News
US lifts enhanced entry restrictions on international air passengers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted enhanced screening requirements on most inbound international flights this week, abruptly changing a system based on 15 airports that have been in place since March. Under current rules, international passengers from high-risk countries... Read More »
Proposed Abiding by U.S. Commitments Act would provide nearly $119M to WHO
U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation last week seeking to provide $118.9 million in funding for the organization and strengthen global COVID-19 vaccine efforts. The funds provided under the Abiding by U.S. Commitments Act would be a continuation of dues the... Read More »
DOJ office awards $50M for school safety initiatives
The Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) will award $50 million in funding for school safety initiatives through its School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP). The program provides up to 75 percent funding for school safety measures for primary and... Read More »
New study highlights the importance of data, AI in response to COVID-19 challenges
A new report says investment in data and artificial intelligence (AI) is needed to drive the health system improvements needed to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The study – called Reimagining Global Health through Artificial Intelligence: The Roadmap to AI Maturity -- was... Read More »
Senators call on HHS, CDC to improve COVID-19 data collection processes
A bipartisan group of senators recently called on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve COVID-19 data collection and management. Specifically, the lawmakers are asking the agencies to harness technologically... Read More »
Rep. Gottheimer targets Foreign Terrorist Organization usage of social media platforms
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) launched this week an initiative designed to aid in combating Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) utilizing social media platforms to recruit and raise funds with cryptocurrencies. Gottheimer said the “Online Arsenal to Combat Foreign Terrorist Organizations”... Read More »
IATA addresses vaccine distribution preparedness
International Air Transport Association (IATA) officials maintain governments should initiate planning with the industry to ensure preparedness when COVID-19 vaccines are approved and ready for distribution. “Safely delivering COVID-19 vaccines will be the mission of the century for the... Read More »
America First Vaccine Act would require American developers of COVID-19 vaccine to help Americans first
Under new legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), American companies operating with the support of U.S. taxpayer funds would be barred from providing any new COVID-19 vaccine to citizens of other countries ahead of Americans. The America First Vaccine Act (S. 4542) would lock... Read More »
Illness temporarily halts AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID vaccine trials
A top COVID-19 vaccine candidate being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University was forced to halt phase 3 trials this week after a volunteer became ill, signaling an adverse reaction that could delay the effort at immunization development. The pause was announced as a standard review of... Read More »
IDSA issues guidance on treatment of drug-resistant pathogens
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) issued guidance for the clinical treatment of three of the most common drug-resistant pathogens. While antibiotics save lives, the bacteria and other microbes can evolve in ways that enable them to resist a drug’s intended effect. Misuse or... Read More »
House leaders urge Trump to investigate alleged Russian poisoning of Navalny
U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Eliot Engel (D-NY) are urging the Trump administration to investigate Russia’s alleged use of chemical weapons in the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny. This request triggers an investigation into Russia’s alleged violation of... Read More »
Northrop Grumman secures Air Force ICBM modernization contract
The Air Force has awarded a $13.3 billion contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation to modernize the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system via the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program. The scope of work would be based on the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD)... Read More »
Cyberspace Solarium Commission establishes cyber workforce framework
The Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) said the recent release of its new white paper regarding the establishment of a cyber workforce framework seeks to address industry personnel shortfalls. The document, “Growing a Stronger Federal Cyber Workforce” was released at a virtual event... Read More »
Biopharma CEOs seek to reassure public regarding safe COVID-19 vaccines
Amid fears of political pressures to rush a vaccine for COVID-19, nine CEOs of biopharmaceutical companies working on these candidates have signed a pledge to uphold the scientific process and safety in any development. The companies include AstraZeneca, BioNTech, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Johnson &... Read More »
INOVIO aims for 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in 2021 through global manufacturing consortium
Thanks to its global manufacturing consortium, biotechnology company INOVIO plans to manufacture 100 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, INO-4800, in 2021. The latest to join the consortium was Thermo Fisher Scientific earlier this week, which signed a letter of intent on the... Read More »
Trump administration introduces cybersecurity policy for space systems
The Trump administration announced a new cybersecurity policy for systems used in space. The Space Policy Directive- 5 (SPD-5) puts in place key systems for global communications, navigation, weather monitoring, and other critical services. It also establishes the Department of Homeland... Read More »
University of Chicago to launch trial to test antibody treatment for COVID-19
The University of Chicago Medicine is conducting a clinical trial to study the potential of an antibody treatment for COVID-19. For the trial, called BLAZE-1, the University of Chicago is recruiting 22 participants to be treated with the LY-CoV555 antibody developed by Eli Lilly and Company in... Read More »
DHS Science and Technology Directorate seeking explosives trace detectors
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is seeking handheld, portable and desktop explosives trace detectors (ETDs). The agency recently released a request for information (RFI) for the devices, which possess the ability to analyze wipe samples... Read More »
Organizations launch public health collaborative
Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) has joined a group of health industry organizations in launching the Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC) to address health, safety, and the economy. “Unfortunately, misinformation and conflicting messages about COVID-19 have confused the... Read More »
DHS transferring ownership of National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility to USDA for research, vaccine development
A new facility -- the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility -- meant to house top-of-the-line labs for research into foreign animal diseases will soon transfer from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), but outstanding issues could... Read More »
DARPA deploys automated radiation detection system to Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
After five years of development, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has greenlit an automated, networked radiation detection system known as SIGMA for use by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, promising new protections for the region. In theory, the system is... Read More »
Smiths Detection secures CBP contract for railway X-ray scanners
The Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has awarded a $13.5M contract to Smiths Detection to provide HCVT advanced X-ray scanners for use at railway checkpoints. The scanners would be used at northern and southern border checkpoints, with initial deliveries... Read More »
Sen. Durbin queries potential COVID-19 vaccine providers
Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) has forwarded correspondence to eight potential COVID-19 vaccine providers, inquiring about maintaining scientific and data-based standards in the wake of possible political pressure. Durbin sent letters to Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sanofi and... Read More »
Operation Warp Speed turns to DoD to host phase 3 clinical trial of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) will host a phase three trial of the vaccine candidate AZD1222, developed by AstraZeneca, at five locations selected by Operation Warp Speed. For the trial, the selected sites include Naval Medical Center San Diego, Joint Base San Antonio Brooke Army Medical... Read More »
Sanofi, GSK launch phase 1/2 clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidate
Sanofi and GSK began a phase 1/2 clinical trial of their jointly developed COVID-19 vaccine candidate last week, opening enrollment for 440 participants after pre-clinical studies show promising positive safety and immunogenicity. The vaccine is based on the recombinant protein-based technology... Read More »
DHS releases new report on electromagnetic pulse attacks
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a new report on its efforts to combat Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) attacks, which could disrupt the electrical grid and potentially damage electronics. The report, called the Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Program Status Report, establishes... Read More »
OPCW leader issues statement on alleged poisoning of Russian political leader
The head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) issued a statement about the alleged poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. “Under the Chemical Weapons Convention, any poisoning of an individual through the use of a nerve agent is considered a use of... Read More »
DOE unveils new Emergency Communications Network center in Las Vegas
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has introduced a new communication network that allows emergency responders to exchange secure real-time voice, data, and video information during nuclear or radiological emergencies. The Emergency Communications... Read More »
NIH awards $129M for COVID-19 testing technologies
The National Institutes of Health awarded $129.3 million for COVID-19 testing technologies as part of its Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative. The contracts went to nine companies for technologies that include portable point-of-care tests for immediate results or results within... Read More »
Report examines potential election interference lessons
A Center for American Progress (CAP) report maintains there are lessons to be learned regarding 2016 election interference and addresses steps to shield future votes from such actions. “America was caught off guard in 2016, but there are no excuses in future elections,” said James Lamond,... Read More »
CISA, EAC introduce election risk profile tool
Two government entities said they have partnered to introduce the Election Risk Profile Tool to aid election officials and federal agencies in prioritizing and managing election infrastructure cybersecurity risks. “There is no question the security of our election systems has vastly improved,... Read More »
Sanofi, Regeneron pull plug on Kevzara ambitions for COVID-19 following trial failure
The intravenously administered drug Kevzara will no longer be investigated as a potential COVID-19 treatment, Sanofi confirmed this week, after it failed to meet either its primary or secondary goals during a phase 3 trial among severely and critically ill patients. Hundreds were tested with the... Read More »
Hydrocortisone boosts COVID-19 patient survival rates in international study
A study run by collaborators from Imperial College London and Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre has found that the over the counter steroid hydrocortisone improves recovery changes among patients critically ill with COVID-19. "The studies published today show that we now have more... Read More »
DHS proposes new rule for biometric collection
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is looking to expand the department’s authorities and methods for collecting biometrics to improve the screening and vetting process. The proposed rule changes would modernize biometrics collection and authorize expanded use of biometrics beyond... Read More »