The European Biotoxin Task Force (BTF)
The BTF is being created to address high-priority issues and challenges for securing societies from the threat of potential biotoxin accidents where pathogens could be released accidentally from bio-laboratories or intentionally by malicious agents.
Innovations in biotechnology and the resultant expansion of laboratory infrastructure increase the likelihood of untoward events whilst working with biological agents. Random accidents, human error, poorly designed processes and inadequate training programmes all increase the risk of a biological incident. Also to be borne in mind is the risk of malicious release of biological agents, and within this the risk of specifically engineered agents which could potentially be more dangerous than naturally occurring agents.
Designer engineered threat agents are potentially more dangerous than viruses with a natural origin and could be released with dramatic effect. Concerns over the security of communities has driven a need for binding international standards for safe and responsible work on these highly dangerous pathogens.
The intention of EMBRACE is to create a standing body of experts whose objectives may vary depending on the nature of the problem they are addressing, but with a combined and shared expertise in all aspects of the threat: As a need has been identified for the creation of binding international standards to ensure safe and responsible use of biological agents. Thereby mitigating the risks of biological incidents.
The CBRNe Cluster of projects (CSTAC)
EMBRACE is working with all projects engaged in the CBRN and Standardisation space by leading the network CSTAC. CSTAC is constituted as an informal, voluntary and free subset of the CERIS DRS community, made-up of projects working on related research areas under the Disaster Resilient Societies (DRS) framework and of other programmes such as the Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network (UCPKN) and European Defence Fund (EDF).
The Cluster’s purpose is simply to promote good practice in research through collaboration and to recognise opportunities for efficiency wherever appropriate through combined activity such as dissemination events.
Membership has been opened to current projects funded by any European Grant Agreement with the Cluster typically involving between 15 and 20 projects. Clusters also maintain the impact and legacy of recently concluded projects by encouraging coordinators to stay engaged after the end of their projects to ensure that their legacy is understood, disseminated and used where possible.
To give an idea of scope, the initial projects engaged with by EMBRACE include:
• PEERS - Making CBRN Standards relevant to first responders using worked examples Standardisation
• EuroBioTox - The establishment of validated procedures for the detection and identification of biological toxins
• HolozCan - Deep Learning Powered Holographic Microscopy for Biothreat Detection on Field
• PROACTIVE - Testing common approaches between European safety and security practitioners, in particular Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) and CBRNe First Responders
• NEST - Detection of multiple threats amongst which CBRN threats or pandemic viruses are present
• INCLUDING - Developing a Federation to provide a common framework to standardize access to CBRN facilities
• E-Notice - Development of a European Network Of CBRN Training Centers
• VERTIgO - Taking an integrated approach to conflicts and disaster relief by virtualization and simulation of CBRN defence training
• STRATEGY - Ensuring first responders’ safety and empowering their operational capacity through standardisation
• VALKYRIES - Harmonization and Pre-Standardization of Equipment, Training and Tactical Coordinated procedures for First Aid Vehicles
New projects are constantly coming onboard and the group is now expanding into the realms of other programmes reflecting its thematic nature