News
NTI report supports securing, eliminating cesium-137 radioactive sources
The National Threat Initiative (NTI) worked with hospitals, research universities, and other stakeholders to prepare a report with effective and secure solutions to support Congressional efforts to eliminate cesium-137 from facilities around the United States. The report -- Preventing a Dirty... Read More »
DHS awards funding to address security threats to IoT connected devices
The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) awarded $199,680 to a firm to address security threats to connected devices. The award went to Bastille Networks of Atlanta, Ga., for its Internet of Things (IoT) security solution that gives system administrators... Read More »
US, UK sign deal allowing law enforcement to demand data from tech companies
The United States and the United Kingdom entered into a recent agreement that will allow law enforcement agencies to demand electronic data from tech companies in either country for serious crimes. The US-UK Bilateral Data Access Agreement would apply to serious crimes, including terrorism,... Read More »
Funds earmarked for California fire protection
California’s Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority (SVFRA) recently received $3,382,458 grant funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s SAFER program. Authorities said the allotment would fund 12 Firefighter/Paramedic positions, enabling an increase in staffing levels on... Read More »
FLIR Systems announce agreement to acquire Aria Insights’ Intellectual property, certain operating assets
FLIR Systems has reached an agreement to acquire Aria Insight’s Intellectual property (IP) and certain operating assets. Aria, which was previously known as CyPhy Works, Inc., pioneered the development of tethered small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) and developed the Persistent Aerial... Read More »
File, Jr. named IDSA president
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) this week named Dr. Thomas File, Jr. as its newest president, along with five new board members. File intends to lead the organization in a fight against antimicrobial resistance, developing relationships with state and regional infectious... Read More »
Energy Department creates new AI research center
The U.S. Department of Energy recently created a new research center to advance the study and development of artificial intelligence (AI). Scientists from the DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and the Georgia Institute of Technology will staff the new... Read More »
Senate resolution recognizes October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month
A U.S. Senate resolution recently recognized October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2019. This year’s theme is “Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT.” The goal is to emphasize personal accountability and to take proactive steps to enhance cybersecurity. Key areas of focus this year... Read More »
USDA appoints Clavijo as National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility director
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials have appointed Dr. Alfonso Clavijo as director of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). The NBAF, which is currently under construction by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is a research and diagnostic facility designed to... Read More »
DHS issues REAL ID compliance reminder
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is reminding U.S. citizens that, beginning Oct. 1, 2020, all air travelers must be REAL ID-compliant to fly within the United States. Travelers must present a REAL ID driver's license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license or other acceptable forms of... Read More »
DARPA seeks advancements in urban autonomous swarm tactics, technologies to enhance physical testbeds
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced intentions to enhance collective autonomous systems in a way that will support urban troop offensives, and to that end, are seeking proposals for operational swarm tactics and new technologies to integrate into these swarms. It is... Read More »
Newly selected Space Command leader speaks to importance of US Space Force
(Corrects paragraph 4 to reflect the location of U.S. Space Command headquarters has not yet been decided.) Air Force Gen. John Raymond, who was selected in August by President Donald Trump to lead the U.S. Space Command, recently emphasized the need for U.S. superiority in an increasingly... Read More »
BARDA awards more than $20M for Marburg, Sudan ebolavirus vaccines
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) awarded the Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute Inc. of Washington, D.C., with about $20.5 million to develop vaccines against Marburg virus and Sudan ebolavirus infections. Both diseases are caused by the same family of viruses... Read More »
New technology may aid emergency preparedness
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has earmarked funds to aid the development of new technology that could bolster emergency preparedness by producing platelets outside the human body. If the two-year, $4.9 million agreement between HHS Biomedical Advanced Research and Development... Read More »
Textron Systems to produce combat vehicle chassis
Raytheon Rheinmetall Land Systems, a joint venture of Raytheon Company and Rheinmetall Land Systems, selected Monday Textron Systems to produce the chassis the Lynx Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The joint venture is looking to offer Lynx to meet the Army's requirement for an Optionally Manned... Read More »
Bavarian Nordic receives FDA approval for alternative smallpox, monkeypox vaccine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week approved Bavarian Nordic to market a new, alternative smallpox vaccine known as JYNNEOS. JYNNEOS is a live, non-replicating vaccine specifically made for adults. It is an alternative to the existing ACAM2000, which though licensed, cannot be... Read More »
Congressmen ask acting DNI director about fighting white supremacy
Two House subcommittee chairmen recently sent a letter to Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire, requesting information about how the intelligence community (IC) is combatting the growing threat of transnational, white supremacist terrorism. At a joint subcommittee hearing last... Read More »
NIH to launch influenza vaccine research centers
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is launching a network of research centers that will work to develop better influenza vaccines. NIAID – which is part of the National Institutes of Health -- will provide up to $51 million in funding for the initiative, called... Read More »
Rep. Upton turns to CDC for information in wake of Eastern equine encephalitis deaths in Michigan
Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a mosquito-borne virus, recently led to the deaths of three Michigan residents, and U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) is pressing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for details of their efforts to halt it. In addition to the three fatalities, EEE... Read More »
Bills bolster security screening, DHS intelligence
The House of Representatives advanced last week four bills designed to support the traveler security screening process and enhance the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intelligence apparatus. Officials touted the potential benefits the Trusted Traveler Reconsideration and Restoration Act of... Read More »
Effort addresses Central American irregular migration
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said the agency recently initiated an effort designed to increase collaboration between America and Honduras regarding combating irregular migration through Central America. Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan has signed two... Read More »
House advances opioid trafficking act
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced last week bipartisan legislation that would create a task force within the Department of Homeland Security. The Joint Task Force to Combat Opioid Trafficking Act is aimed at preventing foreign fentanyl and other opioids from entering the country. The... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions awarded NIH grant for opioid treatment
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) awarded Emergent BioSolutions a $6.3 million research grant for further development of the company’s treatment for opioid addiction. Specifically, the funding is for the continued development of AP007, Emergent’s sustained-release nalmefene... Read More »
Federal government needs to strengthen its approach to terrorism, expert says
The federal government needs to take a public-health approach for at-risk individuals and strengthen partnerships with civilian researchers to combat the rise of violent far-right terrorism, according to William Braniff, a terrorism expert. Braniff recently testified to the U.S. Senate Committee... Read More »
BARDA awards contract to BioFactura for smallpox treatment
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) awarded a $67 million contract to BioFactura for the advanced development of its Smallpox Biodefense Therapeutic to treat smallpox. While smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980, the threat of bioterrorism remains. To fill the... Read More »
DHS S&T awards contract for blockchain security development
Vienna, Austria-based Danube Tech GmbH has secured a $143,478 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) contract to develop blockchain security technology. The award is funded through S&T’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) Other Transaction... Read More »
CBP initiates facial recognition technology at Detroit Metro Airport
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has initiated Simplified Arrival at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) as a means of modernizing international arrivals by matching travelers to documents using face comparison technology. CBP is committed to implementing an integrated biometric... Read More »
NIH awards three contracts for tuberculosis vaccine research
Under a $30 million contract with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), three institutions have been selected to create new centers of immunology research to advance tuberculosis (TB) vaccine development. The three... Read More »
Sen. Grassley unveils bipartisan bill to bolster security oversight of EB-5 investor program
On the heels of new regulations issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updating the EB-5 visa program that go into effect on Nov. 21, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) on Tuesday proposed a bipartisan bill that would expand the authority of the U.S. Department of Homeland... Read More »
New report assesses world’s ability to protect itself from health emergencies
A new report issued by leaders in international health says the world may face great risk from pathogens, including a rapidly moving, highly lethal pandemic projected to kill 50 to 80 million people and wiping out nearly 5 percent of the world’s economy. High-impact respiratory pathogens, such... Read More »
Florida lawmakers advocate fighter jet basing
A group of Florida lawmakers recently urged the Air Force to consider the Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter Wing for the next series of F-35 basing decisions. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) was joined by Reps. John Rutherford (R-FL), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Michael Waltz (R-FL) and Mario... Read More »
Senate advances bill bolstering cybersecurity in public, private sector
The U.S. Senate advanced bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) designed to enhance cybersecurity in the public and private sector. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cyber Hunt and Incident Response Teams Act requires DHS to establish... Read More »
HHS Secretary Azar co-hosts Ebola preparedness and response discussion at UN General Assembly
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar co-hosted Wednesday the “Meeting of Regional Ministers of Health on Ebola Preparedness and Response” during the 74th United Nations General Assembly. Foremost on the ministers’ minds were the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the... Read More »
New Chikungunya vaccine requires no refrigeration
Scientists may have changed the way Chikungunya vaccines can be designed, produced, and stored, with the creation of a new type of synthetic vaccine that can be stored at warmer temperatures without the need for refrigeration. The results of the vaccine study, published in Science Advances... Read More »