The University of Tennessee (UTK), in conjunction with the U.S. State Department’s Chemical Security Program, is pleased to host a training focused on the detection and disruption of the acquisition of weaponizable chemical precursors such as pharmaceutical-based agents (PBAs) - PBAs are highly potent chemical substances that can be used in riot control operations and lethal chemical attacks.
The program is intended for government officials, veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors, and academic faculty in Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovenia. Ukrainian participants based in these countries can also join the training. The multi-phase program consists of a short prerequisite online course followed by an in-person training event held in Bucharest, Romania in Fall 2023. After successfully completing the course, the trainees will receive course certificates from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN, USA.
Through a combination of interactive exercises, asynchronous e-learning, and facilitated action planning, participants will learn international best practices for strengthening oversight and preventing illicit access to chemicals of concern. The program goals are to:
• educate personnel in high-risk pharmaceutical sectors about chemical weapons concerns, especially with PBAs;
• promote international chemical security best practices and know your customer practices;
• encourage coordination among government, industry, and academia to prevent acquisition and misuse of PBAs; and
• develop best practices, policies, and procedures that will limit misuse and diversion of PBAs for CW purposes.
The program is funded by the U.S. State Department through a cooperative agreement with UTK and is available at no cost and without application fees. Registration and participant approval are required. Pending review and approval, the University of Tennessee will financially support your participation by paying for your travel expenses and meals for the in-person workshop.The University of Tennessee will also pay hotel expenses for those participants who live a long distance from Bucharest.
The program will also include a train-the-trainer workshop for selected participants to empower local champions to implement training for local and regional stakeholders. Two participants from each country will be selected as trainers and will be provided a stipend to deliver four training sessions to the target audience in their country.
You may contact Sheri Pugh from the University of Tennessee at spugh5@utk.edu if you have questions or would like to register for this program.
You may also register online. Registrations are open by Friday, September 29, 2023.
