DHS Chemical and Biological Defense Division

S. Randolph Long, Acting Director

Parent agencyDHS Science and Technology DirectorateWebsiteDHS Chemical and Biological Defense Division

The Chemical and Biological Defense Division (CBD) is a division of the Science and Technology Directorate of the United States Department of Homeland Security. Within the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency, CBD develops technologies to increase the United States's preparedness and protect key national infrastructure against chemical, biological, and agricultural threats and disasters through improved threat awareness and advanced surveillance, detection, and protective countermeasures.^[1]

Overview

The 2007 High Priority Technical Needs brochure published by Homeland Security defines critical focus areas for chemical and biological research, falling primarily under the category of "chemical/biological weapons defense":^[2]

Tools to detect and mitigate animal disease breakouts
Policy net assessments to provide fresh perspectives on fundamental elements of the national biodefense strategy
Improved tools for integrated CBRN Risk Assessment
Incident characterization capability for response & restoration
Improved ChemBio Forensic Analysis capability
National-scale detection architectures and strategies to address outdoor, indoor (e.g., highly trafficked transportation hubs) and critical infrastructure
Consequence assessments of attacks on chemical facilities and Chem Bio attacks on other critical infrastructure
Integrated CBRNE Sensor Reporting capability
Handheld rapid biological and chemical detection systems
Detection paradigms and systems for enhanced, emerging and novel biological threats

References

^ "DHS | Science & Technology Directorate Borders & Maritime Security Division". Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
^ https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/High_Priority_Technology_Needs.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}