ECBC R&T Leadership Speak at OnSite 2010

Defense News ~ ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Two top scientists from the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) recently shared their experiences and expertise while serving as guest speakers during the 18th International Conference for OnSite Analysis for Homeland Security, Forensics and Environmental Remediation.

Joseph L. Corriveau, Ph.D., director of ECBC's Research and Technology (R&T) Directorate, and Harry Salem, Ph.D., R&T's chief scientist for life sciences, spoke during the four-day technology conference, which was held Feb. 1-4 in Baltimore.

The 18th International Conference for OnSite Analysis for Homeland Security, Forensics and Environmental Remediation is the premier conference promoting communication and collaboration across industry, government and academia for emerging field analytical technology. Session topics included pharmacology and toxicology, chemical and biological agent detection, field methods for disasters/forensics and standards for chemical biological radiological nuclear and explosive field applications.

Corriveau delivered the plenary talk for the OnSite conference. A theme of his talk was the continued national priority of biological defense preparedness, as evidenced by the White House's recent release of the "National Strategy for Countering Biological Threats," which outlines the president's vision for addressing the challenges from proliferation of biological weapons or their use by terrorists.

"The release of the strategy demonstrates the U.S. commitment to global health security," Corriveau said. "Much of the work of the conference participants is relevant to the objectives of the strategy."

Salem chaired the pharmacology and toxicology session and presented "Toxidromes: The Answer to Toxic Agents of Concern, Classification and Medical Mitigation" as well as "Chemical and Biological Threats to Drinking Water."

For more information about ECBC, visit http://www.ecbc.army.mil/.

ECBC is the Army's principal research and development center for chemical and biological defense technology, engineering and field operations. ECBC has achieved major technological advances for the warfighter and for our national defense, with a long and distinguished history of providing the Armed Forces with quality systems and outstanding customer service. ECBC is a US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command laboratory located at the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. For more information about the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, please visit our Web site athttp://www.ecbc.army.mil or call (410) 436-7718.