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For Immediate Release
August 15, 2003
Park tenants host symposium to combat terrorism
RICHMOND, Va. – More than 60 scientists, industry leaders
and government officials attended the first-ever symposium
on toxic chemicals and materials co-sponsored by two tenants
of the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park – Scentczar
Corp. and Science Applications International Corp.
The Aug. 14-15 meeting at Virginia Commonwealth University’s
School of Engineering was a great success, said Scentczar
President Joseph Roehl, Ph.D.
According to Roehl, “Determining what industrial chemicals
could be used in terrorist activities has become a critical
issue in homeland defense. The purpose of this event was to
bring together industry and government representatives to
evaluate the problem and begin discussions between various
government agencies, chemical industry representatives and
emergency equipment developers to implement solutions.”
Toxic industrial chemicals and materials are a particular
concern to national security because of their availability,
toxicity and the ease by which they can be incorporated into
terrorist activities. Many organizations have developed hazard
indices that list and rank industrial chemicals according
to their production, storage, toxicity and vapor pressure
as well as flammability and corrosiveness. Based on these
indices, the government can work cooperatively with private
industry to protect the public against terrorist attacks.
Daniel R. Civis, chief of chemical preparedness for the Department
of Homeland Security, told participants that the department
is looking for new and innovative ideas to keep the country
safe from the threats of industrial chemicals.
“It's all about sharing best practices,” said
Civis. “We constantly encourage those in our program
to learn about what is being done in the private industry
and other disciplines within the emergency management community.
Attending symposiums such as this allows us to share what
we are doing with the chemical industry as well as provide
me an opportunity to learn more about what is being done outside
government.”
Larry Staunton, Acutech Associates, described the actions
taken by the chemical industry immediately after the events
of Sept.11, 2001, to ensure that America’s chemical
plants remained secure.
Scentzar, a small Virginia business, recently patented the
world’s first Residual Life Indicator, a device designed
to ensure that the carbon beds used in chemically protective
suits, gas mask filters and collective protection filters
for buildings will operate properly during a chemical warfare
attack. Scentczar also develops low-power custom electronic
hardware, pattern-recognition software and chemical instruments
used in a wide range of areas, including weapon systems, hydrocarbon
fuel storage and spoilage, locomotive efficiency and de-icing
technology.
SAIC’s Richmond operation conducts structure-based
drug design and development studies in collaboration with
the National Cancer Institute to identify therapeutics that
will inhibit ebola virus and botulinum toxins.
“The biotechnology industry continues to play an integral
role in national defense, whether it is in assisting the development
of vaccines for infectious diseases, creating measures to
ensure the safety of the nation’s food and drug supply
or protection of drinking waters supplies,” said Robert
Skunda, president and CEO of the BioTech Park. “Inhibiting
the use of toxic industrial chemicals in terrorist activities
has now become an important area for which our biotechnology
companies are creating innovative solutions.”
Contact:
Nicky Colomb
Virginia BioTechnology Research Park
Phone: (804) 828-6884
E-mail: ncolomb@vabiotech.com
Web site: http://www.vabiotech.com
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