Dear Colleagues:

During the last two days, Department members have received inquiries
from the press about my future plans, my affiliation with Novartis,
and my role as organizer of the demonstration during the FDA Hearing
on Monday, December 13, 1999. There seems to be misinformation
and/or lack of information on these issues. For your information, I
would like to provide the following facts:

On July 1, 2000, I will assume a position as Professor of Plant
Biotechnology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in
Zurich, Switzerland. As a professor at the ETH, I will be
responsible for teaching, research, and graduate student training. I
will resign from my appointments at UC Berkeley and Director of the
PMB-NADII Collaborative Research Program effective June 30, 2000.
There is no reason for my resignation from UC Berkeley other than the
professional opportunity available to me at the ETH.

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology is a public university that
is fully supported by the Swiss Federal Government (unlike UC
Berkeley) and is not affiliated with any private company. Most of my
research funds (approximately $ 1 Million/year) and infrastructure
support will be provided by the ETH and the Swiss Federal Government.

I have no formal affiliation with Novartis or the Novartis
Agricultural Discovery Institute (e.g., consulting agreement,
confidentiality agreement, etc.). No formal affiliation is currently
being discussed or planned with Novartis upon my relocation to the
ETH in Switzerland.

I am involved (with a few colleagues) in organizing the demonstration
in support of biotechnology research to provide factual and
peer-reviewed information to the public during the FDA Hearing in
Oakland on December 13, 1999. As scientist and public employee, I
believe it is our responsibility to provide to the public correct and
unbiased scientific information on genetic engineering technologies
and production of genetically modified organisms.

I hope this helps.

W. Gruissem
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Wilhelm Gruissem, Professor
Department of Plant and Microbial Biology
111 Koshland Hall
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-3102
(510) 642-1079