Tobacco Documents Online

DRAFT--2/23/87 0 r F3 . ~ i A '?roapect t 60070 ..;ear Dr. Billickc~ra .i.i rectors of the Center for Indoor Air Res®arc'~ ;"CIAR" ~ want to thank you for the time that •you =3pent ~'1ssidering our ofPer to serve as CIAR's executive dii:ector. i regret that you have declined to accept our of2ar, Wf~ concinue to believe that the questions that have bae;a raiaed concerning environmental tobacco smoke can be anqweresi to the satisfaction of the scientific community as well as members of the public only through scientifically cred.'ble researeh. We also believe that the CIAR, as currently structured, will b;;ch facilitate the search for those answers and confirm the tobacco industry's commitment 1n this area. It would have been possible, as you suggested, to have organized the CIAR in a manner that minimized tre Involve- ment of the Board of nirectors in reviewing {:z:0 ~;°,,+_dual research proposals an~; in ide:tfying researchers qualified to undertake the projects descr' :<A in :.~- proposals. But a major defi- ciency of thar <3 ?_>,roac`i it rot have taken full advantage a~~ the P a:;pertige ~t CIAR's directors. tin the k1 anal°{si.:, sccepta~Qe of research results within the suientif -~- ;omnr.:n_i:ty and by members o.: the public depends largely, in wy view, on tho qua-~~ :_y of tts

- 2 - :a3c;..:and the qualifications of thp investigators. Our claci:ixan to preserve a substantial role for the 8oard of Direc;ors in considering the quality of research proposals and the qualifications of candidate investigators was not meant to suggsat, And certainly did not stem from, a lack of confidence in your abilities. Rather, it reflected simply a desire on ..1ur part to take Pui:, advantage of the substantial scientific ,~xpertige CIAR's dire(.;~-)rs have with respect to environmental ,:,jbacoo smoke and indoor iir quality. I can assure you that the CIAR Board of Directors wa?,i make decisions on individual research projects, ani:, with caepact to candidate researchers, solely on the basia of :_,'Antific merit. The use of any other criteria would, of ,jourse, be both inappropriate and self-defeating. In addi- tion, researchers will be encouraged to publish their wi,tlho.jL limitation. st~aat has been the industry's policy in °..~ It will continue to be the industry's policy in the futueo. Again, I amisorry that you have declined to accept our offer to be.,,nme CIAR's executive director. I certainly wish you contiwiA success in your current position. Sincerely, Thomas S. '.ndene