News
Partners work to evaluate wildfire sensors
The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently selected four new industry partners to participate in a new wildfire sensors workstream of the Smart Cities Internet of Things Innovation (SCITI) Labs. SCITI Labs will work with the Federal Emergency... Read More »
Experts warn quarantines, travel bans may be ineffective in combating coronavirus
The second wave of Americans arrived in California on Wednesday, traveling from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) epidemic. They will spend days on military bases in quarantine as public health officials determine if there are any cases of the virus and to treat those... Read More »
Sen. Grassley, HHS says coronavirus no imminent threat to US general public
Following a classified briefing of his staff by the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of National Security (ONS), U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) reiterated that the novel coronavirus appears to pose no immediate threat to the United States. Where concern remains is for... Read More »
FDA claims critical milestone in novel coronavirus fight with first emergency use authorization for a diagnostic
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) that will allow use of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Diagnostic Panel by any CDC-qualified lab in the United States when dealing with cases of the novel coronavirus. That authorization,... Read More »
ASPR expands collaboration with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to address novel coronavirus
An existing relationship between the U.S. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will be extended under a new arrangement to develop a treatment for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). "Emerging infectious diseases can present... Read More »
Defense Department plans to acquire submarine-launched ballistic missile
The U.S. Department of Defense recently announced plans to acquire a W76-2 low-yield submarine-launched ballistic missile warhead. “In the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, the department identified the requirement to ‘modify a small number of submarine-launched ballistic missile warheads’ to... Read More »
Pattern Bioscience awarded $6.8M for drug-resistant infection test
Pattern Bioscience was awarded $6.8 million in funding to develop a test to diagnose drug-resistant infections quickly. The rapid identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test (ID/AST) will provide health professionals with information about which pathogen is causing the infection and... Read More »
Members of Congress request a rapid diagnostic test for coronavirus
Forty-eight members of Congress recently sent a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asking the agency to quickly distribute its rapid diagnostic test for coronavirus to state and local officials nationwide. Currently, samples must be sent to the CDC in Atlanta for... Read More »
International community launches $675 million coronavirus prep effort
With cases of coronavirus (2019-nCoV) now rooted in 25 countries and afflicting more than 24,000 people, the international community is attempting to fight back with a $675 million Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP). While many nations have responded swiftly to the novel... Read More »California granted $2M for fire detection cameras
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently granted the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and Sonoma County $2 million for long-range fire detection cameras for its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The program aims to prevent the loss of life as well as property... Read More »
FDA licenses avian flu vaccine
The U.S Food and Drug Administration licensed Audenz, an influenza vaccine designed to protect against the H5N1 avian influenza virus. AUDENZ was developed by Seqirus with support from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) within the Office of the Assistant... Read More »
BAE Systems awarded two Navy contracts
BAE Systems was awarded a prime position on a $212 million contract by the U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) to integrate its critical communication systems. BAE Systems will design, acquire, integrate, and test radio systems for new Guided Missile Destroyers... Read More »
Gilead Sciences provides experimental drug for trial and emergency treatment against 2019-nCoV
Research biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences announced last week that it has joined efforts to contain the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) through requested release of an experimental drug known as remdesivir. Remdesivir is not yet licensed or approved anywhere in the world. However,... Read More »
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations takes aim at novel coronavirus
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is calling for actions to counter the rapidly spreading novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) this week, with a new vaccine-focused request for proposals, millions in funding additions, and new partnerships. CEPI desires rapid development and... Read More »
Nuclear Threat Initiative lays out action plan for US to fight Coronavirus outbreaks
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) has offered recommendations for the United States to prevent and respond to potential biological catastrophes, such as the novel coronavirus. NTI officials say global biological catastrophes may not only impact millions of lives but could have a huge impact on... Read More »
Bipartisan House group introduces nuclear resolution
A bipartisan group of 10 House of Representative members recently introduced a resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) going into effect. The NPT at 50 Resolution reaffirms Congress’ support for the treaty. The treaty was... Read More »
Sens. Warren, King inquire as to why infectious disease program was closed
Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Angus King (I-ME) recently requested information on why the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) PREDICT program was ended. The USAID PREDICT program was founded in 2009... Read More »
CEPI, CureVac to collaborate on nCoV-2019 vaccine development
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and biopharmaceutical company CureVac AG announced that, as of last week, they are linked in the effort to accelerate development of vaccines against the novel coronavirus (nCoV-2019). While the pair had already been partnering to create... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions gets key endorsement for its cholera vaccine in Europe
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive opinion for the approval of Emergent Biosolutions’ oral cholera vaccine, Vaxchora. Authorization from the European Commission is anticipated within three months. The marketing... Read More »
Novel coronavirus declared public health emergency in United States
U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar began a new path last week in the previously measured efforts to contain the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), declaring a public health emergency for the nation and opening more flexibility for health authorities to respond. The emergency... Read More »
Sens. Klobuchar, Murkowski introduce bill to combat hate crimes
U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced a bill that seeks to ensure that federal prosecutors can effectively enforce the federal hate crimes law. Since it was passed in 2009, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009, federal courts... Read More »
Reps. Davis, Stefanik introduce bill to help states secure elections
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) sponsored a bill that would provide states with more resources to secure their elections. The Protect American Voters Act (H.R. 5707) updates the Help America Vote Act of 2002 by directing the Election Assistance Commission to issue guidelines for “non-voting”... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection processed $2.7T in imports last year
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processed $2.7 trillion of imports and 410 million travelers last year, according to its Trade and Travel Fiscal Year 2019 Report. “CBP continues to make lawful trade and travel more efficient and convenient while protecting the American people and our... Read More »
House Energy and Commerce Committee members told coronavirus risk remains low
Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee were briefed this week on the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak by top members of the Trump administration and reiterate that risk remains low. These members were addressed by Dr. Robert Redfield, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and... Read More »
Global organizations seek screening standards for DNA synthesis technologies
DNA synthesis technologies— a cornerstone of life sciences research and biotechnology development—are becoming more advanced and commercially available. Although much of this technology is used for clinical diagnosis and treatment, its potential exploitation may lead to ominous biological... Read More »
Bill would grant subpoena power to CISA on cybersecurity
A bill that would grant subpoena authority to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in certain cases was approved by the House Committee on Homeland Security Wednesday. The Cybersecurity Vulnerability Identification and Notification Act (H.R. 5680), introduced by Rep. Jim... Read More »
House Homeland Security committee advances three cybersecurity bills
The House Homeland Security Committee advanced three bills designed to improve cybersecurity. The three bills are the CISA Director Reform Act (H.R. 5679), introduced by Rep. John Katko (R-NY); the Transportation Security Transparency Improvement Act CISA Director Reform Act (H.R. 5670), ... Read More »
DARPA demonstrates autonomous vehicles used to conduct raids
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) OFFensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics (OFFSET) program recently demonstrated the use of autonomous air and ground vehicles to raid an urban area. During the demonstration, the autonomous vehicles were deployed to conduct the DARPA-designed... Read More »
Walter Reed researchers turn to tobacco mosaic virus as foundation for malaria vaccine
Scientists from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research turned to an old plant virus -- the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) -- as the foundation for a new research effort: a second-generation malaria vaccine candidate. Demonstrated in the Proceedings of the National Academy Sciences, the... Read More »
WHO, World Economic Forum set up public-private organization to drive supply chain’s coronavirus response
With those infected by the novel coronavirus – 2019-nCoV – now topping 7,000, the World Health Organization (WHO) and World Economic Forum have jointly created a public-private collaboration known as the Pandemic Supply Chain Network (PSCN) to drive the emergency supply chain. The network... Read More »
Senators call for information and strategy on coronavirus outbreak
Faced with five confirmed cases and dozens of potential infections being traced across the U.S., senators from both parties have called on the federal government for updates and strategies for how to contain the recent outbreak of coronavirus. For some, the concern lay with the Department of... Read More »
Rep. Buchanan calls for Wuhan coronavirus to be declared public health emergency
Though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) continue to call risk to Americans by the Wuhan coronavirus -- 2019-nCoV -- low, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) became the latest federal lawmaker this week to call for a public health... Read More »
WHO to dispatch international experts to assist China with coronavirus outbreak
As the outbreak of novel coronavirus -- 2019-nCoV -- continues unabated, a meeting of top officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the People’s Republic of China this week aimed to lockdown next steps for a unified assault on the virus. The biggest news to come out of the meeting... Read More »
Pennsylvania Senate bills would provide benefits for fire, emergency workers
The Pennsylvania State Senate approved two bills this week that would provide financial benefits for fire and emergency management services (EMS) workers. The bills focus on easing the financial pressures faced by fire and EMS companies due to the increasing costs of equipment and training.... Read More »