Biological Science and Biotechnology in Russia Controlling Diseases and Enhancing Security (2006) / Chapter Skim
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The international community clearly recognizes that disease-related developments in Russia have profound global implications. Many Western countries have therefore initiated cooperative programs in Russia aimed at preventing the proliferation of biological materials and expertise to countries with hostile intentions.
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Further, the committee considered practical steps that could be taken by Russia, independently or collaboratively with international partners, to move toward the achievement of that vision. The specific charge to the NRC committee responsible for this assessment was as follows: This project will present a 5 to 10 year vision of an environment in Russia for biological research and production activities that encourages efforts to prevent bioterrorism and the proliferation of potentially dangerous biological agents and expertise while addressing public health, agricultural, industrial, environ mental, and scientific challenges.
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SUMMARY 3 To achieve this goal, the committee recommends strengthening Russian policies and programs by: · focusing on surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, and development of countermeasures (e.g., drugs and vaccines) capable of addressing diseases in the broadest sense · improving capabilities to detect and diagnose new, reemerging, and antibiotic-resistant pathogens in both rural and urban settings, including upgraded communication systems to provide timely and accurate information · integrating human and animal disease surveillance · monitoring food and water supplies for safety and potability · supporting well-focused research projects that strengthen the base of fundamental scientific knowledge · strengthening programs to commercialize scientific findings within a regulatory framework that supports public health and protects agriculture · developing an improved understanding of the relationships between infectious agents and important non-communicable chronic diseases, a priority of growing global interest · supporting the emergence of a strong domestic biotechnology sector that enhances efforts to combat infectious diseases affecting the Russian population · developing and implementing effective security procedures at hundreds of facilities that can propagate, store, or distribute pathogens which, if diverted, could be used for bioterrorism; an important initial step would be to conduct a careful nationwide inventory of strains and consolidate many collections where appropriate · promoting broad transparency of Russian research and other public health prevention and control activities involving dangerous pathogens, in order to reduce international apprehensions regarding the possible misuse of Russian research or the unauthorized diversion of infectious agents; comparable transparency would also be expected in other countries · recruiting, training, and retaining an expanded cadre of biomedical scientists, medical doctors, veterinarians, plant pathologists, epidemiologists, and other relevant specialists equipped with modern technology and positioned to deal with infectious disease threats Russia has the government institutions, legal framework, technical expertise, human resources, and distinguished tradition of scientific excellence needed to support these developments.
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· Establish two model State Sanitary Epidemiological Surveillance Centers (SSESCs) for surveillance, diagnosis, analysis, and communication of information concerning infectious disease episodes.
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Even though the Russian antiplague monitoring facilities have largely remained isolated from the international community, perhaps due to security sensitivities dating from the Soviet era, they continue to be an essential component of Russian efforts to prevent and control infectious diseases of local, national, and global interest. Their data banks and their strain collections are valuable resources and should be fully drawn upon when building modern disease prevention and control programs that include geographic monitoring, laboratory diagnosis, reference identification, and intervention.
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· Upgrade laboratory facilities and equipment for appropriate infectious disease-related research at selected laboratories throughout the country. Recent emphasis in Russia on using limited research funds primarily to meet payrolls has been accompanied by a dramatic decline in facility and equipment assets at research institutions, including the ability to maintain and disseminate data and to communicate rapidly both domestically and internationally.
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· Continuously expand the professional competence of specialists in fields related to infectious disease, particularly enhancing their ability to address multidisciplinary challenges through advanced training programs. Advanced training could be offered at the leading national and regional research and monitoring centers, and particularly at the two model centers recommended earlier.
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An emphasis on cooperative programs that address infectious diseases of global significance to human and animal populations of Russia and the United States, and particularly diseases of special importance in Eurasia, could be a very important focus of initial cooperation. The U.S.-Japan program, begun in 1965, could serve as a model for the commission.
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increase the role of Russian scientists and science administrators in designing cooperative programs and projects; and (2) increase Russian financial contributions to cooperative programs as a key to sustainability and as evidence that the programs reflect Russian national priorities.
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