News
Biden administration issues Department of Defense funding request
The Biden-Harris administration has issued to Congress its priorities for fiscal year 2022 Department of Defense discretionary spending. The $715 billion funding request invests in the core foundations of the nation's strength while advancing key Department of Defense priorities that include... Read More »
DHS partnership targets Homeland Security solutions advancement
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) said its partnership with Niceville, Florida-based DEFENSEWERX (DWX) would bolster Homeland Security solutions advancement efforts. DWX is a nonprofit organization focusing on cultivating ecosystems enabling... Read More »
Congress members introduce “No Hate” Act
U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of Congress members in announcing the introduction of legislation that would improve hate crime reporting and expand assistance and resources for hate crime victims. The Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer National Opposition to... Read More »
Updated NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines recommend REGEN-COV for non-hospitalized, high risk patients
A mix of casirivimab and imdevimab, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s REGEN-COV, is now strongly recommended by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for high risk COVID-19 patients that are non-hospitalized. The drug was given a strong rate based on randomized trials, which involved more than... Read More »
CDC would gain $1.6B prepare-and-respond funding boost under Biden’s FY2022 budget
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the federal government’s nerve center for its COVID-19 pandemic response, would receive an additional $1.6 billion in funding over last year’s approved levels under President Joe Biden’s mammoth $1.5 trillion federal spending plan for... Read More »
DHS S&T expands cybersecurity tech pilot
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced that it is expanding a pilot test of technology that improves the cybersecurity defenses for the country’s emergency communications infrastructure. In a news release issued on Thursday, S&T said... Read More »
CBP details March 2021 operational statistics
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said a review of its March 2021 operational statistics showed a continued trend of increased encounters and arrests. "We are committed to balancing the need to maintain border security, care for those in our custody and keep the American people and... Read More »
Space Systems Command organizational structure unveiled
The U.S. Space Force recently finalized the Space Systems Command (SSC) organizational structure. Command is slated to officially stand in summer 2021 once required conditions are met to re-designate the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, as SSC... Read More »
Bipartisan Congressional effort seeks greater aid for hate crime victims through Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act
A bipartisan, bicameral response to rising hate crimes in the United States led to the introduction of the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality Act (Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act) today. The legislation would work to actively improve the... Read More »
COVAX reports more than 38 million COVID-19 vaccines delivered since February
The international COVAX facility has managed to deliver more than 38 million doses of various COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to more than 100 economies within 42 days of its first international delivery to Ghana on Feb. 24, 2021. It is a positive start for a massive global undertaking meant to... Read More »
DHS Report: Environment unlikely to affect transmissibility of SARS-COV-2 variants
New research from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has found that the deactivating effects of heat and sunlight are consistent across different variants of the SARS-COV-2 virus – the virus that causes COVID-19. In a report published in the... Read More »
CDC funds target COVID-19 vaccine program expansion
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has earmarked $3 billion to 64 jurisdictions to bolster broad-based COVID-19 vaccine distribution, access, and administration efforts. The funding allotment would support local efforts to increase vaccine uptake by expanding COVID-19 vaccine... Read More »
Lawmakers urge refrain from Iran approach
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to President Joe Biden to encourage a reset if the approach towards Iran versus relinquishing sanctions leveraged over the regime. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Pat Toomey (R-PA), and Todd Young (R-IN) sent the letter to... Read More »
Interim Phase 3 trial data shows lingering COVID-19 antibodies up to six months after Moderna vaccination
Moderna, Inc. is trumpeting the interim results of a phase three trial of its COVID-19 vaccine, which have shown antibodies persisting for six months post-vaccination. These results, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, come with some caveats, though. While the results were founded... Read More »
WHO labels AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine blood clot issues rare, but worth continued study
An assessment by the COVID-19 subcommittee of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) has concluded that blood clots affiliated with the AstraZeneca vaccine are concerning but rare and require further study to determine a causal relationship. All... Read More »
Senators urge Biden administration to fund secure 5G networks
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) joined a group of bipartisan Congress members to urge President Joe Biden to request at least $3 billion to fund the adoption of 5G alternatives to Chinese-made equipment. In a letter to the Biden Administration on Monday, the Congress... Read More »
Bavarian Nordic gets $28M supply order from Janssen for Ebola vaccine substance
Bavarian Nordic received a new supply order from Janssen Pharmaceutica NV to manufacture and deliver bulk drug substance of MVA-BN Filo vaccine to treat Ebola. The MVA-BN Filo vaccine will be licensed to Janssen as part of its Ebola vaccine regimen, Zabdeno and Mvabea, which the European... Read More »
Valneva offers positive COVID-19 vaccine candidate data
The specialty vaccine company Valneva SE has issued positive data for Part A of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial of its inactivated, adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine candidate VLA2001. Officials noted subject to regulatory approval, the company plans to initiate a Phase 3 clinical trial by the end of... Read More »
Man sentenced for attempted chemical weapon purchase
Department of Justice officials said a man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison without parole for attempting to purchase a chemical weapon on the dark web. Jason William Siesser, 46, of Columbia, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to acquire a chemical weapon and one... Read More »
Moderna, Catalent to collaborate on high-speed vial filling line for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine
Moderna, Inc. is joining forces with Catalent, Inc. to create a high-speed vial filling line in Indiana that will aid the manufacture of its COVID-19 vaccine and, potentially, other items in Moderna’s clinical portfolio. While Catalent -- a provider of advanced delivery technologies,... Read More »
FDA authorizes first at home blood spot COVID-19 antibody test for emergency use
The Symbiotica COVID-19 Self-Collected Antibody Test System gained emergency use authorization from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week, making it the first antibody test authorized for use with self-collected dried blood spot samples. The test allows those prescribed... Read More »
DHS funds target biological threats monitoring
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has earmarked funds to develop capabilities to monitor the current COVID-19 pandemic and other future biological events. The agency has awarded $199,648 to Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based Mesur.io Inc. for... Read More »
DIA outlines latest MARS initiative breakthrough
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) officials recently outlined the latest breakthrough regarding its Machine-assisted Analytic Rapid-repository System (MARS) initiative, touting efforts to provide strategic advantages. The MARS initiative would aid military planners, senior leaders, and... Read More »
Walter Reed-created COVID-19 vaccine begins Phase 1 clinical testing
A new COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) began a phase one clinical trial this week, following positive preclinical showings against SARS-CoV-2, its variants, and SARS-CoV-1, as well. "Even before recent COVID-19 variants were identified, our team... Read More »
Senators introduce legislation to combat illegal firearms trafficking
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a bill Monday aimed at combating straw purchasing and illegal trafficking in firearms to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous criminals. The Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act would make it a... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions on track to meet all COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing commitments
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. reported this week that it is on schedule to meet all manufacturing commitments related to COVID-19 vaccines, and that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has increased its original task order by $23 million. The funding injection from... Read More »
Reps. Cuellar, Katko introduce bill to manage migrant surges
U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and John Katko (R-NY) introduced legislation Friday to address migrant surges at the border that would hold agencies accountable and prevent children from being held longer than they should. The legislation, the Border Surge Response and Resilience Act, would... Read More »
Northern border smuggling, trafficking task force formed
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) personnel have formed a task to address the illegal movement of firearms, ammunition, and explosives across the border. The initiative serves as another step forward to disrupting and dismantling the violations,... Read More »
Alion secures $77M contract with Air Force
Alion Science and Technology has secured a $77 million Air Force agreement to provide aircraft and weapons systems research and development for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office (JPO). Officials indicated the task without order possesses a 60-month period of performance via the... Read More »
BARDA, Janssen expand Phase 2a trial of COVID-19 vaccine to include adolescents
An ongoing Phase 2a trial of a Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies-developed COVID-19 vaccine candidate has been expanded to include adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17. While there are still no approved COVID-19 vaccines for children, cases of COVID-19 in children have generally been less... Read More »
HHS launches vaccine public education campaign
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is launching a new public education campaign to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and increase confidence in the vaccines. The department will create a nationwide network of trusted voices – local voices people know and... Read More »
HHS initiates COVID-19 mask design contest
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has initiated a COVID-19 mask design competition, with officials touting a total award of $500,000 available to winning entries. “We know that properly and consistently worn face masks help reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory... Read More »
Bill targets potential border surges
Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX) introduced last week a measure designed to address potential southwest border surges. The Border Surge Response and Resilience Act would require the Department of Homeland Security DHS and federal partners to establish a plan addressing border... Read More »
Legislation to provide greater oversight of federal prisons’ COVID-19 efforts reintroduced to Congress
U.S. Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA) and U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) recently reintroduced the Federal Correctional Facilities COVID-19 Response Act to revise the prison system’s COVID-19 response. “The COVID-19 outbreaks at federal prisons across the... Read More »