March 16, 1958

Dr. Robert $. Morison, Director
Biological and Medical esearch
The Rockefeller Foundation

49 Weet 49th Stract

New York, New York

Wear Dr. Morison:
ul

2 Thie Medical School initiated a program in medical genetice with the ap-
pathtment of Dr. Newton Morton as Assistant Professor of Anatomy. Subsequently, a
separate Department of Medical Genetics was organized, comprising Dr. Morton and
fessor Joshua Lederberg ac Chairman. The joint appointment of ita Chairman typi-
fey the close Liaison between the new department and ites counterpare in the College
gf Agriculture. The combined resources of the two departments furnish an unexampled
dpdortunity for the development of genetics in medical research and education.

we dith the combined support from the Wisconsin Aluan{ Research Foundation,
the National Institutes of Health, and the State Legislature, a new resesrch wing is
being constructed at the Medical School at a cost of over one and onze half million
dollars. This will permit the housing of Medical Genetics in modern laboratory
facilities, including space for the rounding out of its initial staff with a third
nid@mber, After careful consideration, and on the recommendations of the Departments
of Medical Genetics and Genetics, the Medical School has endorsed the appointment of
Kimball ©. Atwood, M.D., as Associate Professor of Medical Genetics.

The development of a new department has, of course, required the commitment
ef substantial funds, for the Medical School's share of Professor Lederberg's salary
and for the complete assumption of Dr. Morton's by next year. we have been unable to
finance Dr. Atwood’s appointment out of current funds. we are therefore asking the
help cf the Rockefeller Foundation in developing our program in Medical Genetics by
a\port over the next three years. After that time, we anticipate being able to
transfer Dr. Atwood's salary to our regular budget.

tur anticipated requirements are listed below, and include $37,500 for Dr.
Atwood on the assumption of an average salary of §12,500 (calendar year basis) which
may be necessary to attract a scientist of Dr. Atwood's calibre and reputation. dr.
Atwood hag indicated a po@®ible preference for am academic year arrangement which
would have to be worked out on the basis of university policy.

The space allotted to Medical Genetica fa the new research utng emounta
to 4,000 square feet net, about 10% of the new wing, and represents an investment
of about $160,000 from other sources. Unfortunately, financial probleme have made
it impossible to complete and equip the facility under the original budget, and we
are requesting $75,000 for this purpose. The other amounts listed represent the
unused portion of existing grants for the programs already under way by Professors
Morton and Lederberg, funds which are to be consolidated inte this overall request.
Page 2 ~ Dr. Robert $. Morison - March 18, 1958

In view of the possibility that grants for smaller amounts may become avail-
able for various aspects of the program on one hand, and that unexpected needs may
arise on the other, we could make even more advantageous use of these funds if they
were available without limit es to time, that is, as an unrestricted grant. They
could then continue to be used as insurance to underwrite projects for which other fin-
ancing would become available in due course, and in this way their effectivencss would
be multiplied. However, we will be more than. pleased to operate within a three year
term, if that is more in line with the Foundation's policies.

Dr. Atwood could not be formally approached until we could make him a
tete offer. He has, however, expressed a tangible interest in our program, and
ere hopefully confident that he will accept a reasonable offer. ac the present
» he is a Senior Biologist at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where, unfortun«
y, the research opportunities are not matched by the academic facilities for the
collaboration with and training of graduate students.

The Department of Medical Genetics has been conceived primarily as a re-
ch unit, with the responsibility of collaborating with other members of the Staff
th research and teaching activity. Dr. Morton is already engaged in studies of
ular dystrophy and spherocytosis in man, both from a biometric and a physiological
@. Dr. Lederberg will continuc his work on the genetics of bacteria and viruses.
Dr. Atwood is well known for his work on the cellular lesion in radiation injury,
ing made a superb application of tha technical properties of Neurospora spores for
purpose. He, as well as Dr. Morton and Dr. Lederberg, is also deeply interestad
he genetics of somatic cells, and has studies well under-way of somatic mutation
human erythrocytes with respect to serological properties. His position at vak
Ridge has not furnished an opportunity to exploit his medical training, a qualifica-
&ion that adds to his aptitude for the present opportunity. In summary, it would be
fair to characterize the theme of the Department of Medical Genetics as a primary
gsoncern for basic aspects of genetics, with diverse experimental materials, but an
Origntation towards medicine and th. zual co encourage those applications of genetics
jmedicine as their theoretical work unfolds. The Medical School feels that this is
soundest base on which to build applied studies, and the training of graduate
students, residents, and post-doctoral fellows as practitioners of the various aspects
of] medical genetics. One advantage at Wisconsin that permite the development of this
program on a bresier base of theoretical work than clsewhere is the integration of
the Medical Schooi in a University setting, and in particular, the cooperation of
the Medical Genetics group with the Genetics Department. The latter Department has
already expressed its vital interest in Dr. Atwood's appointment, to the extent of
offering him a comparable rank should he be appointed in the Medical School.

Some additional information on Dr. Atwood's background is enclosed.

It would be most convenient for us if any grant could be made effective
September 1, 1958, either for three yeare, or an indefinite term. We intend to
proceed with an offer to Dr. Atwood as soon as we have assurance of the necessary
starting funds.

Yours sincerely,

L Pron —

im 2. Bowers, /.5.
ea eat

 
   
 

JZ3B:ca
budcdé
Three Year Grant

September 1, 1953 co August 31, Ly5l

Salary, K. C. Atwood, M.D.

Equipment of research facility
(includes apparatus and laboratory furniture
not covered in construction budget)

Unexpended balances as of Sept. 1, 1958:

Rockefellexs No. 56088 (Dr. Morton)
Rockefeller No. 53108 ren. (Prof, Lederberg)

Total Program
Balance

Total this Request

§ 37, 5eu

75,000 .U0

7 ,50U.uC
2 8uu 09
$127 ,buG.0U

14 ,50U.00

$112,500.00
Kimball C. Atwood

b, New York, N.Y. May 15, 1921, A.B, Columbia College 1942. M.D. New York
University 1946. Intern (surgery), Bellevue Hospital 1946-47, Research
associate in zoology, Columbia University, 1947-1950, Visiting assistant
professor of microbiology, Columbia, 1950-51. Sr, Biologist, Oak Ridge
Natl. Lab, 195la-m=,

Some of his principal publications are:

1941 Hinton, T. and KCA, Terminal adhesions of salivary gland chromosomes
in Drosophila, Proc, Nat. Acad, Soi. 27:491-496,

1951 KCA, L.K. Schneider and F, J, Ryan. Periodic selection in E coli.
Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci, 37:146-155,

ib, Selective mechanisms in bacteria. Cold Spring Harbor Symp,
Quant. Biol. 16: 345-355,

1949 KCA and A, Norman, On the interpretation of multi-hit survival curves.
Prec, Nat. Acad, Sei. 35:696=709.

1953 KCA and F, Mukani. Indispensable gene functions in Neurospora,
Proc, Nat. Acad. Sci, 39:1027-1035.

1955 KCA and T. H. Pittenger. The efficiency of nuclear mixing during
heterokaryon formation in Neurospora orassa, Am, J. Bot. 42:496~500,

1956 Pittenger, T, H, and KCA. Stability of nuclear proportions during growth
of Neurospora heterokaryons, Genetica 41:227-241,

Some of Atwood's best and most complex work, on the detection and homology-
mapping of lethals, and on the role of the nucleus as the principal target
of radiation damage in Neurospora, has not yet been published in detadl,

His current work is on the mechanism of radiation damage to cellular
constituents (primarily nuclear) in Neurospora, Drosophila and mice,

He has also initiated a study of somatic mutation during erythropoiesis
in man, and has obtained preliminary evidence for the occurrence of mutant
AO and BO red cells in AB individuals,