News
CEPI reaches manufacturing agreements for COVID-19 vaccines
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has expanded the manufacturing network for its COVID-19 vaccine portfolio. The nonprofit foundation, which finances independent research projects to develop vaccines against emerging infectious diseases, has signed vaccine manufacturing... Read More »
Firm touts tote-based Baggage Handling System
The threat detection and security screening technologies firm Smiths Detection is touting the benefits of integrating its CTX 9800 DSi explosive detection system with a tote-based Baggage Handling System (BHS). “We have gained expertise by working with a broad range of baggage handling system... Read More »
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to launch new technology lab
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) officials said a geospatial technology lab slated for launch at the T-REX innovation center in St. Louis, Missouri, would advance regional NGA, industry, and academia efforts. “We will deliver trusted GEOINT with the speed, accuracy, and precision... Read More »
Simultaneous Senate-House legislation calls for modernization of ATF, gun safety
A joint effort from U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) produced the ATF Improvement and Modernization (AIM) Act this week to revamp the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and bolster national gun safety efforts. The legislation would end what... Read More »
FirstNet bolsters first responder communications with new cell sites network enhancements across Florida
FirstNet announced a major expansion to its high-speed broadband communications platform for first responders this week, with additional cell sites and more than 2,000 other network enhancements tacked onto its Florida operations. These additions will include cell sites constructed for the Band... Read More »
NJ legislative committee approves bill requiring opioid-antidote prescriptions
The New Jersey Legislature’s Assembly Health Committee on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill that would require opioid-antidote prescriptions for certain high-risk patients. Assembly bill 3869, sponsored on March 23 by Assemblymen John Armato (D-Atlantic) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle... Read More »
PEW researchers: expanded naloxone access can curb opioid deaths
Researchers with The Pew Charitable Trusts have found that expanding access to naloxone, and changing public policy to ensure the opioid-overdose reversal drug gets into the hands of those who need it, can reduce opioid-related overdose deaths. Additionally, researchers said, expanded access to... Read More »
DHS opens Center for Countering Human Trafficking
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) opened the Center for Countering Human Trafficking, the U.S. government’s first law enforcement operations center directly related to human trafficking and forced labor. The center is based in Washington and is led by U.S. Immigration and Customs... Read More »
DEA launches initiative to reduce violent crime
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has launched a new initiative designed to reduce violent crime in communities throughout the country. The DEA’s Project Safeguard will identify and prioritize ongoing drug trafficking investigations with a nexus to violent crime. Working with federal,... Read More »
DoD to fund new Manufacturing Innovation Institute
BioIndustrial Manufacturing and Design Ecosystem (BioMADE) has secured an $87 million Department of Defense (DoD) pact for a new Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII). The seven-year award to the University of Minnesota-based firm will collaborate with public and private entities to advance... Read More »
BARDA to aid COVID-19 clinical trial
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has enlisted its clinical studies network's services to assist with a COVID-19 clinical trial. Officials said Technical Resources International, Inc. (TRI), a BARDA subsidiary, would support the clinical trial in conjunction... Read More »CEPI adds two labs to centralized effort to standardize COVID-19 vaccine assessment
The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) in the United Kingdom and Q2 Solutions in the United States became the latest labs to join the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations’ (CEPI) centralized laboratory network for COVID-19 vaccines this week. “We are... Read More »
Latest CARB-X annual report shows $127.5M, 23 awards dolled out for solutions to drug-resistant bacteria
Last year, CARB-X awarded $127.5 million and 23 awards to developers pursuing novel ways to fight antibiotic resistant bacteria, according to its fourth annual report. This marks the largest funding effort so far conducted by CARB-X, which coincided with several other successful milestones. For... Read More »
Justice Department awards $536M to various community public safety initiatives
The Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) awarded more than $536 million in fiscal year 2020 for various policing, school safety, and anti-opioid efforts. The money went to various programs to increase law enforcement hiring and improve school... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Escobar introduces bill to protect border communities from COVID-19
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar (R-TX) introduced legislation designed to protect border communities against the COVID-19 pandemic by amending the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission Act. This bill, the Binational Health Strategies Act of 2020, directs the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission to... Read More »
NIH initiative targets opioid use disorder
National Institutes of Health (NIH) personnel have joined other federal entities in outlining support for a $350 million multi-year HEALing Communities Study to address opioid use disorder (OUD) interventions. The HEALing Communities Study is funded by the NIH Helping to End Addiction... Read More »
TSA screens highest number of passengers since March 2020
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials said the agency screened over 1 million passengers on Sunday, which marked the highest number of passengers screened at TSA checkpoints since March 17, 2020. “TSA has been diligent in our efforts to ensure checkpoints are clean, safe and... Read More »
UTHealth researchers partner with Texas DSHS on effort to determine prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies
A cooperative effort between The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) gave life to the Texas Coronavirus Antibody Response Survey (CARES) this week, to chart how many people in Texas have COVID-19... Read More »
BARDA doles out Medical Countermeasures Clinical Studies Network awards to four developers
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) awarded contracts this week to ICON Government & Public Health Solutions, Pharm-Olam LLC, PRA Health Sciences, Inc., and Technical Resources International, Inc. for the development of various medical countermeasures. Granted... Read More »
Justice Department funds target addiction
Department of Justice personnel said the agency has earmarked more than $341 million in grants to aid the nation in combating addiction. “The addiction crisis has taken an enormous toll on America’s families and communities, eroding public health, threatening public safety and claiming tens... Read More »
Critical, merging technology strategy released by Trump administration, Department of Homeland Security
The Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security said they have issued the first National Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology to ensure the nation’s innovative edges are guaranteed. Authorities indicated the plan outlines methods to protect technologies across... Read More »
Health officials request $8.4B in funding for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, administration
Public health leaders from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) wrote Congress last week to request emergency funding to benefit COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration. The supplemental funding request came... Read More »
NIH starts phase 3 trial of three immune modulator drug possibilities for COVID-19
The National Institutes of Health kicked off a large, phase three clinical trial last week to chart the safety and efficacy of three modulator drugs being considered for use on patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The three drugs to be used are Janssen Research & Development, LLC’s infliximab... Read More »
US, Canadian regulators sign agreement to enhance nuclear security
The United States and Canada are working together to improve and better coordinate nuclear safety and security. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for... Read More »
Defense Department awards nearly $7M contract to Teel Plastics for COVID test swabs
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) awarded a $6.98 million contract to Teel Plastics to expand the production of injection-molded and extruded swabsticks used in COVID-19 testing kits. This award will increase production by an additional 50 million per month for each swabstick type by March... Read More »
Control trial of repurposed COVID-19 drugs reveals conclusive evidence on effectiveness
A randomized control trial on COVID-19 therapeutics has generated conclusive evidence on the effectiveness of repurposed drugs -- like remdesivir and hydroxychloroquine, among others -- to treat COVID-19. The results from the Solidarity Therapeutics Trial, coordinated by the World Health... Read More »
Study says Facebook users are less likely to spread Russian propaganda if source is revealed
A new report by the Rand Corporation finds that Facebook users would be less likely to spread Russian propaganda if they knew it emanated from a Russian source. Russia uses political memes to polarize Americans, particularly those at the extreme ends of the political spectrum, according to Rand... Read More »
FLIR secures Army vehicle contract
The U.S. Army has awarded a $26 million contract modification to FLIR Systems, Inc. to support the Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle Sensor Suite Upgrade (NBCRV SSU). “Our ability to build and integrate manned and unmanned sensing solutions across a wide threat space is... Read More »
Utah man receives drug trafficking life sentence
The Justice Department said U.S. District Judge Dale A. Kimball sentenced a Utah man to life in prison for heading an organization that distributed more than 500,000 counterfeit pills nationwide. Authorities said the sentence was handed down to Aaron Michael Shamo, 30, indicating he was the CEO... Read More »
Preclinical results of Sanofi, Translate Bio mRNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate show favorable immune capabilities
Another COVID-19 vaccine candidate shows promise for antibodies produced, at least in preclinical results released by Sanofi Pasteur and Translate Bio last week for their mRNA-based offering, MRT5500. The candidate produced neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 -- the virus that causes... Read More »
BARDA, Beckman Coulter announce partnership for clinical trial of MIS-C test
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Beckman Coulter are joining forces to fund a multi-center clinical trial of Beckman Coulter’s Monocyte Distribution Width (MDW) hematology biomarker, a test meant to rapidly detect MIS-C. MIS-C, or Multisystem Inflammatory... Read More »
Rep. Hudson introduced bill that seeks to improve drug supply chain
U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) introduced a bill that looks to identify obstacles in the drug supply chain that hinder domestic manufacturing. Further, the bill, the American Drug Supply Chain Act, provides incentives to bring more drug manufacturing back to the United States. "The COVID-19... Read More »
Army researchers developing new COVID-19 antibody testing process
Researchers with the U.S. Army Futures Command are developing alternative ways to measure COVID-19 antibody levels that are faster, easier, and less expensive. Their work revolves around finding alternatives to measuring virus neutralization, or VN, titers. This process is the gold standard of... Read More »
Report assesses Huawei challenges, 5G network building
A new Center for American Progress report details methods the United States can use to address expanding Huawei market and national security challenges and its 5G network building role. The analysis maintains America has ignored the policies Beijing uses to make the tech company Huawei the... Read More »