August 30, 1960

Or. Boris Rotman
Department of Biochemistry
V. A. Hospital

Albany, New York

Dear Boris:

| hope that my hastily scribbled note yesterdey did not confuse you.
| felt that § should ask you to keep the situation fluid, if it were
still possible, with respect to support from the NIH unt!! we could
clarify this whole question at some meeting later on this year.

Esther and | were very much interested to see your letter and the
date with it. In order to save time, Esther had sent you a gal, stock
which she knew had some reversions in It and It wes Intended thee the
galactose negative mutant be re-isolated. She will be re-Isoluting this
culture and will send you another in due course and she will be writing
to you herself.

! am beginning to be suspicious whether the Syntex Laboratories can
possibly be ready by January Ist, since a definite site has stil! not
been selected. Carl will expedite this as you might Imagine, but this
still leaves a possibility of some delay. 1 wonder If we could not turn
this into some advantage for us. { would be very pleased If you could work
with us during the time after you leave the VA laboratory and untIil you are
actually ready to start work at Syntex. Dick Soffer Is leaving this week and
there are a number of aspects of the mutants In which you are interested
that remain to be cleared up; but whatever you want to do in the galactose
problem, we would be very happy to accomodate you. There are « number of ways
in which this could be readily financed. However, there would be no point In
throwing away funds that might be avallable anyhow, for exemple, you might
even be able to use the residue from your own grant for the purpose-- on the
basis that you were on terminal leave from your present laboratory. Quite apart
from your change of position you could certainly have legitimately thought
of doing this In the Interests of the galactose search. But | mention this
only as a rather expedient opportunity and there will be no difficulty In making
other arrangements If this suggestion affords any problems et al]. We wil}
be a little crowded for space but | think we can work It out very well.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg

Jl/jh