News
Chinese biotechnology dominates U.S. Senate hearing on biological threats
China is rapidly gaining on the United States when it comes to creating technology that mitigates disease threats and developing pharmaceuticals faster, and it’s a phenomenon driven by a philosophy that the state, military, and the private sector are one in the same. That was the testimony of... Read More »
U.S. Senate holds hearing on Chinese talent recruitment plans
The U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations held a hearing on a report on a Chinese program that captures U.S. Intellectual property. Through its “talent recruitment plans” launched in the 1990s, China began recruiting U.S.-based scientists and researchers and providing... Read More »
House Committee advances Rep. Spanberger’s 5G bill
The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced legislation to protect 5G and next-generation wireless communications systems in the United States. The bill -- the Secure 5G and Beyond Act – was introduced by Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA). The bill would require the Trump... Read More »
Democratic senators address DHS over cybersecurity funding shortfall
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), along with U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), send a letter Tuesday to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to address a shortfall in funding efforts meant to support state and local data sharing and cybersecurity. The... Read More »
GAO offers transportation security recommendation
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a recommendation regarding creating a federal transportation security national strategy governing document. GAO officials said after researching the issue, it has recommended DHS should, in... Read More »
DIA examines Iran’s military capability
The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has released findings regarding Iran’s military capability, providing details on that nation’s defense and military goals, strategy, plans, and intentions. “As Tehran expands its capabilities and role as both an unconventional and conventional threat... Read More »
Reps. Eshoo, Diaz-Balart honored by Global Health Technologies Coalition
U.S. Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) were honored by the Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) for their leadership in supporting global health research and development (R&D). The two were honored at GHTC’s 2019 Innovating for Impact Awards, which recognizes U.S.... Read More »
Democratic, Independent senators urge funding for election security
A group of Democratic and Independent U.S. senators recently urged the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to increase funding for election security grants and the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The EAC is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with ensuring accessible,... Read More »
DHS funds target blockchain security development
Austin, Texas-based Factom, Inc. has secured $197,292 in funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) to enhance blockchain security system development. DHS officials said they envision agencies using the technology to create and verify... Read More »
Bill targets supply chain vulnerabilities
Reps. Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) recently introduced legislation they said would facilitate information sharing from the federal government to the private sector regarding supply chain vulnerabilities. The Network Security Information Sharing Act addresses the need for greater... Read More »
GOP committee leaders object to DHS proposal on drones
Republican leaders on the U.S. House Homeland Security and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees blasted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) proposal to allow counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) equipment to operate near airports. This includes equipment that could be... Read More »
Colorado State awarded $1.2 million for tuberculosis research
Researchers at Colorado State University were awarded a $1.2 million subcontract from the Infectious Disease Research Institute in Seattle for immunology research to accelerate progress in tuberculosis vaccine development. The institute is part of the National Institutes of Health, which gave a... Read More »
Bill offers Terrorism Risk Insurance extension
A pair of lawmakers have introduced a measure extending the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program for seven years. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Tina Smith (D-MN), proponents of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019, said the 2020 RNC and DNC Conventions, NASCAR, the NFL and... Read More »
FDA final guidance clarifies stance on smallpox drug development
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week issued final guidance for developing smallpox treatment studies, providing clarity to drug manufacturers. “Despite recent advances in developing an effective treatment for smallpox, drug developers still face challenges in bringing... Read More »
DARPA espouses benefits of new program to quickly detect pathogens
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) officials are espousing the potential benefits of new technology to quickly address endemic, emerging and engineered pathogenic threats. The organization’s newest biotechnology funding opportunity, the Detect It with Gene Editing Technologies... Read More »
With new EB-5 program regs going into effect, Grassley goes after bad actors
Federal regulatory updates to the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program that go into effect on Nov. 21 could receive some additional muscle to knock out bad actors if recently introduced federal legislation is enacted. “I still have concerns about fraud and abuse in the program that can only be... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster CBP hiring, retention
Bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate was introduced to improve the hiring and retention of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and officers. U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and John Hoeven (R-ND) said the CBP Hiring and Retention Innovation Act, S. 2813, creates a Customs and... Read More »
DHS awards Digital Bazaar funding to develop blockchain security technology
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate awarded $199,984 to Digital Bazaar, a company based in Blacksburg, Va., to develop blockchain security technology. The award was made by S&T’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP). The Phase 1 award... Read More »
NIAID awards contract to Integral Molecular to advance understanding of human immune response
Integral Molecular won a $5.5 million National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) contract last week that will, over the next five years, fund efforts to define antibody responses to various pathogenic viruses and advance along the path to making vaccines for them. "Our nearly... Read More »
BARDA awards contract to Inflammatix for innovative diagnostic test systems
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) awarded a $6 million contract to Burlingame, Calif.-based Inflammatix Inc. to develop a new testing technology that reads gene expression patterns in the immune system. The innovative technology, known as host-response testing,... Read More »
Federal funds target NH human trafficking
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has earmarked $780,038, for the New Hampshire Department of Justice (NHDOJ) to combat human trafficking in that state. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined Reps. Annie Kuster (D-NH) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) to announce that NHDOJ would... Read More »
Online platform crowdsources predictions about disease outbreak
An online platform launched earlier this year crowdsources intelligence to predict the outcomes of disease outbreak. The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security implemented its publicly available disease prediction policy dashboard 10 months ago, and officials hope forecasting efforts might... Read More »
Rep. Rose urges terrorist organization designation for white nationalist groups
U.S. Rep. Max Rose (D-NY) issued a statement related to the U.S. State Department's response to his request to designate violent white nationalist extremist groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO). Rose was among 40 members of Congress who called upon the State Department to designate... Read More »
PFAS protection for firefighters bill advances
Legislation introduced by a pair of lawmakers designed to examine and address health concerns regarding firefighters’ occupational exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has advanced in the Senate. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) said the Guaranteeing... Read More »
Lawmakers tout election security measure
A group of legislators have introduced a bill designed to bolster election security via new resources enabling research promoting voting systems modernization. U.S. Reps. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Frank Lucas (R-OK) said the Election... Read More »
NTI releases new report on Russia’s nuclear weapons systems
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) released a report assessing the five new nuclear weapon systems announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Based on its analysis, NTI called for an extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty or START Treaty. The report, called Russia’s New... Read More »
CDC: federal investments help to combat antibiotic resistance
The U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) released the Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report this week, showcasing the effects recent federal investments have had in the fight against antibiotic resistance. Since 2013, the annual number of antibiotic resistant infections in the... Read More »
GAO offers DOD fleet recommendations
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a series of recommendations to the Department of Defense (DOD) regarding efforts to sustain its growing F-35 aircraft fleet. The GAO said the F-35 fighter plays a key role in the nation’s defense. As of October, the United States and... Read More »
Merck gets approval in EU to market Ebola vaccine
The European Commission granted marketing authorization to Merck for a vaccine to immunize adults against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) caused by the Zaire Ebola virus. The vaccine, called ERVEBO, can be marketed in the 28 countries that are members of the European Union, as well as European... Read More »
Senate approves bill calling for better management of FEMA advanced contracts
The U.S. Senate passed the Federal Advance Contracts Enhancement (FACE) Act, which requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to more effectively manage its advance contracts for goods and services. Specifically, the legislation requires federal preparedness actions to be... Read More »
DHS awards Austin company contract to develop proof-of-concept application for CBP
The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently awarded Transmute Industries, an Austin, Texas-based company, a $198,642 Phase 1 award to develop a proof-of-concept application for Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The application must support... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster stadium security
Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced last week the Stadiums Operating under New Guidance (SONG) Act, which empowers the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue temporary flight restrictions for stadium concerts and other events. “Whether... Read More »
Partnership targets enhancement of emergency communications system
A group of public safety organizations recently agreed to work together to enhance global emergency communications systems that serve nearly 1 billion people. Under the agreement, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, Canada (APCO Canada), the European Emergency Number... Read More »
University of Illinois researchers create “lab-on-a-smartphone” system to diagnose infectious diseases
Looking for ways to diagnose and treat infectious diseases in regions with limits health care and laboratories can yield some interesting results, but researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are working on the development of a lab-on-a-smartphone to help expand the currently... Read More »