Chemical and Biological Defense Program

The Chemical and Biological Defense Program (CBDP) is designed to strengthen the United States' ability to address chemical and biological threats. It adopts a comprehensive strategy that includes understanding, protection, mitigation, and enabling investments. The program focuses on applied research to develop advanced technologies and methodologies for detecting, identifying, and responding to these threats. Collaboration with various defense agencies, such as the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) and the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), is a key component.

The Understand component aims to develop next-generation detection systems, diagnostic tools, and decision support technologies. It seeks to enhance situational awareness and threat characterization through advanced sensing technologies and data analytics. Efforts include wearable technology for early exposure warning, machine learning algorithms for disease prediction, and virtual reality environments for training.

The Protect segment focuses on increasing protection capabilities against chemical and biological hazards by developing vaccines, antidotes, and protective equipment. Research is conducted into broad-spectrum medical countermeasures that can be rapidly deployed in response to emerging threats. The program also investigates innovative materials for protective garments and respiratory protection systems that integrate with existing military gear.

Mitigation efforts are directed towards decontamination technologies and medical treatments that enable quick recovery from exposure to chemical or biological agents. This involves developing therapeutics for known and emerging threats, improving decontamination methods for personnel and equipment, and advancing coatings that resist contamination. The goal is to restore operational capability swiftly while minimizing the impact of hazardous exposures.

Enabling Investments focus on infrastructure development and alternative modeling techniques that mimic human responses to threats. This includes enhancing laboratory capabilities for classified work on biothreats and developing microphysiological models as alternatives to animal testing. These investments are essential for maintaining readiness against future incidents by ensuring robust scientific capabilities within the Department of Defense's research framework.