57105 TF

It wos, on motion, UNIVERSITY
OF -:
RESOLVED that the sum of Fourteen thousand dollars ($14,000), WISCONSIN -
RF 57143 GENETICS -
or as much thereof as may be necessary, be, and it LEDERBERG

hereby is, appropriated to the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
for research in genetics under the direction of Pro-
fessor Joshua Lederberg, during the two-year period

beginning September 1, 1957.

The following considerations were presented:

Biological and Medical Research: Biology - genetics

Previous Interest: Funds totaling $40,500, including an appropria-
tion which expires on August 31, 1957, have provided continuous
support for Dr. Lederberg's work since 1948. An appropriation of
$25,000 over a three-year period toward the development of a pro-
gram in medical genetics in the Medical School of the University

of Wisconsin will terminate on June 30, 1959.

General Description: When Dr. Lederberg first received Foundation
support nine years ago, he was only 23 years old, and was commonly
regarded as a very promising but rather brash and agressive up-
start in the genetic field. Nevertheless, he already had made
important scientific contributions, in particular through demon-
strating bacterial "sexuality" or a passing of genetic material
from one bacterial partner to another. This pioneer work opened
up entirely new avenues for genetic research. During subsequent
years, Dr. Lederberg has matured into one of the real leaders in
the science of genetics and his laboratory has become an important
training center in this field. His research has in the main been
related to his original observation on genetic transfer in bac-

teria, but has had important ramifications into areas such as the

EC 6/21/57
57706

genetic nature of viruses, the transmission of the genetic UNIVERSITY
OF
traits of one bacterial strain to another through infection WISCONSIN ~-
with a bacterial virus, immunogenetics of bacteria, the re- GENETICS -
. LEDERBERG
lationship of enzymatic activity to genetic composition, (Continued)

the origin of drug resistance, and the mechanisms of anti-
biotic action.

A young scientist of Dr. Lederberg's stature would inevitably
have attractive offers from elsewhere but he has recently accepted
an affiliation with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
as Professor and Chairman of a new Department of Medical Genetics.
This will be a dual appointment between the School of Agriculture,
with which Dr. Lederberg has been associated in the past, and the
Medical School. He will have associated with him Assistant Pro-
fessor Newton E. Morton, who has been developing medical genetics
in the Medical School and toward whose program the Foundation is
contributing. It will take some time for plans and policies re-
garding the new department to materialize, to construct new
quarters, and to provide other facilities. While Dr. Lederberg
can and does attract sizeable research funds from other sources,
it would be unfortunate if his research were abruptly and adversely
affected by withdrawal of the important and unusually flexible
support which is now provided by the Foundation. The proposed
two-year grant would permit him to continue his exceptionally pro-
ductive investigations during a transition period when long-term
plans for the development of medical genetics are being consoli-
dated.

Finances: Assistance in the amount of $14,000 over a two-year
period is recommended, this sum to be available for employment
of personnel, for equipment and supplies, and for general research

expenses.

Future Implications: In view of The Rockefeller Foundation's interest
in genetics, the quality of staff at Wisconsin, and the promising
new programs in the medical aspects of this field which they are de-

veloping, the officers may wish to recommend further assistance.

EC 6/21/57