National Series Lecture 1 Introduction Kyrgyzstan

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National SeriesLecture 1IntroductionKyrgyzstan

• Bradford Disarmament Research CentreDivision of
  Peace Studies, University of Bradford, UK

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Outline

• Where we are in the early 21st century
• Outline of the following lectures
• What we should know (learning outcome)
• What we can do (policy contribution)

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What is Life Science?

• Any field of science that is leading to or has
  the potential to lead to an enhanced
  understanding of living organisms, especially
  human life.
• E.g. Biology, proteomics, genetic engineering,
  nanotechnology, aerosol technology, chemistry and
  mathematics
• (National Research Council, 2006 27)

• Applied in
• Public health, Medicine, Agriculture, Energy,
  Environment and National security studies

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Biotechnology An integral part of national
strategy in the 21st Century
A growing market in Biotechnology the
pharmaceutical market (National Research
Council, 2006 85)
Region Annual Worth Share
North America 204 Billion 51
Europe 102 Billion 25
Japan 47 Billion 12
Asia, Africa, Australia 32 Billion 8
Latin America 17 Billion 4

• Similar results in number of researchers and
  the amount of private investment for RD in the
  life sciences
• Rapid growth in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle
  East
• (ErnstYoung 2011, FrostSullivan 2010)

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Kyrgyzstan National Academy of Sciences

• Kyrgyz Academy of Sciences (official name
  National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of
  Kyrgyzstan), originally part of the Soviet
  Academy of Sciences, was established as an
  independent entity by government decree in
  December 1993.
• (NASKR 2012)

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Kyrgyzstan Life science outlook

• National Academy of Science has to perform the
  following important tasks
• To advance basic researches and obtain new
  knowledge on nature and society
• To converse new opportunities into really
  needed knowledge, technology and products in
  Kyrgyzstan and competitive in the world
• To build and establish basics for development
  of strategic sectors and public processes in the
  country
• To secure innovation growth by integrating
  effectively a science, production and vocational
  education.
• (NASKR 2012)

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Kyrgyzstan National Academy of Science

• Institute of Biotechnology, working on the
• Creation of genetic resource bank of plants,
  livestock and microorganisms.
• Development of vaccines and other biological
  defense technology to protect farm animals
  against infectious and special danger diseases.
• Creation and maintenance of a collection of
  manufacturing strains and microorganisms.
• Research of natural nidality of infectious
  diseases common for humans and livestock.
• Research and development of the technology for
  obtaining bioactive substance (BAS) for
  iodine-iron deficiency prophylaxis.

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Kyrgyzstan National Academy of Science

• Institute of Medical Problems, working on
• Diseases  prevention  measures  and  maintenance  
  of  human  physiological  balances  in
  mountains environment as well as in bad
  ecological conditions and pathology.
• Preservation of genetic human resources.
• Development and introduction of
  import-substituting and export-oriented
  technologies in pharmacology and medicine.
• Different types of medicinal tea (hepatitic,
  vitamin, choleretic, hypotensive, nephritic),
  tinctures (golden root, nut etc.), vitamin
  concentrates, medicinal oils (rosehip,
  sea-buckthorn), ointments, concentrates, food
  additives obtained from local herbs of
  ecologically pure zones of Kyrgyzstan

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PubMed search with Kyrgyzstan
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Kyrgyzstan National Academy of Science

• Collaboration with the International Science and
  Technology Center (ISTC)
• Institute of Biochemistry Physiology, National
  Academy of Science of Kirgizstan
• STC Projects, includingKR-1101 Anthrax Agents
  in Kyrgyzstan, 
• KR-1133 Sheep Pox Vaccine, 
• Kr-1154.2 Kyrgyz Center for Infectious
  Diseases, 
• KR-1406 Maintenance of the Collection of
  Microorganisms, 
• KR-1610 Biochips in the Diagnostic of Emerging
  Infectious Zoonotic Diseases, KR-1632 Pollution
  of Kyrgyzstan by Anthrax Agents, 
• KR-1768 Regulations on Biosafety in Kyrgyzstan, 

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International Conference

• First International Biology Conference in
  Kyrgyzstan
• First International Biology Congress in
  Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Manas University
  (KTMU) by the Department of Biology, Faculty of
  Science campus conference halls Chingiz Aitmatov
  was held on 24-27 September 2012.
• The aim of the congress in the world that has
  become more and more important with each passing
  day that works in all areas of biological
  sciences of biology, agriculture, veterinary
  medicine, medicine, and presented the results of
  their latest research colleagues in various
  fields such as food. 
• The program of the First International Biology
  Congress in Kyrgyzstan, 6 invited speaker, Oral
  Presentation of the 198 pieces and Poster
  Presentation of 161 pieces of eight different
  sections, for a total of 359 papers  are
  presented.

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International Collaboration

• Kyrgyzstan National Academy of Sciences and
  Emerging Pathogens Institute (University of
  Florida)
• The SEER Lab of the University of Florida) has
  partnered with the Department of Emerging
  Bacterial Infections, Walter Reed Army Institute
  of Research to provide the Kyrgyz Institute of
  Biotechnology, a part of the Kyrgyz National
  Academy of Sciences, with a two-week workshop on
  molecular pathogen characterization and
  phylogenetics/phylogeography.
• Funded by WRAIR through the US Defense Threat
  Reduction Agency, participants will work with
  SEER Lab and WRAIR trainers to learn PCR and
  genotyping techniques that will enhance the
  diagnostic and strain characterization capacity
  of the IBT and strengthen ongoing collaborative
  projects between the SEER Lab and IBT. 

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Nanotechnology in Kyrgyzstan

• Nanotechnology Now (3 October 2007)
• The Nanotechnologies Development Board in
  Kyrgyzstan was established and vice
  prime-minister of Kyrgyz Republic Dosbol Nur uulu
  held its first meeting on October 3 2007,
  informs KABAR. During the meeting, the current
  state of nanotechnologies in Kyrgyzstan was
  discussed. It was decided, that the interested
  ministries should prepare proposals for
  development of such technologies.
• No doubt that nanoscience and nanotechnologies
  have become one of the perspective areas of
  science, industry, and business. However, it
  requires not only significant financial and
  intellectual resources, which only rich developed
  countries can afford, but also a good basis of
  fundamental science and research.

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Life Science Laboratories

• Kyrgyzstan needs a biological laboratory to
  ensure biological security
• To ensure biological security Kyrgyzstan needs a
  biological laboratory, the president of the
  National Academy of Sciences of the KRG Sharipa
  Zhorobekova declared today at the press
  conference.
• According to her, a fuss around the construction
  of the biological laboratory in Bishkek was
  raised artificially. In mass media there are
  opinions of ignorant people giving wrong
  information. So already the third laboratory is
  being constructed in Almaty, in Dushanbe a
  similar object is going to be built near the
  residence of the head of state. There people
  understand that the existence of such institute
  will be of a great benefit to the country. But we
  have not yet decided, said Sharipa Zhorobekova.
• (Marchenko, 2011)

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Why do we care? Should this be an issue for us?

• The dual-use nature of science and technology
• Every major technology metallurgy, explosives,
  internal combustion, aviation, electronics,
  nuclear energy has been intensively exploited,
  not only for peaceful purposes but also for
  hostile ones.
• Must this also happen with biotechnology,
  certain to be a dominant technology of the
  twenty-first century?
• Matthew Meselson Professor of Molecular Biology
  at Harvard University
• (Meselson, 2000 16)

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Meselsons Forecast in 2000

• Ability
• Our ability to modify fundamental life processes
  continues its rapid advance
• We will be able not only to devise additional
  ways to destroy life but will also become able to
  manipulate it
• Dilemma
• This has a Vast potential for beneficial
  application and could have inimical consequences
  for the course of civilization.

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Meselsons Forecast in 2000

• At present, we appear to be approaching a
  crossroads a time that will test whether
  biotechnology
• Will come to be intensively exploited for hostile
  purposes, or
• Our species will find the collective wisdom to
  take a different course.

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Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention
(BTWC)1972

• Article I
• Each State Party to this Convention undertakes
  never in any circumstances to develop, produce,
  stockpile or otherwise acquire or retain
• 1. Microbial or other biological agents or toxins
  whatever their origin or method of production, of
  types and in quantities that have no
  justification for prophylactic, protective or
  other peaceful purposes.
• This applies not only to states but also to
  non-state actors

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Science and Security Dual-Use

• The need for a broader conceptualisation of
  dual-use
• Biological agents and toxins can be used for
  hostile purposes without weaponization and
  technology is typically diffused globally for
  peaceful purposes
• Hostile use can take the form of criminal acts or
  terrorist acts (non-state level) in parallel to
  military application (state level),
• The BTWC prohibits the misuse of the life
  sciences by both states and non-state actors

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Kyrgyzstan and international regimes

• WMD
• Kyrgyzstan does not possess nuclear, chemical, or
  biological weapons programs, and is a member of
  relevant nonproliferation treaties and
  organizations. Kyrgyzstan inherited a large
  uranium mining and milling complex and several
  military-related industrial facilities when the
  Soviet Union collapsed.
• BTWC
• Accession (15 November 2004)
• CWC
• Accession (29 October 2003)
• (Nuclear Threat Initiative 2012)

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National Series Lecture Outline

• 2. Biosecurity Threats
• 3. The Web of Prevention
• 4. National Measures
• 5. Responsibility of Scientists

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Reviewing threats (Lecture 2)
Natural outbreaks of infectious disease
Safety/accidental risks at laboratories
Manmade threats warfare, crime and terrorism
Unpredictable future of the life sciences

• No single focal point of threats
• Potential actors, material and information, which
  can be related to dual-use issues, exist at
  international, regional, national, local and
  individual levels.

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The Web of Prevention (WoP) (Lecture 3)

• To address natural outbreaks of infectious
  disease
• Public health preparedness and response planning
• To address safety/accidental risks
• Laboratory regulations to safely manage
  dangerous pathogens and toxins, to prevent an
  accidental release into the environment and
  unauthorized access
• To address manmade threats
• Strong international arms control agreements with
  effective national implementation
• Internationally coordinated export controls
• Intelligence
• Biodefense
• To address the unpredictable future of the life
  sciences
• Oversight Review of security-sensitive science
  and technology developments
• Responsible conduct in research through education

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Natural threats
Safety risks
Manmade threats
Governance of science
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National implementation (Lecture 4)
To National Context
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National implementation (Lecture 4)
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Worldwide engagement of life scientists with the
WoP will
The need for responsible conduct in
research(Lecture 5)

• Effectively strengthen biosecurity measures by
  requiring the engagement of practicing scientists
• Prevent unnecessary restriction of scientific
  freedoms

Engagement of informed life scientists about
biosecurity issues is key to successful security

• Education of, and capacity building among,
  scientists on biosecurity issues is necessary for
  successful security
• Uninformed scientists no effective science
  policy inputs to the WoP

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Biosecurity Definition issues

• The term biosecurity has been conceptualised
  differently across various scientific and
  professional disciplines
• Areas The term has been used in ecology,
  agriculture, food supply, arms control and public
  health contexts, with different meanings and
  conceptualisations
• Policy processes these overlap with
  interdisciplinary areas such as biosafety,
  counter-terrorism, agricultural biosecurity and
  biodiversity
• Linguistic In addition to these conceptual
  complications, biosecurity has also experienced
  linguistic complications
• (Fidler and Gostin 2007, Sunshine Project 2003,
  Barletta 2002)

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National SeriesWoP Biosecurity Education
Biosecurity Competency
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References

• The references cited in this lecture are viewable
  in the Notes section of this presentation.