Controlling Dangerous Pathogens A Blueprint for U.S.-Russian Cooperation: A Report to the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program of the U.S. Department of Defense (1997) / Chapter Skim
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2 Establishing the Basis for Long-Term Cooperation
2 Establishing the Basis for Long-Term Cooperation
Pages 23-33
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From page 23... ...
Also, they are making timely contributions at the scientist-toscientist level to provide insights about the capabilities of the two countries in calTying out research on dangerous pathogens insights that are critical for sustaining a broadly based long-term program of cooperation. Finally, funding by the Defense Department of the pilot projects recommended by the committee helped convince Russian colleagues that the committee's undertaking was a serious endeavor with strong backing from the U.S.
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From page 24... ...
Discussions continued at a smaller follow-up meeting organized by the WAS committee in Moscow in June 1997, attended by representatives of Biopreparat and directors of several of its key research institutes. This meeting brought into sharper focus future project directions and approaches for joint planning and development of specific research activities.
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From page 25... ...
Effective bilateral cooperation with specialists from Biopreparat institutions, supplemented by specialists from institutes subordinate to other Russian organizations, would be a significant contribution to reducing He likelihood of proliferation and expanding research that supports public health goals. INITIAL PILOT PROJECTS With Russian colleagues, the committee developed the cooperative pilot projects at two Russian institutes that are identified in Box E-]
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From page 26... ...
· Reciprocal access to laboratories within the context of these projects offers new insights about biotechnology activities in key Russian facilities an important contribution to confidence building. Selection of the Institutes Given the short lead time available for establishing these projects, the NAS committee, with DOD concurrence, decided to locate them at the State Research Center for Applied Microbiology in Obolensk and the State Research Center for Virology and Biotechnology, "Vector" in Koltsovo.
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From page 27... ...
· Engagement of former Soviet BW expertise: the project involves former or current defense scientists, or facilities or it provides important contributions to a larger program that involves such scientists or facilities. ~ o - - r ~^ · Promotion of transparency: the project meets standard ISTC access criteria, and reciprocal laboratory visits between collaborators are an integral aspect.
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From page 28... ...
Value Added by the NAS Committee In working with ISTC staff and reviewing related ISTC projects, the committee recognized that it could offer value added to the usual approach of the ISTC. In general, the governments that are parties to the ISTC agreement have had little influence over the proposals related to dangerous pathogens that Russian institutes have chosen to submit for consideration; they have simply considered any proposals that are submitted to the ISTC.
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From page 29... ...
The usual time needed to launch an ISTC project includes 6 to 12 months to develop a fundable proposal and an additional 6 to 9 months from ISTC acceptance of a fun.dable proposal until the operative commencement date of the project a total of 12 to 21 months. The required time to launch the six pilot projects included three months for the Russian institutes to prepare fundable proposals and three months from the date of submission to ISTC until the operative commencement dates.
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From page 30... ...
Given the increasing number of bilateral efforts, it is essential for central offices to have up-to-date information on such activities. Because the same scientists may be participating in projects under the auspices of different cooperative programs, such a registry will be most useful if it includes all cooperative activities involving defense scientists.
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From page 31... ...
Likelihood of sustainability: the project should be of interest to commercial, government, or other organizations that want to build on the research results and have the financial means to continue supporting research in the general field after project completion. Many aspects of research on dangerous pathogens are considered to be within the public health responsibilities of governments; therefore public funds are undoubtedly needed to continue activities in a number of areas.
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From page 32... ...
With the transfer to Russian institutes and U.S. collaborators of approximately $500,000, six pilot projects are under way, two others are in the final stages of development The process of developing these projects and their first few months of activity are demonstrating that collaborative efforts operated under expert guidance and within an elective administrative framework can engage key Russian defense scientists, attract excellent U.S.
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From page 33... ...
In summary, the recent experience of the committee confirms that despite current political uncertainties and economic difficulties in Russia, it is feasible to implement important cooperative programs involving Russian defense scientists that serve the national security, public health, economic development, and scientific objectives of both countries as set forth in Chapter ~ .
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