National SeriesLecture 1

IntroductionArmenia

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

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Outline

1. Where we are in the early 21st century

2. Outline of the following lectures

a) What we should know (learning outcome)

b) 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

Biotechnology: An integral part of national strategy in the 21st Century

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%

A growing market in Biotechnology: the pharmaceutical market (National Research Council, 2006: 85)

• Similar results in number of researchers and the amount of private investment for R&D in the life sciences

• Rapid growth in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East

(Ernst&Young 2011, Frost&Sullivan 2010)

Armenia: Life science outlook• The National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA)

was founded in 1943 as an independent self-governing organization.

• The Academy includes more than 50 institutes, technological centres and other scientific units where fundamental and applied research is carried out in the fields of natural, technical and humanitarian sciences. The Academy has 102 full members, 21 corresponding members and 24 foreign and 3 honorary members representing three scientific divisions: physical, mathematical and technical sciences; natural sciences; and humanitarian sciences.

• It also has a scientific library, an information centre, an international educational centre, and a publishing house. The Academy organizes scientific exchange programmes and collaborates with scientific organizations worldwide. (IAP 2012)

Armenia• The Presidium of NAS RA has five scientific divisions on particular

areas of science:

Division on Natural Sciences includes the following research branches:• Center for Ecological Noosphere Studies• Institute of Biochemistry• Institute of Botany• G.S.Davtyan Institute of Hydroponics Problems• Scientific and Production Center Armbiotechnology• Institute of Biotechnology Scientific and Production Center “Armbiotechnology”• “Institute of Microbiology” Scientific and Production Center “Armbiotechnology”• Division of Natural Sciences Microbial Depository Center• Institute of Molecular Biology• Institute of Physiology• Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology• Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology- Institute of Zoology• Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology- Institute of Hydroecology and

Ichthyology

(NAS RA 2012)

National Academy of Sciences: Armenia

Institute of Biotechnology Scientific and Production Center “Armbiotechnology”

• “The Institute of Biotechnology is one of three institutions of the Scientific and Production Center “Armbiotechnology” founded in 2010 by the RA Government Decision. The Institute of Biotechnology is an immediate successor of CJSC “SRI Biotechnology”, which before the USSR decay was the head scientific organization (NITIA), coordinating large-scale researches on development and production of high-purity amino acids.

• Currently the Institute of Biotechnology, having preserved its main scientific potential, is the leading scientific-research center of the Republic in the field of biotechnology. The Institute has 87 employees including 57 research workers, 1 of them is a Full Member of NAS RA, 3 - Doctors of Sciences, 24 - Candidates of Sciences, 6 laboratory assistants, 24 technical staff.”

National Academy of Sciences: Armenia

Institute of Molecular Biology

• The Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA) was founded in 1966 to encourage the development of molecular biology in Armenia. The research conducted in IMB in XX century had a significant input in the elucidation of structural and functional organization of nucleic acids, proteins, cells, and organelles. 

• Current research activities of IMB are focusing on investigation of regulatory mechanisms of cell activity and its alterations in a number of pathologic conditions including autoimmune, autoinflammatory, cerebrovascular, infectious, oncological, and psychiatric disorders. The research, conducting in vivo, in vitvo, in situ and in silico, includes human, animal, cell-cultures and computation modeling studies on genetic, protein, cellular, membrane, and sub-cellular levels. 

National Academy of Sciences: Armenia

The Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA)

• “Today IMB has 17 research units (10 laboratories and 7 groups), and 3 educational units, the Institutional Scientific Council, Young Scientists Council, and Ethics Committee. Among service units are the Library, Institutional Local Area Network containing Web server and 42 computers, Human DNA Samples Bank, Cell Lines Collection, and Animal House.

• Current research activities of IMB are focusing on investigation of regulatory mechanisms of cell activity and its alterations in a number of pathologic conditions including autoimmune, autoinflammatory, cerebrovascular, infectious, oncological, and psychiatric disorders. The research, conducting in vivo, in vitvo, in situ and in silico, includes human, animal, cell-cultures and computation modeling studies on genetic, protein, cellular, membrane, and sub-cellular levels. ”

Armenian Association of Biochemists

Promoting convergence between biology and chemistry

The Armenian Association of Biochemists (AAB) is a professional union of biochemists, molecular and cellular biologists, biophysics, and biomedical scientists, with objectives of promoting high-level biochemical practice, education, training and research in the field of biochemistry, molecular cell biology and biophysics in Armenia. AAB aims to realize the following issues: 

• To encourage the development of research in the field of biochemistry, molecular cell biology and  biophysics

• To provide scientific and methodological support for teaching process of subjects, related to biology, To promote implementation of modern, state-of-the-art medical technologies in Armenia,

• To spread knowledge and promote scientific progress by addressing publication of textbooks, methodological manuals and other materials in the field of biosciences…

PubMed search with “Armenia”

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Key word hits in Publication data base

Numbers

Empowering young biologists

• Young Biologists Association NGO was established in 2009. The members of organization are more than 170 young scientists and students from universities and scientific institutions of Armenia.

• Our mission is to consolidate young professionals from different fields of biology, to realize their ideas, and to implement biology and nature conservation oriented projects. Our activities are also directed to expand youth participation towards society development.

Empowering young biologists:Young Biologists Assocaition

Empowering young biologists:International Biology Olympiad

• The International Biology Olympiad (IBO) is a competition for secondary school students, who are winners of their respective National Biology Olympiad.

• Their skills in tackling biological problems, and dealing with biological experiments are tested. Interest in biology, inventiveness, creativity and perseverance are necessary.

• In bringing together gifted students, the IBO tries to challenge and stimulate these students to expand their talents and to promote their career as scientists.

• A very important point is bringing together young people from over the world in an open, friendly and peaceful mind.

• Every participating country sends four students, who are the winners of the respective national competitions. They are accompanied by two team leaders who represent the country.

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)

Hostile

Peacefu

l

Meselson’s 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.”

Meselson’s 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.

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

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

Dual-use: broader concept Peaceful Non-peaceful

Dual-use: traditional conceptMilitary Civilian

Armenia and international regimesWMD• When the Soviet Union collapsed, Armenia did not have any weapons of mass

destruction on its territory, nor did Soviet-era industry manufacture any key components for weapons of mass destruction or their means of delivery on Armenian territory. Armenia possesses some conventional weapons production capabilities, mostly as a result of its long-standing conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over a primarily Armenian-populated region, Nagorno-Karabakh.#

BTWC• Accession (7 June 1994)• During the Soviet era, the Armenian Center for Prophylaxis of Especially

Dangerous Diseases (formerly known as the Armenian Anti-Plague Station) was part of the Soviet anti-plague system, the primary objective of which was to control endemic diseases and prevent the importation of exotic pathogens that could threaten crops, animals, and humans.In the late 1960s, however, the system also was tasked with defending the USSR against biological attacks.

(Nuclear Threat Initiative 2012)

Country name and international regimes

CWC• Signature (19 March 1993); Ratification (27 January 1995)

• On 15 May 1992, Armenia signed the Tashkent Agreement of the Commonwealth of Independent States, according to which Russia was acknowledged as the legal inheritor of Soviet chemical weapons.

• In signing the agreement, Armenia agreed to abide by the 1925 Geneva Protocol, to abide by the Soviet moratorium of 1987 on the production of chemical weapons, to coordinate its policy with a view to achieving the speedy conclusion of a multilateral and verifiable convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons, and to coordinate its policy in regards to controlling the export of dual-use chemicals.

(Nuclear Threat Initiative 2012)

National Series: Lecture Outline

2. Biosecurity Threats 3. The Web of Prevention

4. National Measures5. Responsibility of Scientists

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• ‘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.

Unpredictable future of the life sciences

Reviewing threats (Lecture 2)

Manmade threats: warfare, crime and terrorism

Safety/accidental risks at laboratories

Natural outbreaks of infectious disease

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

The Web of Prevention (WoP) (Lecture 3)

Web of prevention

Public health measures

Laboratory measures

International prohibition

regime

Export control

Intelligence

Biodefense

Oversight and review of Sci-Tech

Responsible conduct

Natural threats

Safety risks

Governance of science

Manmade threats

National implementation (Lecture 4)

To National Context

National implementation (Lecture 4)

1• International agreements

2• Signature and ratification by states

3

• National measures in states• Legislation, regulation, order or other forms

of governance

Worldwide engagement of life scientists with the WoP will:

• Effectively strengthen biosecurity measures by requiring the engagement of practicing scientists

• Prevent unnecessary restriction of scientific freedoms

• 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

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

The need for responsible conduct in research(Lecture 5)

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)

National Series:WoP = Biosecurity Education = Biosecurity Competency

References

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