Transcript Threat Agent Detection and Response (TADR) Program

Threat Agent Detection and
Response (TADR) Program
Objectives
• Background
• Partner Countries
• Focus Areas
• Laboratory Diagnostics Training Project
• Challenges
Program Purpose and Objectives
• Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP) Purpose:
– To counter bioterrorism and prevent proliferation of biological
weapons (BW) related technology, pathogens and expertise at the
source
• BTR Program Objectives:
• Prevent the sale, theft, diversion or accidental release of BW
materials, technology and expertise
• Consolidate especially dangerous pathogens (EDPs) into safe,
secure central reference laboratories
• Improve Eurasian states’ capabilities to detect and respond to EDP
disease outbreaks
• Integrate Eurasian scientists into the international scientific
community
• Eliminate BW infrastructure and technologies
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Program History
1995—Defense Special Weapons Agency (DSWA) begins work to eliminate the BW Production
Facility at Stepnogorsk, Kazakhstan.
1996—DoD, the Russian Federation, and the International Science and Technology Center
(ISTC) sign an agreement to fund nonproliferation projects approved by both the United
States and Russia.
1997—National Academies of Science report, Controlling Dangerous Pathogens, recommends
that DoD establish a program to engage former Soviet Union BW scientists in
collaborative research - approved by the Defense Science Board.
1998—The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is established
1998—The Biological Weapons Proliferation Prevention (BWPP) Program initiates Biosecurity
and Biosafety (BS&S) and Cooperative Biological Research (CBR) projects in Russia
and BS&S in Kazakhstan.
2001—Uzbekistan is added to BWPP portfolio; BS&S and CBR projects are initiated.
2002—Georgia is added to BWPP portfolio; new project area of Threat Agent Detection and
Response (TADR) begins in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Georgia.
2005—Ukraine and Azerbaijan are added to the BWPP portfolio following the signature of
Implementing Agreements. BS&S and TADR are integrated into a single project area.
2006—BWPP Program becomes Biological Threat Reduction Program Area (BTRP).
** BTRP will now be known as Cooperative
Biological Engagement Program (CBEP)
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BTRP Partners (US Govt)
USG Partners:
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Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP)
U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU-3)
DOS Bio Industry Initiative (BII)
DHHS Bio Technology Engagement Program (BTEP)
DTRA (CB, ASCO, OS)
US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC)
Army Corps of Engineers
Medical Research and Material Command (MRMC)
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Other BTRP Partners
International/NGOs :
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• International Office of Epizoonotics (OIE)
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
• World Bank
• Canadian Global Partnership (GPP)
• American Biosafety Association (ABSA)
Contractors:
• Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) – Threat
Reduction Support Center (TRSC)
• Cooperative Threat Reduction Integrating Contractors (CTRIC) (Bechtel,
Raytheon, Black & Veatch, etc.)
• National Academies of Science (NAS)
• Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF)
• Joint University Partnership (Penn State and U of New Mexico)
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Current Scope of Activities
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BTRP Functional Areas
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IV.
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TADR Objectives
• Enhance capacity to detect, diagnose and respond to
bioterror attacks and potential pandemics
• Deploy modern diagnostics to eliminate need for multiple
reference pathogen collections
• Consolidate and secure EDPs in centralized laboratories
• Facilitate transfer of pathogens and data to DOD, USG
• Improve biosafety and biosecurity
• Optimize recipient state’s existing surveillance systems
• Train mobile epidemiological teams equipped to investigate
outbreaks of human and veterinary infections
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National
Level
TADR Template
• Central Reference Laboratory (CRL)
– Human and veterinary facilities combined where feasible
– Mobile Outbreak Response Unit(s)
Oblast Level
• Epidemiological Monitoring Stations (EMS) at existing Human
and Veterinary Laboratories
– Disease surveillance and epidemiologic analysis
– Case investigation and sample transport capabilities
– Disease diagnostics by molecular methods
• Oblast Disease Surveillance Enhancement
Raion
Level
– Disease surveillance and epidemiologic analysis
– Case investigation and sample transport capabilities
• Disease reporting by Raion Veterinarian/Epidemiologist
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TADR Network Schematic
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CAPACITY
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CAPACITY
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CAPABILITY
Epidemiological Monitoring Station
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OSS
Oblast)Surveillance
Oblast
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HSS
HSS
Human Surveillance
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VSS
VSS
Veterinary Sentinel Site
Mobile Outbreak Response Unit (MORU)
Electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance System (EIDSS)
Transportation by TADR Response Vehicle
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Training in the BTR Program
• Biosafety, security, laboratory diagnostics and
epidemiology practices are trained to ensure the
success of the TADR project
• Train-The-Trainer
• Goal: Recipient state self-sufficiency
• Module Based Training:
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Epidemiology
Communications and Information Technology
Clinician Training
Laboratory
Vector surveillance
Pathogen Repository
Contaminant Assessment
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Laboratory Diagnostics Training
• Quality Management Systems (QMS) training
• Combination of classical and molecular-based
diagnostics for the following agents:
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Bacillus anthracis
Francisella tularensis
Yersinia pestis
Brucella abortus
• Primarily molecular-based diagnostics for the following
agents:
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Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
Tick-borne Encephalitis
(Avian influenza)
(Smallpox)
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Sample: Diagnostics training for Brucella
• Rose-Bengal test (serological testing)
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Primary culture from a clinical specimen
Gram stain
Biochemical testing (Oxidase, Catalase, Urease tests)
Acriflavine (Rough v. Smooth surface antigen) test
Dye sensitivity assays
Triple Sugar Iron Test
Hydrogen Sulfide Test
• RT-PCR
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Challenges
• Existing infrastructure
– Retrofit?
– Blow it in place?
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Challenges
• Existing infrastructure
– Retrofit?
– Blow it in place?
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Challenges
• Existing infrastructure
– How old is the equipment?
– Does it work?
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Challenges
• Existing infrastructure
• Existing culture and practices
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Foreign
Unsafe?
How do we reconcile old and new?
How do you teach Quality?
How do you make it “stick” when you leave?
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Challenges
• Existing infrastructure
• Permission for lab
• Existing culture and practices
construction/renovation
• Recipient state regulations
• Local contracting issues
• Lab certification
• Import/export (Shipping and
receiving of bacterial strains, etc.)
• Getting permission to conduct
training
• Getting a protocol authorized
Challenges
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Existing infrastructure
Existing culture and practices
Recipient state regulations
Safety or security requirements
Challenges
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Existing infrastructure
Existing culture and practices
Recipient state regulations
Safety or security requirements
Challenges
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Existing infrastructure
Existing culture and practices
Recipient state regulations
Safety or security requirements
Schedule delays
• Me: Let’s train in November
• Them: Suspected H1N1 outbreak,
govt doesn’t want you around, your
trip is canceled
• Me: Let’s train in November
• Them: The lab isn’t certified, your
trip is canceled
• Me: Let’s train in February
• Them: We don’t have the control
strains, your trip is canceled
• Me: Let’s train in March
• Them: Your paperwork wasn’t
processed correctly, your trip is
cancelled
• Me: How about April???
Challenges
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Existing infrastructure
Existing culture and practices
Recipient state regulations
Safety or security requirements
Schedule delays
Sustainability
– People
– Equipment
– Supplies
• How do you retain newlytrained employees?
• Which equipment do you
purchase
• The type that works best?
• The type that they can get
the supplies for?
• Identify reagants that are:
• Inexpensive
• Reliable
• Available (from
someplace closer than the
continental US!)
Challenges
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Existing infrastructure
Existing culture and practices
Recipient state regulations
Safety or security requirements
Schedule delays
Sustainability
– People
– Equipment
– Supplies
QMS training in Ukraine
Renovated lab space in Azerbaijan
RT-PCR training in Georgia
Questions?