Selected Chemical & Biological Projects

Bio – Agent Autonomous Networked Detector Project

Project Overview: The Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate Chemical & Biological Division Bio-Agent Autonomous Networked Detector (BAND) Project is an automated, fully integrated “lab-in-a-box” that is capable of aerosol collection, molecular analysis and identification, and reporting of results with networking capability for real-time control of the entire sensor network. This project is part of the Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate Surveillance and Detection Program, Biological Countermeasures Thrust Area of the Chemical & Biological Division.

Back To Top

Biodefense Knowledge Center (BKC) Project

Project Overview: The Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate Chemical & Biological Division BKC is responsible for providing multiple levels of analysis about biological threats to Department and other Federal agencies – including:

1. 24/7 science and technology reachback for the Department National Operations Center (NOC) and other stakeholders
2. Tailored assessments and in-depth analyses of biodefense issues and biotechnologies and
3. Knowledge discovery tools for data integration, analysis, and visualization that allow Department users to analyze, characterize, and understand various biothreats.

This project is part of the Threat Awareness Program, Biological Countermeasures Thrust Area of the Chemical & Biological Division.

Back To Top

Biological Threat Characterization Center (BTCC) Project

Project Overview: The Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate Chemical & Biological Division Biological Threat Characterization Center (BTCC) conducts laboratory studies, which help answer key knowledge gaps identified in the Bioterrorism Risk Assessments (BTRA) and reduce associated uncertainties with biological agents of interest. The program also plans to perform laboratory studies to assist in determining the approach for defending against enhanced and advanced threats and develop and approach for defending against engineered threats. This project is part of the Threat Awareness Program, Biological Countermeasures Thrust Area of the Chemical & Biological Division.

Back To Top

Bioterrorism Risk Assessment (BTRA) Project

Project Overview: The Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate Chemical & Biological Division biennial bioterrorism risk assessments (BTRA), required under Homeland Security Presidential Direction – 10 (HSPD-10), provide the basis for risk-informed investments for national strategic biodefense planning while identifying key knowledge gaps and defining critical vulnerabilities. This project is part of the Threat Awareness Program, Biological Countermeasures Thrust Area of the Chemical & Biological Division.

Back To Top

BioWatch Generation 3 (Gen 3) Detection System Project

Project Overview: The Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate Chemical & Biological Division develops the Gen 3 BioWatch detection system, including development of Bio-Agent Autonomous Networked Detector (BAND) and Deployable Aerosol Collection Systems (DACS). This project is part of the Surveillance and Detection Program, Biological Countermeasures Thrust Area of the Chemical & Biological Division.

Back To Top

Deployable Aerosol Collection Systems (DACS) Project

Project Overview: The Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate Chemical & Biological Division remotely programmable, automated samplers that can preserve viable samples for one to three days. The automated detection capability provided by Bio-Agent Autonomous Networked Detector (BAND) and Deployable Aerosol Collection System (DACS) will significantly reduce BioWatch operational costs, thereby allowing expanded and more frequent monitoring of the U.S. population. Upon completion of system development, the detection system and initial assays will be transitioned to the Office of Health Affairs for the operational Gen 3 Bio Watch pilot. This project is part of the Surveillance and Detection Program, Biological Countermeasures Thrust Area of the Chemical & Biological Division.

Back To Top

Chemical Forensics Project

Project Overview: The Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate Chemical & Biological Division develops and maintains new chemical forensics and attribution analytical tools, techniques, and enduring technical capabilities for chemical threat agents and associated evidence. It is developing the technical capability to rapidly, accurately and credibly characterize and support the attribution of origins of intercepted, or collected, hazardous chemical materials and will support the investigation of terrorist and criminal incidents involving chemical threat agents by enabling attribution to the original source. The Division supports maintenance of infrastructure, consisting of receival, laboratory, and storage spaces to accommodate highly toxic chemicals and associated evidence, to provide a fully operational capability. This project is part of the Analysis Program, Chemical Countermeasures Thrust Area of the Chemical & Biological Division.

Back To Top

Chemical Infrastructure Risk Assessment (CIRA) Project

Project Overview: The Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate Chemical & Biological Division develops tools to help assess the risk due to the chemical industry by identifying and quantifying various infrastructure gaps and vulnerabilities, and potential key hazardous chemicals and associated processes. It also maintains a fully operational reach-back capability in support of the development of chemical security regulations. This project is part of the Analysis Program, Chemical Countermeasures Thrust Area of the Chemical & Biological Division.

Back To Top

Chemical Terrorism Risk Assessment (CTRA) Project

Project Overview: The Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate Chemical & Biological Division biennial Chemical Terrorism Risk Assessment (CTRA), required by the Domestic Chemical Defense Policy (DCPD), provides the basis for risk-informed investments for national strategic chemical defense planning while identifying key knowledge gaps and defining critical vulnerabilities. This project is part of the Analysis Program, Chemical Countermeasures Thrust Area of the Chemical & Biological Division.

Back To Top

Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) Modeling Project

Project Overview:  The Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate Chemical & Biological Division develops national-scale modeling to inform decision makers on the advantages and disadvantages of various outbreak control strategies, to guide the formulation of countermeasure requirements and to support responders during an outbreak. In 2008, the project expanded the modeling effort to add two other elements critical to developing future generations of models:

1. Focused analysis of key strategic issues in FAD modeling; and
2. A longer-term R&D effort involving a broad segment of academia to address matters such as validation of models and tools to inform decision making in response to an outbreak.

This project is part of the Agriculture Thrust Area of the Chemical & Biological Division.

Back To Top

Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) Vaccine and Diagnostics Project

Project Overview: The Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate Chemical & Biological Division researches and diagnoses foreign animal diseases (FADs), initially developing more effective vaccines and biotherapeutics for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), the nation’s top-priority animal pathogen. This research will result in more effective vaccines for FMD. This project focus develops “trade-friendly” Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) (distinguish infected from vaccinated animals) vaccines. DIVA vaccines cause an animal to develop protective antibodies that can be differentiated from antibodies that are associated with the presence of disease or infection. This project is part of the Agriculture Thrust Area of the Chemical & Biological Division.

Back To Top

Integrated Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Risk Assessment (iCBRN RA) Project

Project Overview: The Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate Chemical & Biological Division biennial Integrated Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Risk Assessment (iCBRN RA) provide policy-makers and strategic planners with the information and capability to evaluate cross-threat risks and potential risk mitigation strategies. This project is part of the Threat Awareness Program, Biological Countermeasures Thrust Area of the Chemical & Biological Division.

Back To Top

Population Threat Assessments Project (PTA) Project

Project Overview: The Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate Chemical & Biological Division Project Threat Assessments (PTAs) provide an estimate of the number of people exposed to different dose levels of an agent in a plausible high consequence scenario, and are used by the Department of Health and Human Services to inform their health effects modeling in support of defining requirements for new medical countermeasures. This project is part of the Analysis Program Chemical Countermeasures Thrust Area and Threat Awareness Program Biological Countermeasures Thrust Area of the Chemical & Biological Division.

Back To Top

Portable Bio Detector Project

Project Overview: The Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate Chemical & Biological Division Portable Bio Detector Project plans to develop a hand-held biological detector/identifier in a spiral development process, beginning with a target to classify unknown samples as potential biological threats (or not) and culminating in approaches that identify at species level across an array of known agents. This project is part of the Surveillance and Detection Program, Biological Countermeasures Thrust Area of the Chemical & Biological Division.

Back To Top