Charge Letter of Dr. Martha Krebs, November 24, 1999

November 24, 1999

Dr. Keith O. Hodgson
Chair, DOE Biological and Environmental
Research Advisory Committee
Department of Chemistry
Stanford University
Stanford, California 94305

Dear Dr. Hodgson:

The recent rapid developments in the Human Genome Project, including the faster than expected completion of the sequencing task as well as the commitment to deliver a working draft of the human genome during FY 00, create new opportunities for many of the biological elements of the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program. It is time for the Biological and Environmental Research Advisory Committee (BERAC) to undertake a review of future directions for these biological elements and to advise us about the path forward for the BER program.

Thank you very much for addressing this important issue. I look forward to your findings and recommendations. A draft report should be provided to the Director of the Office of Science by April 1, 2000, so that it can be considered for approval at the next BERAC meeting in the spring of 2000.

Sincerely,

Martha A. Krebs
Director
Office of Science