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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-06-054092.txt : 20090929
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-06-054092.hdr.sgml : 20090929
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060811160508
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-06-054092
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060811

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			H&Q LIFE SCIENCES INVESTORS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000884121
		IRS NUMBER:				043147016
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2 LIBERTY SQUARE
		STREET 2:		9TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6175740500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2 LIBERTY SQUARE
		STREET 2:		9TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
<TEXT>
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<head>





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<body lang="EN-US">

<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">H&amp;Q LIFE
SCIENCES INVESTORS</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">30 Rowes Wharf,
Suite 430</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Boston,
Massachusetts&#160; 02110-3328</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">August 11, 2006</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">100 F
Street, NE</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Washington,
DC 20549</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Re:</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Registration
Statement on Form N-2 for<br>
H&amp;Q Life Sciences Investors<br>
<u>(File No. 333-133245)&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </u></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Ladies
and Gentlemen:</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On April 12, 2006, and
July 21, 2006, H&amp;Q Life Sciences Investors (the &#147;Registrant&#148;) filed a
Registration Statement on Form N-2 and Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to such
Registration Statement relating to an offering of shares of beneficial interest
in the Registrant. The Registrant is also separately filing today a second pre-effective
amendment to that Registration Statement to provide an additional exhibit.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant to Rule 461(a)
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant hereby
respectfully requests that the effective date of its Registration Statement be
accelerated so that it will be effective at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on August 17,
2006, or as soon as practicable thereafter.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">In connection with this
request, the undersigned officer of the Registrant acknowledges that (i) should
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) or its staff,
acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the Registration Statement effective,
such action will not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with
respect to the Registration Statement; (ii) the action of the Commission or its
staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the Registration
Statement effective, will not relieve the Registrant from its full
responsibility for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the
Registration Statement; and (iii) the Registrant may not assert such action as
a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission under the federal
securities laws of the United States.</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>

</div>
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<div>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Please call the
Registrant&#146;s counsel, Joseph R. Fleming (617.728.7161) or Brian S. Vargo
(215.994.2880) of Dechert LLP, if you have any questions.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="72%" colspan="5" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:72.54%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Sincerely yours,</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="27%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:27.46%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="72%" colspan="5" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:72.54%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="27%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:27.46%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="72%" colspan="5" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:72.54%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="27%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:27.46%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="15%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:15.16%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/ Kathleen Eckert</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="21%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:21.1%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="36%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:36.28%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="27%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:27.46%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="72%" colspan="5" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:72.54%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Secretary</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="27%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:27.46%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="72%" colspan="5" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:72.54%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">H&amp;Q Life Sciences
  Investors</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="27%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:27.46%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="72%" colspan="5" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:72.54%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="27%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:27.46%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="72%" colspan="5" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:72.54%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="27%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:27.46%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.42%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">cc:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="13%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.7%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Mary A. Cole</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="18%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:18.14%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="36%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:36.28%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="27%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:27.46%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.42%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="31%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:31.84%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Senior Counsel</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="36%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:36.28%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="27%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:27.46%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="4%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:4.42%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="31%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:31.84%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">U.S. Securities and
  Exchange Commission</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="36%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:36.28%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="27%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:27.46%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr height="0">
  <td width="33" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="80" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="22" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="136" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="271" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="205" style="border:none;"></td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>

</div>
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