This Week's News
Previous Weeks' News
February 19, 2008
Scientists and engineers from ECBC participated in spiral 1 of
the Advanced Technology Demonstration for the Biological Combat Assessment
System (BCAS) two weeks ago. During the demonstration, ECBC scientists received biological
agent surrogate samples collected by an unmanned aerial vehicle and processed
those samples using the analytical systems integrated into the BAML. The
scientists were able to successfully identify the biological agent surrogates
present in all test samples. ECBC’s Mobile Labs Team designed and
fabricated the BAML, integrated scientific analytical equipment, and developed
protocols for operation of the BAML in a shipboard environment.
ECBC environmental scientists participated in the National
Academy of Science's U.S. National Committee for Soil Science
meetings held in Washington, DC, last week. US research initiatives in biofuels
were one of many topics discussed.
ECBC trainers conducted a four-day advanced CBR defeat training
course for the 22nd Battalion A Company last week. Students received instruction
in essential CB facility operations, equipment identification, and defeat
procedures.
Dr. Way Fountain represented ECBC at the Institute for Collaborative
Biotechnology (ICB) Industry Day held last week at the University of Santa
Barbara. Dr.
Fountain gave a presentation on current research studies underway at ECBC.
Read Previous Weeks' Highlights
February 4, 2008
ECBC scientists and Medical Research Institute for Chemical Defense
collaborators recently had six papers accepted for publication in the
Journal of Analytical Toxicology. The papers reported on the
latest research findings in characterizing toxicological responses to
low-level exposure to chemical agent. The papers are part of a special
issue focusing on the latest advances in the analysis of chemical warfare
agents in biological matrices.
ECBC participated last week in a meeting with 20th Support Command
and US Army CBRN School representatives to determine training requirements. A
comprehensive list of required training for 20th Support Command soldiers
was developed and submitted for approval by TRADOC. ECBC’s training
team provides specialized courses and facilities in cooperation with
the CBRN School.
The manuscript entitled: "Wet and Dry density of Bacillus
anthracis and other Bacillus species" by M. Carrera, R. Zandomeni,
and J-L Sagripanti was accepted for publication in the Journal of Applied
Microbiology. This study reports the dry and wet density of
virulent and attenuated spores of Bacillus anthracis and their differences
with other Bacillus species grown and sporulated under similar conditions.
The data help predict the behavior of spores in aerosols, and in the
selection of better simulants. This study complements six additional
articles published during FY07 on the characterization of biological
threats.
A team of inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition
of Chemical Weapons arrived at ECBC in January to conduct a storage
inspection of its Chemical Transfer Facility. The inspection
was successfully completed in one day. This was the 12th inspection
of the Chemical Transfer Facility and was the 59th such inspection conducted
of ECBC’s operations activities since 1997.
January 28, 2008
Two mobile analytical laboratories designed and fabricated for
the Marine Corps System Command Chemical Biological Incident Response
Force are undergoing road testing at the Army Test Center and an evaluation
of the custom suspension system is being conducted by East Coast Off-Road,
a local Maryland company. Once testing is complete, analytical
equipment integration will take place. Training programs for operation
of the mobile labs have also been developed and will be delivered with
the laboratories.
ECBC is working with iRobot Corporation to establish a cooperative
research and development agreement for the further maturation of the
Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Unmanned Ground Vehicle (CUGV). The
CUGV was developed as part of a Defense Threat Reduction Agency initiative
to expand reconnaissance capabilities in the field. The unmanned vehicle
was one of two thrusts of the program, which also included integrating
a laser Raman spectroscopy detection technology on board a military
vehicle. The agreement will enable transition of technical data to iRobot
Corporation, and could result in availability of commercial alternatives.
ECBC is helping the Chemical Materials Agency develop test procedures
in order to establish a standard approach for mask fit testing at the
stockpile sites around the country. Earlier this month, ECBC
researchers, engineers and Chemical Materials Agency program managers
met to review preliminary data and determine next steps.
LTG Thomas Metz, Commander of the Joint IED Defeat Organization
(JIEDDO), will visit ECBC next week. He is scheduled to hear
updates on JIEDDO projects underway at ECBC and tour the prototype integration
facilities where some of the work for his organization is conducted.
LTG Metz will also be briefed during the visit on the RDECOM rapid prototype
development capabilities across the command.
ECBC recently signed two new agreements with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency as part of its on-going support of the agency’s
National Homeland Security Research Center. Under one agreement,
ECBC will assess the impact of chlorine dioxide gas on electronic equipment
and provide expertise and guidance on the selection and implementation
of decontamination methods. Under the second agreement, ECBC will develop
performance evaluation standards for research studies involving multiple
laboratories to assure the integrity of study data.
January 22, 2008
A Cydia pomonella (codling moth) cell line received from the
University of Warwick in the UK, has been successfully grown and cryopreserved
by ECBC scientists in support of a DTRA-funded project. This
success is significant in that this particular cell line has never been
successfully propagated outside of originating laboratories. These cells
will be infected with the baculovirius Cydia pomonella Granulovirus
(CpGV) in the development of an alternative to MS2 as viral simulant
for decon studies. CpGV is recognized safe by the US and Europe and
is currently used as a natural insect control agent. CpGV more closely
resembles poxviruses than MS2 due to its similar virion particle size
and double-stranded DNA. There are also no known mammalian hosts of
CpGV, making it a highly desirable viral simulant.
ECBC Mobile laboratory designers are preparing for next week's
Biological Assessment Mobile Laboratory Advanced Technology Demonstration
in Florida. The laboratory, which consists of two special containers
with laboratory equipment, was designed and built by ECBC to conduct
identification and viability assessment of potential biological warfare
material. The laboratory will conduct this diagnostic and viability
assessment while located onboard a host vessel at sea, and will be placed
on a Navy vessel for the upcoming demonstration.
ECBC Senior Technologist for Biotechnology Dr. Jay Valdes was
asked by the National Defense University (NDU) to assist in an evaluation
of "STAR 21” Technology Forecast Assessments: Strategic Technologies
for the Army of the 21st Century." "STAR 21" was
published in 1993 and included the National Research Council's technology
forecasts and investment recommendations to Assistant Secretary of the
Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, which commissioned the
NDU evaluation. The evaluation will assess the accuracy of those forecasts
and investments.
Yesterday, ECBC's Director of Research and Technology, Dr. Joseph
Corriveau, and Director for Program Integration, Mr. Joseph Wienand,
were inducted into the Senior Executive Service. About 200
ECBC employees and invited guests were present to witness the swearing-in
ceremony held at Edgewood.
January 14, 2008
ECBC respiratory protection specialists participated last month
in a meeting hosted by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to develop
a path forward for a FY10 combined technology demonstration for the
future integrated Ground Soldier System chemical-biological ensemble. ECBC
presented an overview of its current advanced respirator concept development
project and related science and technology efforts.
A paper written by scientists with ECBC's Laser Standoff Detection
Team was accepted for publication in Applied Spectroscopy. The
paper, "Bacillus Spore Classification via Surface-Enhanced Raman
Spectroscopy and Principal Component Analysis" will run in the
March 2008 issue.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has asked ECBC to study
three commercial off-the-shelf kits used by first responders to screen
suspicious powders for biological materials. Members of ECBC's
Mobile Labs and Kits Team and the BioDefense Team are working together
to evaluate the detection accuracy of these kits.
This week Dr. Jeff Runge, Assistant Secretary and Chief Medical
Officer, DHS, visited ECBC for presentations and tours of its toxicology
and chemistry laboratories. Dr. Runge also visited the Institute
for Chemical Defense at Edgewood. Also this week, COL Margaret Carter
and COL David Craft, commanders of the 1st and 9th Area Medical Laboratories
respectively, visited ECBC with their staffs. They toured mobile laboratories,
received overviews on current collective protection initiatives, and
toured ECBC's forensic analytical facility, new Advanced Chemistry Laboratory
and Biotechnology facility. COLs Carter and Craft indicated that they
would be contacting ECBC in the not too distant future to discuss possible
support.
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