CRTI announces $18.3 million for new counter-terrorism science and technology projects

OTTAWA, May 3 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada is investing $18.3 million in new projects by the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI). Of that sum, $15.9 million will go into research, technology acceleration and technology demonstration projects, and $2.4 million will be used to buy technology for federal laboratories.

"This round of project funding will enhance Canada's comprehensive preparedness against terrorist threats," said Defence Minister Bill Graham. "This initiative contributes to the government's Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Strategy through a co-ordinated research and development approach with government, industry and international academia."

The new projects will be in the following specialties: - health of plants and animals, and biosecurity of food, water, and agriculture and forest crops; - command and control for planning and response; - science and technology for training and equipment for first- responders; - long-term consequences management; and - criminal investigation capabilities.

CRTI is a $170-million, five-year interdepartmental initiative to enhance Canada's capacity to deal with potential CBRN threats to public security. This latest funding is part of the comprehensive $7.7 billion security package announced in Budget 2001. Since its launch in May 2002, CRTI has invested $92 million in 52 projects and spent $23.8 million on 65 technology acquisitions. The result of collaboration by the federal government's science- based and security departments and agencies, CRTI is led by Defence R&D Canada, an agency of the Department of National Defence.

Canada is putting $18.3 million in funding into the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI). Of that sum, $15.9 million will go into research, technology acceleration, and technology demonstration projects, and $2.4 million will be spent on new equipment for federal laboratories. This funding is part of the comprehensive $7.7 billion security package announced in Budget 2001. Since its launch in May 2002, CRTI has invested $92 million in 52 projects and spent $23.8 million on 65 technology acquisitions.

CRTI is a major contribution to national security by the Canadian science and technology (S&T) community. Over five years, CRTI will invest $170 million in science and technology projects to increase protection, detection and decontamination capabilities and thus improve public safety and security.

Led by Defence R&D Canada, an agency of the Department of National Defence, CRTI is a combined effort by the federal science-based and security- related institutions, including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., the Canada Border Services Agency, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Health Canada, the National Research Council of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, the Privy Council Office, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Transport Canada and the Treasury Board Secretariat.

Project types

- Technology acceleration projects: Target the commercialization of technologies that are already in the pipeline to address key capacity gaps and facilitate their delivery into the hands of first responders.

- Research and technology development projects: Close the gaps in knowledge and capabilities of the S&T and operational communities to improve the effectiveness of response to CBRN threats.

- Technology demonstration projects: Show first responders the value of new technology through partnerships and exercises, and by giving them new equipment and teaching them new techniques. "Technology acquisition" projects are conducted to equip federal government laboratories to conduct CBRN research and development or to support civil and military responders to a terrorist event.

By March 31, 2005, nine CRTI projects from the first two rounds of funding were completed. Some of the products are ready for commercialization, while others will lead to further research and development.

1. Defence R&D Canada - Ottawa and its partners developed a new detector that can sense radiation without actually contacting it, thus permitting detection and characterization of hazards from outside a contaminated area.

2. Working in co-operation with the National Research Council, AMITA Corporation designed the Rapid Triage Management Workbench, a user- friendly triage system for use in mass-casualty incidents by first- responders, hospital staff and humanitarian organizations. The workbench is ready for the market.

3. A project team led by the National Research Council achieved "proof of novel concept" with a nucleic acid biosensor with potential for detection and identification of bioterrorism agents, in medical triage applications, and for efficient diagnosis of infectious diseases. This project already has several patents pending.

In order of importance, here are the 12 projects to be launched with the new funding just announced:

Health of Plants and Animals, and Biosecurity of Food, Water, and Agriculture and Forest Crops

1. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will lead a project with the Canadian Forest Service and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to develop fungal pathogen DNA reference databases and collections to counter bioterrorism against agriculture and forestry.

2. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will work with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Universities of Prince Edward Island, Guelph, Montreal and Saskatchewan; the Governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Newfoundland; the Laboratoire d'épidémiosurveillance animal du Québec; TDV Global; and Prairie Diagnostics to develop the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Network.

3. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will lead a project with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, Alberta Agriculture and Iowa State University to research safe composting methods for disposing of contaminated animal carcasses following a bio-terrorism attack.

4. The National Research Council will work with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Defence R&D Canada - Suffield and Ionalytics Corporation to research unique analytical technology for the rapid separation and identification of chemical and biological agents in food and consumer products.

5. The RCMP will collaborate on a technology demonstration project with Defence R&D Canada - Suffield, Marathon Engineering and Magellan Engineering to field a container-piercing sampling and analysis apparatus for CBRN agents.

6. The RCMP will work with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Natural Resources Canada, Defence R&D Canada - Ottawa, Carleton University, AMITA Corporation and CAM Emergency Preparedness to develop and demonstrate a CBRN and explosives incident database for real-time data exchange between national and international agencies.

7. Health Canada's Radiation Protection Bureau will work with the Public Health Agency of Canada and Environment Canada to develop the Canadian Health Integrated Response Platform, for rapid data assimilation, identification and distribution during a biological, radiological or nuclear terrorist event.

8. Defence R&D Canada - Ottawa will lead a research project with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Bubble Technology Industries and the Joint Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defence Company to develop an electronic neutron dosimeter that will meet both civilian and military standards.

9. Med-Eng Systems Inc. will work with the RCMP and Defence R&D Canada to reconfigure the helmet of their chemical-biological protective suit to ensure that it does not emit at frequencies that would activate radio- controlled detonators.

10. Environment Canada will lead a team including the Public Health Agency of Canada, Defence R&D Canada, SAIC Canada, Allen-Vanguard and the US Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a field demonstration of advanced technologies for CBRN decontamination of buildings.

11. Environment Canada will work with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Defence R&D Canada - Suffield, the University of Ottawa, the University of Leeds, SAIC Canada, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Russian Research Institute of Hygiene, Toxicology and Occupational Pathology to develop standards for chemical and biological decontamination of buildings and structures affected by terrorism.

12. Defence R&D Canada - Ottawa will work with the RCMP, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Health Canada, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and SAIC Canada to enhance nuclear forensic response capabilities and interoperability.