Protect (Applied Research)

Abstract

The Protect Applied Research Project provides the Joint Force the ability to prevent the effects from exposure to chemical and biological hazards. PT2 emphasizes increasing protection capability and reducing physiological effects, preventing or reducing individual and collective exposures, applying prophylaxis to prevent or mitigate negative physiological effects, and protecting critical equipment in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) environments. Thrust Areas included in this Project are: (1) Biological Warfare Defense Prophylaxis (2) Nerve Agent Prophylaxis/Pretreatments (3) Dynamic Multifunctional Materials for Second Skin (4) All-Hazards & Respiratory Protection (5) Multifunctional Materials for Protection (6) Air Purification Enhancements (7) Enhanced Survivability Coatings Biological Warfare Defense Prophylaxis: Provides the Warfighter protection against biothreat agents through the pre-exposure administration of prophylactics against known bacterial, viral and toxin agents of interest and emerging infectious threats. Medical countermeasure (MCM) strategies against broader classes of biological agents will be pursued with emphasis on broad-spectrum protection based on mechanism of action. The manufacturing processes for platform technologies will be adapted to maximize flexibility, increase stability, shelf life, and expand storage conditions. Efforts will also be adapted to maximize delivery flexibility through modifying delivery routes, which will allow for dose and reagent sparing. The FY23 efforts include additional investments in enhanced biodefense and pandemic preparedness. Nerve Agent Prophylaxis/Pretreatments: Obtain the first prophylactic MCMs designed to prevent severe morbidity and mortality upon exposure to nerve agents without the need for additional individual physical protective equipment. Dynamic Multifunctional Materials for Second Skin: Unencumber the Warfighter by dynamically optimizing protective garment thermal burden and responsive technologies. All-Hazards & Respiratory Protection: Improve chemical and biological agent protection while maintaining Warfighter capability through integrated research on respirator, seams, closures, and new materials; perform early surveys for end-user jury input; frequent user operational evaluation; focus on closed circuit full spectrum respiratory protection. Multifunctional Materials for Protection: Discover, develop and integrate novel, reactive/catalytic materials and scale material manufacturing with maximum sorption and reactivity, and characterize materials using state-of-the-art in operando and ambient pressure spectroscopies, for eventual integration into next generation coatings, filters, and protective garments that reactively decontaminate chemical warfare agents. Air Purification Enhancements: Optimize and extend filter life to save costs while maintaining or improving protection and improve integration of collective protection into developmental Service major combat platforms. Enhanced Survivability Coatings: Address materiel surface ease of decontamination and resistance to chemical agent penetration. Projects will develop temporary coatings that resist chemical agent absorption and are quickly decontaminated in the field and allow the rapid regeneration of combat power.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2023
• Source ID: PT2_0602384BP_2_0400_PB_2023

Tags

Readers

• Critical Infrastructure Protection in CBRN and WMD Threats.
• Materials Science
• Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.