Health Protection Agency teams up with MoD’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory to fight threat of Chemical Terrorism

23 June 2008

The Health Protection Agency and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) are to collaborate on a major £3.5million research programme to combat the threat of chemical terrorism.

Agency and Dstl scientists will join forces to develop new and improved ways of protecting the public from the accidental or deliberate release of toxic substances. 

Research will focus on decontamination procedures relating to hazardous materials such as toxic chemical agents and toxic industrial chemicals. Work will initially concentrate on decontamination procedures for emergency services.

Scientists will investigate decontamination methods at specialist Dstl labs, which were designed to safely handle toxic chemicals. Scientists will also use harmless chemical simulants in disaster planning exercises to test emergency services' ability to respond to a chemical terrorist attack.

The initial three-year programme is being funded by the Department of Health, Ministry of Defence, European Union's Health Programme and the US Department of Defense.

Agency Chairman, Sir William Stewart, said: "This collaboration represents a unique synergy of scientific knowledge, bringing together experts from both military and civilian backgrounds to ensure that the UK and its partners are best placed to deal with terrorist incidents."

Dstl Chief Executive, Dr Frances Saunders, said: "This is an excellent example of inter-agency co-operation, ensuring that maximum benefit is gained from using public sector facilities and expertise to address issues that are high on the government's agenda to protect the public from the threats posed by terrorism."

Press enquiries only: telephone (01235) 822745 / 822876, or email: chilton.pressoffice@hpa.org.uk

Notes for Editors

• The Agency and Dstl will collaborate with the Universities of Birmingham, Surrey and Cranfield as well as military establishments in France (Centre de Recherches du Service de Santé des Armées ), the Czech Republic (Faculty of Military Health Sciences),  the Swedish Defence Research Agency and the US Department of Defense.
• Dstl is an agency of the Ministry or Defence and exists to supply the very best, impartial, scientific and technical research and advice to the MoD and other Government departments.
• The Agency provides an integrated approach to protecting UK public health through the provision of support and advice to the NHS, local authorities, emergency services, other Arms Length Bodies, the Department of Health and the Devolved Administrations.

Last reviewed: 11 August 2008