but the committee itself will
reorganize itself promptly after its early meeting. I look forward to your
accepting this invitation and suggest that you communicate directly with
Dr. Amarel about details of the first session, We anticipate that service
on this committee will be covered with respect to expenses and honoraria
along lines similar to those for other NIH advisory groups; more details
thereon will be forthcoming.

I must apologize and take personal responsibility for a delay in
transmitting these formal letters of invitation and assure you that this is
certainly no fault of Dr. Amarel's, I do not know whether it will be possible
to attempt to have a preliminary meeting - perhaps for orientation purposes -
in the very near future, We have a more definite expectation of arranging
such a session in connection with the dedication ceremonies for SUMEX to be
held at Stanford on November 14th and hope that you may find it possible
to reserve time on your calender for the 14-15 period. Needless to say, you
will be getting more details about that.

THe SUMEX AIM PROJECT IS A SHARED RESOURCE FOR RESEARCH IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN MEDICINE SUPPORTED BY THE

BIOTECHNOLOGY ReEsouRCES BRANCH, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
Subsequent meetings will be held at various locations and I am sure
will be intended to meet as far as possible the convenience of the members,

Sincerely yours,

Joshua Lederberg

JL/rr