STANFORD UNIVERSITY
MEDICAL CES TER
PALO ALTO. CALIFORNIA

ne December 15, 1960 [0

Professor Wilbur Cohen
School of Social Work
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigen

Oser Professor Cohen:

{ epprectste having been asked to serve on the Cannittee and must apologize
that the cambination of a snart tn air transport here and my otner arrangements
ft. stated ay attending your first meeting. This is a rather mdaord tine of
year for ma but | hope to remain In touch with you and perhseps especially with
fr. Cook of the other members of your Camittee by telephone and will nske
avary effort to attend at least the conclusive meeting.

Partly to make up for my imeancy, } have tried to do some homework for
the Committee's objective and have esked Dr. Cook to transalt my cw reconmen=
ces ans to the meating, having forwarded them ower ths telephone. You should
then heve seen a copy of then but to be sure of thelr sccurate transcription,
{ am enclosing two sets herewith for your further consideration.

The Idea of the Academy of Health has been the most strategic Item that
i could think of that fell within the Instructions of Mr. Sorenson's letter;
however, | hope that the continued Implementation of the Jones Recommendat lons
om Federal Support of Medical Research will not be Ignored as a matter of the
iighest value and urgency even If they do not now represent entirely new
directions of federa} activity. | hava been cble to discuss the Academy proposal
with a number of my colleagues and have found very considerable enthusiasa for
it. There mey be soms ‘egal problems In establishing It as @ corporete entity
though thay might perhaps bz circumvented by taking advantage of the charter
of the existing Nations! Academy of Sclences. If the matter reaches this stage
] would recommend that you consult Dr. Detley Bronk at the Reckafeller Institute
as President of the National fcademy of Sciences. It should be pointed out
that the RAS does hove an affiliated division of medical sciences which hes
done a considerabie amount of special advisory work and Is headed by Or. Kelth
Cannan. However, this division hes no counterpart [n the ectus! membership of
the Acadeny Itself and In fact, It could not fulfill the kind of funetica of
popular recognition that the preposed Academy of Heelth would do.

In accordence with Mr.. Sorenson's suggestions, | heve else edded a page of
recomucoded langueze concerning an announcement of an Academy of Health and
other aspects of cur medical research orogram. Whether or not the Acedemy
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
MEDICAL CENTER
PALO ALTO, CAMIFORNTA

Cee: Cohen! BONE. 2 December 13, IK
ctw af Med one Code e hE At

proposal {s adopted, and it should certainly be given Intensive study during

the next few weeks, | would strongly urge that the Inspirational value of the
President's addresses not be overlooked and that a strona statement on science
and medical research on ths part of the Prasident would be highly esteemed by

our colleagues throughout the world.

{ earnestly hope that this work will have been of some uso to you even
in the default of my om presence.

With most cordial wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics

ce: Dr. Cook, with copy of Lederberg proposal
Enes.