Coalition of Scientists and AIDS Advocates Calls on Congress to Support Clinton AIDS Research Reform Proposals

FEB 10 '93 01:59PM ADARC P. 1
The Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center
For the City of New York
February 10, 1993
The Hon. Thomas S. Foley
Speaker, House of Representatives
1201 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Speaker Foley:
I am sure that very many scientists involved in AIDS research will join me in strongly
supporting the inclusion of provisions in H.R.4., the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993, to strengthen
coordination of AIDS research at the National Institutes of Health. These provisions will increase
the ability of the NIH administration to plan, evaluate, and coordinate AIDS research both within
NIH and elsewhere. I do not believe that the provisions will merely add a layer of unnecessary
bureaucracy that would slow the progress of research. Specifically, I strongly urge the inclusion
of the following provisions:
1) Provide the Office of AIDS Research (OAR) with the resources, staff and authority to
develop and implement, in conjunction with the NIH institutes involved In AIDS research, a
long-term strategic plan for AIDS research throughout the NIH and elsewhere, including the
ability to plan and distribute the NIH AIDS research budget.
2) Give the OAR Director authority to submit a bypass (professional judgement) budgetsimilar to that of the National Cancer Institute --directly to the President, and the authority
to distribute the NIH AIDS research budget to the institutes in accordance with an annuallyrevised strategic plan.
3) Strengthen the OAR by making its Director a full-time Presidential appointee who is an
outstanding scientist and an experienced administrator, and by giving OAR an expert
advisory committee: the OAR Advisory Committee (OARAC). To be effective, this committee
should be small and focussed, comprising the best biomedical researchers and the most
knowledgeable AIDS activists, it should be limited to 10 members plus the Director.
4) Create a discretionary fund for the office of AIDS Research, exempt from routine
procurement rules and civil service restrictions to be used for: (1) emergency research
projects; (2) fast track research initiatives; or (3) targeted programs to address gaps in
current research as and when they are perceived to arise.
The achievements of the present AIDS research administration team must not be
underestimated or forgotten; they have accomplished much of significance for which they
deserve great credit. It is to be hoped and encouraged that any new administration will be a
meld of the best of the old and the new. However, it may now be time for some fresh ideas.
With this new proposal, the Congress, the new Administration and researchers around the
country, working together, have an opportunity to accelerate basic and clinical AIDS research
and the quest for effective treatments and vaccines.
Yours sincerely,

John P. Moore, Ph.D.
Staff Investigator
The Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center
Associate Professor of Microbiology
New York University School of Medicine

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