April 1, 1943
Professor Robert A. Millikan
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, California
Dear Professor Millikan:
During the past three years the California Institute of Technology has received several grants from The Rockefeller Foundation in the field of immunology. The first of these grants, for work in serological genetics under the direction of Professor A. H. Sturtevant, was made in 1940. it was in the amount of $12,000 for the period 1940-1943. A grant of $33,000, $11,000 a year, for the period 1941-1944 was then made for work in immunochemistry to be done under my direction. This was augmented by a special grant of $20,000 for the year 1942-1943 to be used primarily for work on the artificial manufacture of antibodies.
The work in serological genetics has proceeded well, and on expiration of the period of the grant, June 30, 1943, Professor Sturtevant will submit a final report to the Foundation. Professor Sturtevant plans to continue work in this field as part of the California Institute's general program of research.
During the prosecution of the program of research in serological genetics it has turned out that Professors Albert Tyler and Sterling Emerson began researches along lines which are closely related to those involved in the immunochemical program of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. It has seemed wise, in view of this, to synthesize all of the work in immunology at the California Institute into a unified program, involving the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and the Division of Biology. I submit herewith to you our proposed joint program of immunological research, with a budget for the year July 1, 1943 to June 30, 1944 of $29,000. Of this $11,000 is covered by the present grant in immunochemistry made by The Rockefeller Foundation, and I respectfully request that you communicate to The Rockefeller Foundation our application for an auxiliary grant of $18,000 to cover the work in immunology for the coming year.
Our immunochemical work has progressed very well during the year. We have been able to obtain equipment and supplies because the Committee on Medical Research of the OSRD is sponsoring the research program in view of its possible value in the post war period. Dr. A. N. Richard, Chairman of the Committee on Medical Research, has been of great value to us in obtaining draft deferment of members of our staff and priorities and allocations of equipment and apparatus for the work. I am well pleased with the progress of our investigations, and I believe that they are of value.
There are submitted with this letter duplicate copies of a report on the work in immunochemistry done during the past year and the statement of the directions in which it is proposed that work be done during the coming year, a report on the related work in immunology which has been carried on by Professor Tyler, and a discussion of proposed investigations of immunological problems by Professors Tyler and Emerson.
Sincerely yours,
Linus Pauling
LP:mu
Enc.
April
1, 1943
