Donchin recalled sitting in on a National Institutes of Health study group to review a $5,000 grant proposal for Eric Kandel, a neuroscientist who would later go on to win the Nobel Prize. The scientists were debating the funding for hours. At one point, Donchin excused himself to make a brief phone call to Lawrence about his ARPA grant. Donchin needed $15,000 for some equipment, and Lawrence’s response was “You got it.” When Donchin returned to the room, the scientists were still debating the $5,000 for Kandel. That, according to Donchin, best illustrated the difference between ARPA and other
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