Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP) – Vietnam

The Challenge

Focus on addressing the danger to global health security posed by the risk of outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Overview and Objectives

From 2017 to 2019, URC, as a subcontractor to Jacobs, supported implementation of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP) in Vietnam.

URC provided in-country support to engage with Vietnam’s public health sector to improve disease surveillance, detection, and response capacity. The project collaborated with testing and diagnostic laboratories and institutes controlled by the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), and the Ministry of Defense (MOD). 

CBEP focused on biological agents and sought to enhance clinical, laboratory, and epidemiological safety and security by providing training, expertise, laboratory design support, security assessments, collaborative scientific research, and some equipment provisions.

Project objectives were:

• Enhance the capacities of biosafety and biosecurity (BS&S) for laboratory systems
• Strengthen the abilities of biosurveillance (BSV) to detect, diagnose, survey, and report emerging and re-emerging pathogens of national and international concern
• Improve the MOH, MARD, and MOD laboratory facilities
• Strengthen capacity for coordinated and collaborative research

Achievements

Biosafety and Biosecurity

CBEP provided training to biorisk management staff from laboratories in both the human health and veterinary sectors, with nearly 175 managers and biosafety officers trained on BS&S topics including incident management and response and BS&S laboratory skills. The project developed a comprehensive mentoring program plan for BS&S and provides laboratory certification support to meet ISO 15190, an international standard to address the safety aspects of medical laboratories.

Biosurveillance

The project assisted the MOH increase capacity of their emergency operation centers (EOCs) and has supported facility upgrades and improvements as well as procurement and installation of laboratory equipment for two new EOCs. These enhancements will ensure Vietnam effectively provides reliable surveillance and response to all public health hazards in a coordinated and systematic fashion.

Science and Research

CBEP provided training to staff within the MARD and the Military Medical Department on the development of concept papers, research proposals, and grant writing in support of reasonable and safe research on pathogens of concern to security.