As you almost surely know, the ABRF is a uniquely participatory
organization that relies on volunteerism to leverage manifold over its
positive impact on those who strive so hard to bring state-of-the-art
biotechnology to bear on a myriad array of biomedical and biochemical
problems. It is without a doubt unique. I can think of no other
organization that can routinely entice more than 50 of its member
laboratories to synthesize a peptide, sequence a DNA template or carry out
internal protein sequencing at no charge and with no expectation of
individual recognition. I believe it is the member resource facilities
that provide the foundation upon which the ABRF (as well as much of current
biomedical and biochemical research) rests. I am extremely proud to have
been given the privilege of being a member of the ABRF and of being able to
work in a core facility. In my opinion the latter two are inexorably
intertwined and should remain so for evermore. I strongly support the
opinion of Lowell Ericsson, Greg Grant, Rich Laursen, and others NOT to
change the name of the ABRF.
Ken Williams
HHMI Biopolymer/Keck Facility at Yale U.