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Chemical and Biological Defence Program

The Chemical and Biological Defence Program plays a national security role for the Canadian Forces in urban operations. In today’s environment, the research addresses asymmetric threats, as opposed to those expected on the more traditional large-scale battlefield. Canadian Forces members may be exposed to endemic diseases while deployed. Scientists at DRDC Suffield are developing new ways to identify, treat, prevent and protect against emerging diseases, such as dengue and malaria, and including SARS and avian flu.

Information developed and made available by the Chemical and Biological Defence Program is of great value not only to the Canadian Forces and public security agencies, but also to public health authorities.


Areas of Research

Biological Medical Countermeasures Research by the Molecular Biology Group focuses on the development of biotechnological approaches to better understand and control biological threat agents and endemic diseases. Nucleic Acid-Based Drugs (NADs) against biological warfare agents DNA sequencing and other molecular biology services Mechanisms of infectivity Chemical Medical Countermeasures and Casualty Care The Medical Therapy Group conducts research and provides advice on the toxicity, mechanisms of action and medical countermeasures of classical chemical warfare agents, toxins, and toxic industrial chemicals and materials. Their expertise also allows them to investigate and provide advice on certain aspects of casualty care to both the Canadian Forces and public security agencies. Next generation therapies Assessment of antidotes and decontaminants Genomics and proteomics to profile and characterize the toxic effects of a variety of chemical warfare agents Preventative Medicine Research programs on preventing the effects of biological threat agents – viruses, bacteria (such as anthrax) and toxins (including ricin) – are undertaken by the Preventative Medicine Group. Their efforts include not only the development of vaccines to prevent illness, but also treatments that prevent or mitigate illness after exposure. Vaccine efficacy against the encephalitis viruses Encapsulation and other novel methods of dry vaccine delivery Therapeutic antibodies Biological Medical Countermeasures Research by the Molecular Biology Group focuses on the development of biotechnological approaches to better understand and control biological threat agents and endemic diseases. Nucleic Acid-Based Drugs (NADs) against biological warfare agents DNA sequencing and other molecular biology services Mechanisms of infectivity

Chemical Medical Countermeasures and Casualty Care The Medical Therapy Group conducts research and provides advice on the toxicity, mechanisms of action and medical countermeasures of classical chemical warfare agents, toxins, and toxic industrial chemicals and materials. Their expertise also allows them to investigate and provide advice on certain aspects of casualty care to both the Canadian Forces and public security agencies.

• Next generation therapies
• Assessment of antidotes and decontaminants
• Genomics and proteomics to profile and characterize the toxic effects of a variety of chemical warfare agents

Preventative Medicine Research programs on preventing the effects of biological threat agents – viruses, bacteria (such as anthrax) and toxins (including ricin) – are undertaken by the Preventative Medicine Group. Their efforts include not only the development of vaccines to prevent illness, but also treatments that prevent or mitigate illness after exposure.

• Vaccine efficacy against the encephalitis viruses
• Encapsulation and other novel methods of dry vaccine delivery
• Therapeutic antibodies

Chemical Detection and Identification Methods instrumental to the identification of chemical warfare agents in the laboratory and the field are developed by the Chemical Detection and Identification Group. They also provide scientific and technical expertise for projects relating to new chemical warfare agent sensors and optical methods for the next generation of chemical warfare detectors.

• Mobile chemical laboratory for on-site identification of chemical warfare agents in the field
• Support the Canadian Forces on the acquisition of new chemical warfare agent sensors

Biological Detection and Identification The main activities of the Biological Detection and Identification Group are the research and development of technologies and methods for detection and identification of biological warfare agents and pathogenic bacteria and viruses.

• Detection of biological agents in aerosols
• Identification of pathogens by genetic methods (pcr, sequencing and gene-probe micro-arrays)
• Handheld assay systems for rapid on-site detection of pathogens
• Proteomic-based methods for identification of bacteria
• Microfluidic devices for automated bio-analyses

Hazard Management
The Hazard Management Group concentrates on research programs that deal with neutralizing or mitigating the effects of chemical and biological weapons, as well as toxic industrial chemicals and materials, after exposure has occurred. Decontamination research is being done to address both military and civilian threats.

• Development of self decontaminating coatings and materials
• Continuing development and improvement of reactive skin decontaminant systems
• Development of new and improved decontaminant systems for equipment and structures as well as specialty systems used to decontaminate while mitigating the blast effects of possible terrorist devices.

Personal Protection Work being done by the Soldier and Systems Protection Group focuses on the research and development of advanced technical materials for applications in body protection, respiratory protection and collective strategic asset protection, with the aim to significantly improve the military’s capability to operate and survive in any environment where there is a threat of the use of chemical or biological weapons, or where there is a potential hazard from toxic industrial chemicals and materials or indigenous diseases.

• Nano materials with self-detoxifying/regenerative action, selective-reactivity and sensing capabilities
• Multi-phase polymer nanocomposites and selectively permeable membranes
• Applied protective materials and equipment design, optimisation and performance characterisation

Modelling and Analysis The Modelling and Analysis Group conducts research in several different areas including atmospheric modelling, risk assessment of chemical and biological agents, and capabilities assessment intended to address the concerns of the Canadian Forces, as well as public security.

• Multi-scale CBRN Hazard Prediction model for the urban environment
• Risk assessment of anthrax letters and assessment of related mitigation protocols