Medical Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats

Cellular Respiration

Short-Term Goals

• Improve understanding of the mechanisms of injury, from the systemic to the cellular level, from cyanide-containing compounds, and identify potential targets for medical intervention
• Identify FDA-approved drugs containing sulfur that may have therapeutic value in the treatment of cyanide poisoning
• Determine optimal and novel routes of administration of promising drug compounds, to include administration through inhalation
• Identify screening tests and biological markers consistent with the identification of hydrogen cyanide and/or cyanide metabolite(s) and the level of exposure to such agents
• Identify and validate appropriate in vitro systems and animal models for preclinical testing of drugs that could be useful for the treatment of cyanide poisoning
• Validate the use of oxygen therapy in the initial treatment of cyanide poisoning, alone or in combination with other medical countermeasures
• Understand the differences in cyanide intoxication between civilians of different ages, and establish a treatment plan for susceptible populations

back to top