NORFOLK, VA.—The Howard and Georgeanna Jones Institute for Re-productive Medicine, which pioneered human in utero fertilization and embryo transfer in the United States, has moved strongly into research on contraceptives.

The Contraceptive Research and Development Program (CON-RAD) is supported by a large grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development, $28 million over five years. Some of the work is being done here, but about two-thirds of the budget is going into extramural research.

CONRADs primary goal is improved methods of fertility regulation for developing countries. The combination of in-house and extra-mural R&D provides a synergism which can significantly accelerate overall progress, said Gary D. Hodgen, scientific director of the Jones Institute and director of the program.

Contraceptive research has been at close to a standstill for several years. Pharmaceutical companies have essentially abandoned the field because of liability problems, lengthy government-approval procedures, and low profit potential, particularly in the...

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