Tobacco Documents Online

C Fund for Integrative Biomedical Research 1000 Corinecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 803, Washington, D.C. 20036 (202) 293-7660 April 1, 1983 r Mr. Horace R. Kornegay President Tobacco Institute 1875 Eye Street, N.W. Suite 800 Washington, D.C. 20006 Dear Horace, I see by the Washington Post of Friday, April lst that the farm subsidy dispute is once more facing you and your industry is going through its annual siege. I still say that the way the industry to enter into an support program. ' Again, what I would like contribute $50 to $80 million voluntary agencies contribute in this country. you can defuse all attacks is for enlightened medical research to see your industry do is voluntarily dollars a year which is what the to cancer and respiratory research I feel that your emphasis should be improve the quality of human survival. research in this country:" on Aging Research: to The Tobacco Industry should state "that it feels that aging is a distinct syndrome and that there is now evidence indicating in animal models that intervention in aging can take place to effectively improve the'quality of human survival. The Tobacco industry will become a major force for basic and clinical health Your attitude should be that as cancer, emphysema and coronary heart disease are primarily diseases of our'later years that efforts to increase the youthful quality of life should prevent disease and free us in large measure from the scourge of cancer, respiratory insufficiency and cardiac disease. What a public relations opportunity! Most importantly, what an opportunity for medical research in this country: Wouldn't this be a remarkable demonstration of public responsibility in the private sector? This money coming at a time of cutbacks to federal research support would convert cigarette smoking from the whipping boy that it represents to a positive force in our society that would be making a positive contribution to health. Tha Fund for Intsyratiw Biomsdial R.s.arcA Is a non-proflt corporation. Contributions are taxdsductfbl..

•'. e"4 c I doubt that my letter will have any effect but as you know Horace, I am ever hopeful that as your industry fights off another attack it wilf seek to develop an alternative strategy. How long do you think you can hold out? In another area, dehydroepiandrosterone is proving to be an anti-diabetigenic as well as anti-carcinogenic drug and I am readying it for clinical studies in advanced cancer patients. You still have an opportunity to identify with it! In any event, as usual, with the coming of the Cherry Blossoms you have my "visionary" appeal for tobacco to become the main source of voluntary support for health research in this country! William $eg_a-rson, M. D. FIBER Scientific Director and Professor of Medicine Medical College of Virginia Richmond, Virginia r cc: Representative Charlie Rose

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