
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 4, 1990                   TAG: 9004040613
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

COMMENTS WELCOME ON GENE THERAPY

AS A CITIZEN of our Southwest Virginia community and a member of the Human Gene Therapy Subcommittee [of the National Institutes of Health], I would like to express my appreciation for your editorial "Fixing genes and curing the sick?" (March 21). You are indeed correct in pointing out that any attempt to do human-gene therapy - that is, to correct genetic disorders by the introduction of the normally functioning gene into individuals who lack this gene - will take place only after long and very careful consideration.

I should like to add that public involvement is actively sought at every stage of the evaluation process. All national panel meetings are open. And (a more convenient option for most) written comments and suggestions are welcomed. These can be sent to: Director, Office of Recombinant DNA Activities, Building 31, Room 4B11, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, or by Fax to (301) 496-9839. DORIS T. ZALLEN, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Humanities and Science Studies Virginia Tech BLACKSBURG

by CNB