News
Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., releases update on BioThrax procurement contract with CDC
Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., released an update on Friday of the status of its 2011 procurement contract for BioThrax with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). BioThrax is the only anthrax vaccine licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The vaccine is... Read More »
DNA vaccine shows promise against combating Zika virus
A team of researchers from the National Institutes of Health and other research institutions recently developed a DNA vaccine to combat the spread of Zika virus. Research teams with the Kansas State University (KSU) Biosecurity Research Institute, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro,... Read More »
HHS, Emergent BioSolutions enter into contract for anthrax vaccine development
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) recently moved forward with the development of the anthrax vaccine NuThrax. ASPR’s Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Emergent... Read More »
Legislation introduced to cut funding for Palestinian terrorist attacks
A group of Republican U.S. senators recently introduced the Taylor Force Act to require the secretary of state to certify that the Palestinian Authority has ended its policy of funding terrorists and their families. The bill was introduced by U.S. Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Lindsey Graham (R-SC),... Read More »Heery appointed chief medical officer for Bavarian Nordic A/S
Bavarian Nordic A/S appointed Dr. Christopher R. Heery to the role of chief medical officer for the company on Wednesday. Heery will manage the preclinical and clinical development of Bavarian Nordic’s infectious disease and immune-oncology portfolio. His position is based on the east coast... Read More »Upstate Medical University researchers use collaborative approach to study the spread of mosquito-borne viruses
An Upstate Medical University research team recently began utilizing a social-ecological systems (SES) approach to study mosquito-borne viruses such as Zika, chikungunya and dengue fever. The SES approach builds upon new information as it becomes available to the multi-disciplinary research team... Read More »
INTERPOL, Europol meet in Singapore to discuss ways to combat cyber crime
A coalition of leaders from law enforcement agencies, the private sector and academic institutions from across the world met in Singapore this week to address the growing threat of cyber crimes. The meeting, titled “Solutions for Attribution,” saw approximately 200 participants from 56... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., signs multi-year contract for next-gen anthrax vaccine candidate
Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., announced on Friday that it has signed a multi-year contract for the advanced development and delivery of NuThrax (vaccine adsorbed with CPG 7909 adjuvant), the company’s next-generation anthrax vaccine candidate. The contract, signed with the Biomedical Advanced... Read More »
House Oversight Subcommittee holds hearing on inactivation of dangerous pathogens
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on Tuesday regarding the inactivation of dangerous pathogens and the bioresearch labs that study them. According to a recent report by the U.S Government Accountability Office (GAO), changes... Read More »House passes six homeland security-related bills
The U.S. House of Representatives passed six bipartisan bills on Tuesday to enhance national security efforts within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “I commend the work of my committee on the passage of these important pieces of legislation which seek to provide necessary... Read More »House passes two Donovan-sponsored homeland security bills
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed two homeland security-related bills introduced by U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) with a bipartisan voice vote. “Your government’s chief responsibility is to protect you and your family from attack,” Donovan said. “Last weekend’s bombings... Read More »
Smiths Detection to deliver high-resolution baggage screening technology to Berlin Brandenburg Airport
Germany’s Procurement Agency of the Federal Ministry of the Interior recently contracted Smiths Detection to provide baggage-screening equipment for the German Federal Police at the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport. The HI-SCAN 10080 XCT system utilizes a high-resolution x-ray scanner, computed... Read More »Zika virus vaccine candidate receives funding from BARDA to expedite development
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) approved a contract on Monday to develop an inactivated Zika virus vaccine candidate. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under the... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee releases update to encryption report
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released an update on Tuesday to a previous committee report regarding encryption and its impact on law enforcement and counterterrorism. The original report, titled “Going Dark, Going Forward,” was... Read More »
Payne, Jr.’s amendment to coordinate DHS agencies included in recently-passed House bill
The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed the Securing Our Agriculture and Food Act, H.R. 5346, which included an amendment introduced by U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ). Payne, Jr.’s amendment seeks to enhance coordination among U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Read More »CBP agents discover 10 pounds of alleged liquid methamphetamine concealed in aloe vera juice bottles
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stationed at the Hidalgo, Pharr, Anzalduas Port of Entry recently arrested an individual carrying approximately 10 pounds of alleged liquid methamphetamine concealed within aloe vera juice bottles. The incident began on Sept. 20 at the Pharr... Read More »
Ernst questions Carter, Dunford on the rise of ISIS in Southeast Asian countries
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) questioned two senior U.S. Department of Defense officials on Thursday about the rise of ISIS in Southeast Asian countries. At a hearing titled “U.S. National Security Challenges and Ongoing Military Operations,” Ernst heard testimony from U.S. Department of... Read More »KSU study finds no Zika transmission amongst Culex mosquitoes
A team of researchers from the Kansas State University (KSU) Biosecurity Research Institute recently conducted a study with Culex species mosquitoes from across the country to find ways to stop the spread of Zika virus. Findings from the study were published in the journal Vector-Borne and... Read More »
Johnson responds to Carper’s request for information regarding cybersecurity for local election systems
U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) recently received a response to his request for information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding reports that foreign actors hacked into American political organizations. Carper asked DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson to provide information about how... Read More »Massive data breach affects approximately 500 million Yahoo! accounts
Yahoo! recently disclosed a massive data breach affecting approximately 500 million email accounts that occurred in late 2014. “Major data breaches remind us that we must do our part and be vigilant in protecting our personal online information,” Michael Kaiser, executive director of the... Read More »
House passes McCaul’s first responder grant bill
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Community Counterterrorism Preparedness Act, H.R. 5859, on Thursday, to provide assistance to first responders in communities across the country. The bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and passed with bipartisan support, authorizes... Read More »Ratcliffe hears testimony from law enforcement regarding 1033 program
U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) recently heard testimony from law enforcement officials regarding President Barack Obama’s decision to curtail access to the 1033 program, which gave excess military equipment to local law enforcement agencies. Ratcliffe recently introduced a bill to reverse... Read More »
Johnson requests information from DHS regarding humanitarian crisis at southwest border
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) requested information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday regarding the surge of unaccompanied minors from Central America arriving at the nation’s southwest border. Johnson, in a letter to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, also requested... Read More »GAO report: High-containment labs need improved pathogen oversight
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on Wednesday on high-containment laboratories and how improved oversight of dangerous pathogens is needed to mitigate any potential risks. The GAO report said the total number of incidents involving incomplete inactivation, a... Read More »
Royce voices support for Taiwan’s participation at upcoming aviation safety meeting
U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, reiterated his support on Tuesday for Taiwan’s participation in the upcoming International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) 39th assembly meeting. “Last year alone Taiwan took care of nearly 60 million... Read More »Carper visits Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, tours TSA training facilities
U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) visited the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Georgia, on Tuesday. FLETC provides training for tens of thousands of federal, state and local law enforcement officers each year in approximately 100 courses. “The Federal Law Enforcement... Read More »Report: Decommissioning first-gen nuclear reactors in Lithuania, Bulgaria and Slovakia could cost $12.7 billion
According to a recent report by the European Court of Auditors, the estimated costs of decommissioning first-generation nuclear reactors, along with associated waste disposal, in Lithuania, Bulgaria and Slovakia could be at least $12.7 billion. The auditors said that financing from European... Read More »
Aeolus publishes promising data on AEOL 10150 as sulfur mustard gas exposure countermeasure
Aeolus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., published additional data demonstrating the efficacy of AEOL 10150 as a medical countermeasure to sulfur mustard gas exposure on Monday. The data showed that treatment with AEOL 10150 48 hours after exposure to sulfur mustard gas improved survival rates from 36... Read More »Johnson requests information on DHS citizenship error
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) requested information on Monday from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after reports of at least 858 individuals mistakenly being granted citizenship despite being deemed ineligible. The error occurred due to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement... Read More »Michigan Congressional delegation voices support for Fort Custer Training Center for missile defense site
A coalition of congressional lawmakers voiced support on Monday for the Fort Custer Training Center in Michigan, one of three locations currently under consideration for a possible continental United States interceptor site. The legislators voiced their support in a letter to Vice Admiral James... Read More »
McCaul’s counterterrorism strategy aims to take U.S. into digital age of security
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) unveiled a counterterrorism strategy on Tuesday that he said takes U.S. policies into the digital age of security, as threats from violent extremists continue to evolve with technology. McCaul’s plan was released just days after... Read More »Rubio introduces legislation to stop terrorists from returning to the battlefield
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the Keep Terrorists Off the Battlefield Act on Monday to bar the president from setting terrorists free from the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay (Gitmo). The legislation would also prevent the president from closing the detention facility entirely.... Read More »
GOP senators urge additional sanctions on North Korea following nuclear test
A coalition of Republican senators urged the president on Monday to enact immediate sanctions on North Korea in the wake of its latest nuclear weapons test. This most recent incident was the fourth nuclear test since 2009 and the second this year. “In the wake of this latest provocation... Read More »
Cuomo deploys additional officers across the state in wake of Chelsea explosion
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) directed the New York State Police and the National Guard to deploy an additional 1,000 officers across the state on Sunday after an explosion in Chelsea. In addition to the increased deployment of officers, Cuomo directed the Division of Homeland Security and... Read More »