EXHIBIT 99(q)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                     MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL FUND, INC.
                     MORGAN STANLEY INSTITUTIONAL FUND TRUST
                     THE UNIVERSAL INSTITUTIONAL FUNDS, INC.
                   MORGAN STANLEY STRATEGIC ADVISER FUND, INC.
                                  (THE "FUNDS")

     Mitchell M. Merin, whose signature appears below, does hereby constitute
and appoint Ronald E. Robison his true and lawful attorney and agent, with power
of substitution or resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things and to
execute any and all instruments which said attorney and agent may deem necessary
or advisable or which may be required to enable each of the Funds to comply with
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") and the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and any rules, regulations or
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in respect
thereof, in connection with each Fund's Registration Statement on a form
prescribed by the SEC pursuant to the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, together with
any and all amendments thereto, including within the foregoing, the power and
authority to sign in the name and on behalf of the undersigned as a
Trustee/Director of each Fund such Registration Statement and any and all such
amendments filed with the SEC under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act, and any other
instruments or documents related thereto, and the undersigned does hereby ratify
and confirm all that said attorney and agents shall do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

                                                /s/ Mitchell M. Merin
                                                ---------------------
                                                Mitchell M. Merin

Date: March 27, 2003