(Ed.Note: ASA did request input from several Battelle professionals for this article; however, the views expressed are solely ASA's and are based on almost 25 years of working with and observing Battelle and our professional associates worldwide. Richard Price)
Battelle and Security and Global Business
Battelle, the world's largest non-profit independent R&D organization, is an international science and technology enterprise providing innovative solutions to the world's most pressing needs across the spectrum in science, medicine and engineering. It conducts over $4.0 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management and technology commercialization. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle oversees more than 20,400 employees in more than 120 locations worldwide, including six national laboratories which Battelle manages or co-manages for the US Departments of Energy and Homeland Security. Battelle also maintains several of its own laboratories in the US and other countries.
As Battelle's Chief Executive Officer, Carl Kohrt has noted: Battelle has long maintained a major international science and technology presence in the world's business centers in many countries including Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the Ukraine and others. Battelle also helped establish the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and has had a 40-year collaboration with Japan's Mitsubishi Corp. Battelle is no stranger to the world's R&D stage.
Battelle internationally has three primary functions: Global Laboratory Operations, Global Businesses, and Battelle Ventures. Of particular interest to ASA and the CBMTS/ICBPS family worldwide are the Global Business and Laboratory Management functions which continue to integrate science, technology and intellectual property into solutions for Battelle's customers through three distinct global businesses; National Security and Defense, Energy Science and Technology, and Health and Life Sciences.
ASA has worked with Battelle's dedicated professionals in National Security and Defense for over 24 years. In 1983 ASA executed the very first US international survey of MoD's and their NBC organizations, laboratories, equipment and procedures for the DoD under the umbrella and auspices of Battelle's National Security and Defense unit.
According to Steve Kelly, President, Battelle National Security Global Business (NSGB), Battelle's NSGB unit applies science and technology to solve complex technical challenges for military services, government agencies and laboratories and industries. Including the operations of national laboratories, Battelle annually conducts nearly $1.6 billion in national security-related work. This work is noted for its advances in chemical and biological defense, homeland security, armor, technology refreshment and undersea technology.
Battelle very ably applies its unmatched expertise and unique facilities to deliver homeland security solutions worldwide. From detection and protection against weapons of mass destruction to emergency preparedness/response and protection of critical infrastructure, Battelle is working with industry and government to integrate policy, operational, technological, and logistical parameters that will secure a safe future.
Steve Kelly, and his staff of 3,500 professionals, handle a fantastic composite of on-going exceptionally important defense programs worldwide. To give just a few examples of the breath and depth of these programs and to highlight one of Battelle's most respected professionals and a senior CBMTS/ICBPS family member, Dr. David Robinson, we provide the following:
- Providing professional expertise/oversight
- Laboratories. One area of deep concern within the US and internationally is the development, construction, staffing and management of high containment laboratories. Battelle, as manager of most major national laboratories, as well as of its own numerous laboratories, is noted for laboratory expertise. An actual incident at an exceptionally important international laboratory took place while ASA was visiting this same high containment laboratory. Battelle's Dr. David Robinson, who is without doubt one of the world's most trusted and true laboratory authorities, was being escorted into this new BSL IV lab. This lab's management team was very proud of their new, beautiful and very needed facility. As Dr. Robinson looked around he was a little surprised and quickly asked one question - which was a stopper "Why did you construct this door in this manner?" "Because the salesperson's company had us do it this way." Dr. Robinson then pointed out the door was installed backwards and would cause an eventual security breech. Several other problem areas from minor to major were noted and discussed and Dr. Robinson was able to quickly recommend solutions. The cost tothis lab in time and money was probably considerable and would have been avoided if this lab had relied on a professional oversight in the planning, construction and implementation phases, such as would have been provided by Battelle and Dr. Robinson. The importance of being able to transition from purely a facility to a functioning containment laboratory by international standards can not be overstated and would definitely be facilitated by the known expertise within Battelle and by Dr. Robinson. At present from Southeast Asia to the Middle East to Europe and throughout the Americas, Battelle is providing their expertise and oversight to the planned construction of high containment facilities.
- Battelle's partnerships and joint programs. Includes commercialization, international R&D, a unique ability to integrate science, technology and intellectual property and to create spin-out products and companies for clients. This is done through licensing of intellectual property, product co-development and/or value-sharing, joint ventures, and seed or early-stage funding.
The examples are too numerous to mention in-depth but briefly Battelle is working with such diverse professional organizations as Maccine in Singapore, the Biopolis in Singapore, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in regulatory affairs, intellectual property sharing in Russia, developing monoclonal antibodies for Bacillus anthracis and Yersinia pestis in Russia, expanding the number of characterized phage strains lysing B. anthracis in a Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF) project with the Eliava Institute in Tbilisi, Georgia along with numerous countries and organizations in the Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention (IPP) program.
- Bringing the world's professionals together
* Internationally *
- CBMTS. In late 1993 Battelle with the Government of Switzerland and ASA, recognized that although the wall had come down, there was not a single meeting worldwide that would accept all professionals from all countries - without question - to surface, discuss and start the solution process required across the crucial NBC defense medical arena to include TICS/TIMS. In an effort to bring this international professional community together from east and west for the very first time, Battelle agreed to sponsor and provide extensive management expertise to an effort that today we know as the Chemical, Biological Medical Treatment Symposia (CBMTS) series. This world's longest running series, open to all professionals, will have its 15th international meeting, and the seventh meeting to take place at the Swiss National NBC Laboratory, the SPIEZ LABORATORY, from 13-18 April 2008.
- ICBPS. In 2006, again recognizing an extremely important requirement for governments and industry, Battelle with the China Pharmaceutical Association (CPA) and with the full support of the China Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) and the China National Biotec Group and many other government agencies and national and industrial organizations in China and the West, the International China BioPharmaceutical Symposia (ICBPS) series was initiated. Although there are many very good Trade Shows available in China in the BioPharmaceutical area - the ICBPS was able for the first time to bring the most noted professionals in government, business, industry and academia together to start a dialog and an understanding process that continues today with the announcement that the second ICBPS will be held in the Fall of 2008 in China.
The ICBPS participants are able to discuss strategies to augment capabilities in both East and West for global disease preparations, response, and emergencies. It helps connect and build networks amongst ICBPS professionals; especially the professionals in the medium and smaller sized Western biotech firms, the regulatory communities, and the Chinese Biopharmaceutical Industries.
* Regionally *
- ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the ASEAN Centric meeting "Confronting Biological Threats: Biosafety, Biosecurity, Biopreparedness, and Biotechnology". This very timely, important meeting for the ASEAN region will be held in Indonesia under the auspices of the Government of Indonesia and sponsored by Battelle Memorial Institute and Non-Government Organizations (NGO's). Battelle's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) with Dick Weller and fellow Battelle professionals are assisting in planning and implementation: please see page 12 of this ASA Newsletter for this ASEAN agenda.
- ASTF, Arab Science and Technology Foundation, and a very important Battelle sponsored and administratively assisted ASTF meeting "Scientific Research, Development, and Innovation: Biotechnology in the Arab World". Another very important and timely meeting for professionals in another region of the world with the same regional concerns. Rather than exporting their scientific talent and dollars to solve their regional problems, the Arab World now looks at their own resources to solve their region specific problems. See page 13 for meeting details.
(ASA background notes on importance of regional initiatives:
a. In 1989 one of the world's most noted scientists, Professor Dr. P. Gopalakrishnakone of the National University of Singapore, told ASA of a serious problem experienced in many regions around the world. Health problems of a region are compounded when large multi-national corporations take the knowledge base on a particular health issue as well as the required raw materials to handle the issue from a region to a distant shore to manufacture and then distribute back into the affected region at sometimes a thousand fold increase in price - a price not affordable to the majority population of the region. Prof. Gopal said this could not and would not continue.
b. In 1986 at Defense 86 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Army Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Datuk Jacob Zain told ASA that the American and European NBC equipment at Defense 86 would be considered excellent in America and central/northern Europe but obviously little thought had been given to the specific threat and requirements of the Southeast Asia region. The "West" must look at the problems and solutions through the eyes of those they would advise, i.e., to understand my issues, walk my ground in my shoes.)
Ed.Note: ASA would like to thank these gracious Battelle professionals for their always immediate assistance in providing the required details for this article: Katy Delaney, Melissa Fiala and Debby Drake.
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