Research
International leaders and organizations are unprepared for a global catastrophic biological event, according to a report from Georgetown University’s Center for Global Health Science and Security, the Center for Global Development, and the Nuclear Threat Initiative.
Leaders and organizations... Read More »
A new study suggests that comprehensive health system planning can stymie the effects of a deliberate release of smallpox in a city, a nightmare scenario for public health officials.
The research, which was published today in the online journal PLOS One, said that if a health system response is... Read More »
A new case of Ebola has popped up in Uganda, in the first incident of international cross-over since an outbreak began in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) back in August 2018.
While governmental and international agencies have worked hard to keep the disease from spreading... Read More »
The latest dengue research reveals that within approximately 60 years, the risk of the virus dengue will grow to such an extent that it will put at risk more than 6 billion people, due to population growth, climate change, and increased urbanization.
The virus is one spread by mosquitoes, and... Read More »
The recently introduced Developing an Innovative Strategy for Antimicrobial Resistant Microorganisms (DISARM) Act -- S. 1712 -- proposes to alter Medicare reimbursement for antibiotics, promote their use and encourage new developments.
Introduced by U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Bob Casey... Read More »
Under a new partnering agreement with Themis Bioscience, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) will provide up to $21 million for the company’s phase 3-ready Chikungunya vaccine.
CEPI seeks to hasten regulatory approval of the vaccine by providing a large portion of the... Read More »
New research from scientists at the Universities of Surrey and Cambridge has investigated a relatively undefined concept in disease research -- vulnerability -- and assessed it for both Ebola and Lassa fever.
Vulnerability is the assessment of a country’s ability or lack thereof to resist or... Read More »
The Department of Defense (DOD) recently awarded Texas Biomedical Research Institute a $2 million grant through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program to develop a Zika Virus vaccine.
Zika is a mosquito-borne disease that can result in birth defects such as microcephaly.
"If... Read More »
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) personnel are espousing the benefits of the recently completed Joint Innovation Battle Lab (JIBL), an exercise targeting integration of operations, intelligence, and technology.
“Our technology is cutting-edge and we’re excited to showcase it,” Matt Avery,... Read More »
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has joined forces with vaccine safety organization Brighton Collaboration on a new project dedicated to assessing the safety of CEPI-funded vaccine candidates.
The project has been dubbed the Safety Platform for Emergency vACcines... Read More »
An experimental new drug from Gilead Sciences, Inc. has proven effective in treating lethal doses of Nipah virus in four African green monkeys, following testing with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Nipah virus, an emerging pathogen mainly found in Bangladesh and India, is... Read More »
There have been 971 cases of measles in the United States thus far in 2019, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This is the highest number of cases in the United States since 1992 when 963 cases were reported for the whole year. The CDC has been... Read More »
Air Force and Navy personnel have announced the transfer of responsibility for future narrowband satellite communications, which officials said develops an integrated space enterprise architecture.
Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer recently... Read More »
The United States’ ability to manage health emergencies has steadily improved over the last six years, according to a nationwide index of health security.
The 2019 National Health Security Preparedness Index, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), analyzes 129 different... Read More »
A team of researchers from the University at Buffalo and Temple University recently found that depriving a specific fungus’ access to iron can be the key to combatting it.
Candida albicans, like many fungi, relies on iron to survive. It is abundant in the mouth and relies heavily on saliva --... Read More »
A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture recently determined Kansas State University researchers are tackling the nation’s most prominent zoonotic diseases.
Citing "8 Zoonotic Diseases Shared Between Animals... Read More »
Although the technology is still undergoing tests, Air Force officials are touting the benefits of the Space Fence system, which detected the breakup field from an India anti-satellite test.
The event occurred during a recent scheduled endurance exercise of the new space surveillance radar,... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Smart Cities Internet of Things Innovation (SCITI) Labs program is entering its second phase.
“SCITI Labs and the commercial-first approach allow DHS to integrate and apply new prototype technologies from... Read More »
Researchers from McMaster University have created a new means of storing anti-viral vaccines for travel to remote regions.
The method is cheaper and safer than traditional means, according to the research team, relying on light, compact doses. It can store vaccines for several weeks at a time,... Read More »
A group of lawmakers introduced this week legislation designed to address the short-term, medium-term, and long-term challenges to detecting, treating, and eventually eliminating Valley Fever.
Valley Fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, is an infection caused by the fungus Coccidioides and... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently conducted a successful test of its Burn Saver technology.
“Burn Saver is a device S&T developed to give first responders an early warning when they are in a thermal environment that may cause... Read More »
Legislation that would increase immunization rates across the country to prevent future outbreaks of contagious diseases was introduced in Congress this week.
The Vaccine Awareness Campaign to Champion Immunization Nationally and Enhance Safety (VACCINES) Act will give the Center for Disease... Read More »
The U.S. Air Force is working with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) technologies through research in computational intelligence, reasoning, decision-making, autonomy, and relevant societal implications.
The agreement with MIT includes... Read More »
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently awarded a contract to a team led by Battelle, an Ohio-based research and development company.
Battelle has successfully demonstrated a brain-computer interface. This technology will be used to help DARPA’s Next-Generation... Read More »
Vector-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, Zika and West Nile virus are on notice, with the formation of a new coalition known as the Vector-Borne Disease Network, whose sole goal is to address the challenges of such diseases.
The Network is being guided by the Entomological Society of America... Read More »
A disease once eliminated in the United States may no longer be stoppable through current vaccination policies around the world, according to a study of measles published in BMC Medicine.
Current vaccination policies are lacking, and the effects could be seen through various countries and... Read More »
In an effort to create smarter research and development efforts in limited markets, the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) science division has launched the online Health Produce Profile Directory.
The focus is on neglected diseases and global health threats like antimicrobial resistance.... Read More »
Board members of America’s first responder network, FirstNet, recently toured the Georgia Cyber Center, learning more about evolving cyber threats and the technological investments and innovation being developed there.
Board Chair Edward Horowitz, fellow board member and retired Army Brigadier... Read More »
A new study led by Georgia State University states that the timing of hurricanes is a primary force in the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
Such infectious diseases, like West Nile Virus or Zika, bloom with an increased mosquito population. Stagnant water helps drive those populations upward... Read More »
The TB Alliance was awarded a grant by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) last week to aid in the development of two new clinical stage tuberculosis drug candidates.
Development is being undertaken by partners at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Harvard... Read More »
Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico recently signed an umbrella agreement to explore multiple research and technology collaborations among scientists, faculty, and students.
Under the agreement, the organizations will collaborate in areas, including advance materials... Read More »
In a 14-year study focused on outbreak investigations in Bangladesh, an international team of scientists has gained new insights into the deadly Nipah virus -- in particular, that age and respiratory troubles are substantial factors in its transmission.
The bat-borne paramyxovirus is a staple... Read More »
It’s not far-fetched to think that Ebola could be used as an agent of bioterrorism, according to researchers working on vaccines and treatments for the virus.
In theory, a terrorist could mass disseminate the hemorrhagic virus by small particle aerosol. It is a possible but unlikely scenario... Read More »
With an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) ongoing, in part due to ongoing incidents of violence hindering the ability to respond effectively, the World Health Organization (WHO) has revised its vaccination strategy and issued new recommendations for the best path... Read More »
In a first federal collaborative report between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of the Interior (DOI) and Department of Agriculture (USDA), a federal list now tracks the most concerning illnesses spread between animals and people in the United States.
These... Read More »