Chemical and Biological Defense Program

The Chemical and Biological Defense Program focuses on advancing research in life and physical sciences to address emerging chemical and biological threats. This initiative supports the Understand, Protect, and Mitigate portfolios by promoting research that enhances situational awareness and fosters rapid response capabilities. The program's objectives include improving detection, diagnostics, protection, and medical treatment through a comprehensive understanding of threats.

The Life Sciences project concentrates on understanding how living systems respond to biological or chemical agents. This research is crucial for developing medical countermeasures, enhancing diagnostics, and improving protective measures against various threats. Key areas of study include pathogen/host interactions, immune responses, and drug/pathogen interactions. The project also explores innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence for early drug discovery and structural biology to enhance medical defense capabilities.

The Physical Sciences project emphasizes advancing knowledge in chemistry, physics, materials science, environmental science, and nanotechnology. This research aims to develop transformational capabilities for decontamination, protection, and detection of chemical and biological threats. Efforts include the development of innovative materials with enhanced functionalities, novel sensing platforms for improved diagnostics, and modeling sciences leveraging AI/ML for hazard mitigation.

The Chemical and Biological Defense Program seeks to integrate cutting-edge scientific research with practical applications to enhance national defense capabilities against chemical and biological threats. By investing in both life and physical sciences research, the program aims to create a robust foundation for future advancements in threat detection, protection strategies, and medical countermeasures.