OPCW SAB TWG Convergence in Chemistry and Biology End of Mandate Report

Transcription

1 OPCW SAB TWG Convergence in Chemistry and Biology End of Mandate Report BWC Conference of States Parties Geneva, 10 December 2013 Stefan Mogl SPIEZ LABORATORY, SWITZERLAND Member of TWG Convergence in Chemistry and Biology

2 Outline Background to SAB TWG Convergence Findings Recommendations

3 Background to SAB TWG Convergence (CWC, Art. VIII, para 21 h), 45) OPCW Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) Advises OPCW Director-General 25 Experts appointed by him, serving in individual capacity for a max. of six years SAB Temporary Working Groups Established by OPCW DG, on recommendation of SAB Chaired by SAB, reports to SAB, expert membership Mandate of limited duration (2-3 years)

4 Findings (1) Biology is making chemistry; chemistry is making biology: The growing overlap between chemical and biological production technologies, and the science that underpins them, is enabling biologically mediated production of chemicals and the chemical synthesis of biological molecules and systems. [J.B. Tucker, 2010]

5 Findings (2) 10% of Chemical Production using biologically meditated processes by 2020 Drivers: Commercial, environmental, competition for feedstock Rapidly expanding capability to redesign or manipulate organisms for specific purpose and to design and engineer improved enzymes Metabolic engineering Enzyme engineering Synthetic biology Recombinant DNA technology

6 Findings (3) This biotechnology could be applied to the production of new toxic chemicals, bioregulators and toxins Potential application for production of CWC Schedule 1 or 2 chemicals assessed currently as limited Note: Development and scaling up of a new biological process for commercial production takes considerable investment of capital, resources and time

7 Findings (4) Substantial advances in the chemical synthesis of molecules of biological origin Automated DNA synthesis of whole genomes Reconstruction of simple viruses Semi automated synthesis of peptides (pharmaceuticals, bioregulators) Chemical synthesis of increasingly more complex biological molecules, including toxins Limited scale of such synthesis currently poses no threat to CWC

8 Findings (5) Enabling technologies are critical factors affecting pace of change and convergence in life sciences DNA sequencing and synthesis Informatics, computing capacity Availability of technical data on the Internet Automated robotics in R&D Multidisciplinary research teams are becoming the norm (chemistry, biology, physics, computing, engineering, materials science, nanotechnology)

9 Findings (6) Increasing use of biologically mediated production processes has implications for CWC industry verification regime The TWG reviewed meaning of the term 'produced by synthesis' (CWC, Verification Annex, Part IX) Declarations for Other Chemical Production Facilities Any process designed for the formation of a chemical substance should be covered by the term 'produced by synthesis Exemptions may be scientifically justified

10 Findings (7) New production processes, combined with developments in drug discovery and delivery could be exploited for prohibited purposes Such developments are covered by General purpose criterion (CWC, Art. II, definition of toxic chemicals) Important to monitor developments in S+T Increasing overlap between CWC and BWC due to Convergence Requires interaction between CWC and BWC technical experts

11 Findings (8) Nanotechnology is converging in a significant way with chemistry and biology Drug delivery to the body Biosensors Convergence is providing major benefits Health care Alternative energy sources Environmental control Defensive countermeasures against CWA and BWA

12 Recommendations by TWG (1) Working together for a world free of chemical weapons Monitor advances in production technologies Assess relevance to verification under the CWC Monitor advances in systems and synthetic biology Assess capability and capacity to synthesise more complex chemicals (toxic chemicals, toxins and bioregulators) Monitor advances in nanotechnology particularly as they apply to improved defensive countermeasures

13 Recommendations by TWG (2) Working together for a world free of chemical weapons Assistance to delegations to help understand possible implications Develop outreach material Establishing structured approach for contact between CWC and BWC Bring together technical expertise in areas of common interest Re-activating TWG on Convergence periodically In time for SAB report on S&T for CWC Review Conference (every 5 years)

14 OPCW SAB TWG Convergence in Chemistry and Biology Reports: