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    Biological Defence Research, Land Division, Defence Science and Technology Group.

    1. State the objectives and funding of each programme and summarize the principal research and development activities conducted in the programme. Areas to be addressed shall include: prophylaxis, studies on pathogenicity and virulence, diagnostic techniques, aerobiology, detection, treatment, toxinology, physical protection, decontamination and other related research.

    The objective of the program is to provide the Australian Government with an appropriate understanding of the issues pertinent to protection against biological weapons. The program contributes to Defence support of civil authorities in the management of biological threats to the community.  The program also assists in the provision of a defensive capability for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) by enhancing the ability of the ADF to operate in parts of the world where biological weapons might be used.  It also enhances Australia's ability to contribute to biological arms control measures.  The principal research activities are concerned with the detection, diagnosis and characterisation of biological species that have been identified as potential biological warfare agents.  In addition, evaluations are performed into the cellular responses to those agents and candidate medical counter-measures. The program also covers toxins that are considered threats in terms of both the Biological and Chemical Weapons Conventions.

    2. State the total funding for each programme and its source.
    Funding source

    The program is funded solely by the Australian Department of Defence, with a funding allocation for the calendar
    year (1 January – 31 December 2021) of approximately AUD$3,000,000.

    Total Funding Amount: 
    $3,000,000
    Funding Currency: 
    AUD
    3. Are aspects of these programmes conducted under contract with industry, academic institutions, or in other non-defence facilities?
    yes
    4. If yes, what proportion of the total funds for each programme is expended in these contracted or other facilities?

    For the calendar year 2021, the following payments were made:

    • AUD$40,000 to La Trobe University
    5. Summarize the objectives and research areas of each programme performed by contractors and in other facilities with the funds identified under paragraph 4.

    The contract with La Trobe University is to support a PhD student in a project to develop fieldable next generation sequencing methods for pathogen identification.

    6. Provide a diagram of the organizational structure of each programme and the reporting relationships (include individual facilities participating in the programme).

    Defence Department

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    Defence Science and Technology Group

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    Land Division

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    Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence Branch

    Diagram Upload
    N/A
    7. Provide a declaration in accordance with Form A, part 2 (iii) for each facility, both governmental and non-governmental, which has a substantial proportion of its resources devoted to each national biological defence research and development programme, within the territory of the reporting State, or under its jurisdiction or control anywhere.
    N/A
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