Date: Dec. 19, 2001
Contacts: Barbara J. Rice, Acting Executive Director
Office of News and Public Information
Cory Arberg, Media Relations Assistant
(202) 334-2138

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Klausner Accepts Position as National Academies' Adviser on Counterterrorism

WASHINGTON -- Beginning Jan. 1, 2002, Richard D. Klausner will assume the post of senior fellow and special adviser to the presidents for counterterrorism at the National Academies. The Academies are actively engaged in facilitating a more focused and coordinated involvement of the science and technology community in assessing threats, developing countermeasures, and designing responses to terrorist attacks.

As former director of the National Cancer Institute and a member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine, Klausner will use his extensive ties to both the U.S. government and the scientific community to help the Academies bring the best science and technology expertise to bear on increasing homeland security. In this connection, he will serve as the liaison between John Marburger, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the many new counterterrorism efforts of the National Academies -- helping to coordinate these activities with those of the government.

Bruce Alberts, president of the National Academy of Sciences, expressed his enthusiasm for this new appointment, saying, "Rick is an outstanding leader who has made many innovative contributions to science and technology policy. In this time of special need, the Academies are extremely fortunate to be able to harness his energies and abilities for a critical new role."

To concentrate on this major effort, Klausner will leave his position as president of the newly created Case Institute of Health, Science, and Technology, a new foundation funded by AOL Time Warner Chairman Steve Case and his wife Jean that focuses on multidisciplinary solutions to science and health problems. "At this critical juncture, all that science and technology can offer must be channeled into finding ways to protect Americans from the threats of terrorism," said Klausner. "Having the unique opportunity as a citizen and a scientist to take on this critically important challenge led me to make the difficult decision to forgo my involvement in establishing the Case Institute. The National Academies were created by an act of Congress, signed by President Lincoln, to offer the most reliable and credible advice to the nation during times of trouble and peace. I am honored by the trust and responsibility that this appointment carries with it. I look forward to working with the science and technology community and to serving as the liaison to Jack Marburger."

The centerpiece of the National Academies' counterterrorism efforts is the Committee on the Science and Technology Agenda for Countering Terrorism, which Klausner will continue to co-chair along with Lewis Branscomb, a physicist and adviser to several U.S. presidents. The committee will identify high-priority research agendas, focusing on these areas: biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological threats; information technology; transportation; energy facilities, buildings, and fixed infrastructure; and behavioral, social, and institutional issues.

Klausner is well-known for his contributions to multiple aspects of cell and molecular biology, and his work is frequently cited in biology and biomedical research. He is the author of more than 280 scientific articles and several books, and his honors and awards include the Outstanding Investigator Award from the American Federation of Clinical Research and the William Damashek Prize for Major Discoveries in Hematology. From 1995 until 2001 he was director of the National Cancer Institute. Previously he was chief of the cell biology and metabolism branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Klausner has served on numerous advisory committees. He is the past president of the American Society for Clinical Investigation.

Find more information about the National Academies' counterterrorism activities on the Web at http://national-academies.org/counterterrorism

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