Sir

I would like to add some details to your News story “New Orleans researchers fight to salvage work from submerged labs” (Nature 437, 300; 2005) regarding efforts made by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to assist its grantees in the Hurricane Katrina disaster zone.

Although it is true that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)has primary responsibility for dealing with the immediate structural damage from a catastrophe — as I was quoted as saying — this quote does not do justice to the efforts by the NIH to promote a quick and full recovery from the storm. Leaders of damaged research institutions were contacted promptly and assured that the NIH would be at their sides in restoring facilities and research projects. The NIH immediately moved to inform grantees of the resources available, from grant extensions to temporary placements in the NIH intramural programme or other institutions.

The response to Katrina will require effort, flexibility and cooperation, but first and foremost we need profound commitment and solidarity. The NIH and the entire biomedical research community will stand together with those stricken by this disaster and by Hurricane Rita.