Download

    Defence Research & Development Canada (DRDC)

    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 Canadian Biological Defence Program at Defence R&D Canada is to ensure that the Canadian Armed Forces are provided with an adequate defence against biological warfare agents. No offensive studies of any kind are permitted by the Government of Canada. The Program is primarily funded by the Canadian Department of National Defence on behalf of the Government. The principal research and development areas are the following:

    • assessment of the hazards that may be faced by the Canadian Armed Forces from biological agents and toxins;
    • detection of biological agents and toxins using immunological, biochemical and physical detection methods;
    • medical countermeasures against the infections or intoxications from biological agents and toxins;
    • decontamination of biological agents and toxins;
    • personal protection from biological agents and toxins;
    • studies on the mode of action and toxicity of toxins and the mode of action and infectivity of biological agents; and
    • provision of biological agent training for the Department of National Defence, its allies, and the First Responder community.
    2. State the total funding for each programme and its source.
    Funding source

    In Canada, the biological, chemical, and radiological defence programs are integrated; exact separation of the costs of the three programs would be very difficult without a detailed analysis of every purchase. However, it is estimated that in 2018, the amount spent on the Canadian biological defence program was approximately $4,658,921 including salaries, but excluding contracts to external entities.  The source of this funding was the Government of Canada.

    Total Funding Amount: 
    $4658921
    Funding Currency: 
    CAD
    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?

    About $ 1,102,000 was spent on contracts with industry and universities

    5. Summarize the objectives and research areas of each programme performed by contractors and in other facilities with the funds identified under paragraph 4.

    Contractors are used to support all of the various aspects of the program listed in paragraph 1 above.

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

    In Canada, the research and development program in biological defence is the responsibility of Defence R&D Canada (DRDC). Research and some development is carried out primarily at Defence R&D Canada – Suffield Research Centre (DRDC SRC) and through contractors. The bulk of the program development is carried out from DRDC Corporate headquarters in Ottawa. A minor effort in the stand-off detection of biological agents is carried out at DRDC Valcartier Research Centre (VRC). Organizational charts of those parts of DRDC SRC and DRDC VRC responsible for biological defence are included in Form A, part 2 (iii).  Only those organisational elements working on Biological Defence are included.

    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.

    Not applicable, please refer to Form A, Part 2 (iii) for further details.

    Attachments
    N/A

    Report Index