Fundamental Research for Combating WMD
Abstract
This project provides for the discovery and development of fundamental knowledge and understanding by research performers drawn primarily from academia and world-class research institutions in government and industry. This leverages the Department of Defense’s (DoD) $2 billion annual investment in basic research by ensuring a motivation within the scientific community to conduct research benefiting Weapons of Mass Destruction-related defense missions and by improving Agency knowledge of other research efforts of potential benefit to Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) nonproliferation, counter proliferation and consequence management efforts. These efforts are closely coordinated with the Chem-Bio Technology Portfolio, which executes a basic research program under the joint Chem-Bio Defense Program. Agency research interests are coordinated with those of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Service basic research programs through the Defense Basic Research Advisory Group. DTRA reviews research interests annually to focus on technology areas not clearly addressed by other basic research efforts. Project RU (Fundamental Research for Combating WWD) supports several National and Department initiatives directly related to countering WMD. The 2010 QDR directs capability enhancements, including: accelerate the development of standoff radiological/nuclear detection capabilities; and prevent proliferation and counter weapons of mass destruction with specific initiatives to: 1) Research countermeasures and defenses to non-traditional agents, 2) Enhance nuclear forensics, 3) Secure vulnerable materials, 4) Develop new verification technologies, and 5) Develop an in-depth understanding of the capabilities, values, intent, and decision making of potential adversaries, whether they are individuals, networks, or states. Basic research supporting all of these needs is included in this program element under projects RU-Fundamental Research for Combating WMD. Additionally, this Project supports the National Strategy for Countering Biological Threat priority/focus area 1) Global Health Security, 2) Life Sciences, 3) Capability Expansion, and 4) Leveraging Science. The DTRA Basic Research program accomplishes research in the life sciences, which has cross-cutting applicability and thus is relevant to a variety of DoD mission spaces, within and outside of those related to countering biological threats. In the general sense, these efforts are relevant for biologically-based and inspired materials for DoD applications, including passive and/or remote sensing; and they expand our capability to apprehend those engaged in bio-weapons proliferation and terrorism by supporting basic research on bio-agent neutralization and bio-agent defeat employing combustion or deflagration. Finally, this project supports and administers the Cooperative Biological Engagement Program "Cooperative C-WMD research with global partners program", for which the core goals are to secure dangerous pathogens, promote open and active disease reporting and response, and advance transparent research to understand pathogens and develop potential countermeasures. The decrease from FY 2012 to FY 2013 is predominately due to a reduction in the number of grants awarded and the elimination of dedicated support to transition discoveries to DTRA applied research. The increase in FY 2014 is due to increased investment in Fundamental Research to maintain zero real growth in funding per the Defense Planning Guidance for activities related to the discovery and development of fundamental knowledge for the benefit of Counter WMD related defense missions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2014
- Source ID
- RU_0601000BR_1_0400_PB_2014
Entities
Organizations
- Toronto Metropolitan University
Related Documents
- Root: DTRA Basic Research Initiative
- Child Accomplishment: Project RU: Fundamental Research for Combating WMD