News
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 »
NIH begins Phase 1 clinical trial to test Moderna COVID-19 variant vaccine
Although it already has a successful COVID-19 vaccine in circulation, Moderna is developing a vaccine designed to address the troubling South African variant of the disease (B.1.351), and as of last week, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) began a phase one trial to evaluate it. Known as... Read More »
HSI, partners warn consumers of COVID-19 post-vaccine survey scam
Homeland Security Investigations, a division of the Department of Justice, is warning U.S. citizens about a scam targeting vulnerable consumers with promises of gifts and cash in exchange for participating in fraudulent post-vaccination surveys. The fraudulent surveys are used to illegally... Read More »
TSA Surge Capacity Force helps FEMA administer vaccines
Members of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workforce are helping the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) pandemic response by volunteering to help at community vaccination centers. The volunteers are part of TSA’s Surge Capacity Force (SCF), a program for federal... Read More »
Tabletop exercise targets NASCAR race safety measures
Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) personnel recently joined NASCAR and law enforcement officials in a tabletop exercise focusing on GEICO 500 hypothetical public safety incidents. CISA Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security... Read More »
Bell Textron, Army continue V-280 Valor progression
Bell Textron and Army officials said terms have been reached regarding the execution of the Competitive Demonstration and Risk Reduction (CD&RR) contract's second phase involving the V-280 Valor design. “This is the next step to a program of record, and Bell is proud to closely collaborate... Read More »
NIRVANA diagnostic capable of diagnosing, sequencing COVID-19, variants and other viruses
Clinicians have created a portable test -- dubbed NIRVANA -- capable of detecting and sequencing COVID-19, its variants, and other viruses in mere moments, according to data published in the journal Med. Primarily, the test cuts out the need for extra diagnostics and middlemen. "This is a... Read More »
CEPI offers up to $200M for SARS-CoV-2, betacoronavirus vaccine development
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI) announced this week that it will invest up to $200 million into promising vaccine candidates for SARS-CoV-2 and Betacoronavirus, following a call for proposals. This funding will carry candidates through to clinical proof of concept and forms one... Read More »
GSK to aid Novavax COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing
Global healthcare company GSK has reached a principle agreement with Novavax and the UK Government Vaccines Taskforce to support the manufacturing of up to 60 million doses of Novavax’ COVID-19 vaccine. Under the agreement, GSK will provide manufacturing capacity at its Barnard Castle facility... Read More »
BARDA researching treatment for sulfur mustard corneal injury
Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) officials said the agency has provided funding for studies evaluating the therapeutic potential of aCT1 eye drops in models of sulfur mustard corneal injury. BARDA officials said the effort is via its Division of Research, Innovation... Read More »
BAE secures Navy landing systems integration contract
The Navy has awarded BAE Systems a four-year $42.5 million contract to provide shore-based landing systems integration (LSI) support services for instrument carrier and instrument landing systems (ICLS/ILS). “For several decades, we have been responsible for integrating the Navy’s landing... Read More »
CDC awards UCLA $4.9M grant to study COVID-19 vaccine efficacy on health workers
Over the next year, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) will lead a study of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness on health workers, thanks to a $4.9 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Participants in what is being called the PREVENT (Preventing... Read More »
Biodefense Commission warns U.S. still vulnerable to further biological threats
Even as the United States reels from a year under the thumb of COVID-19, a new analysis from the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense, released this week, warns that without action, the nation remains dangerously vulnerable to another pandemic or biological threat. The report, Biodefense in... Read More »
Legislators introduces bill addressing doctor shortages during pandemic
U.S. Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AK), John Katko (R-NY), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), and Rodney Davis (R-IL) introduced legislation Monday designed to mitigate the nationwide physician shortages by boosting the number of Medicare-supported residency positions. The Resident Physician Shortage Act of 2021 would... Read More »
Moderna ships 100 millionth COVID-19 vaccine dose
Moderna, a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines, announced Monday that it has shipped the 100 millionth dose of its COVID-19 vaccine to the U.S. government. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 67 million doses of the... Read More »
HHS to expand older adult COVID-19 vaccine access
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to expand older adult COVID-19 vaccine access. The initiative would provide nearly $100 million to assist with... Read More »
Singapore scientists create diagnostic to detect SARS-CoV-2, mutations
Faced with an already mutating SARS-CoV-2 virus, the world has found itself needing to adapt its countermeasures -- and a team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore has responded with a new test capable of detecting even mutated strains. The VaNGuard test, as it is... Read More »
ATOM consortium adds three DOE national laboratories to collaborative AI-driven drug discovery efforts
A total of five national laboratories are now a part of the Accelerating Therapeutics for Opportunities in Medicine (ATOM) consortium, assisting public-private efforts to develop an artificial intelligence(AI)-driven drug discovery platform. The latest labs to join this week were the U.S.... Read More »
Senators introduce bill to build on Abraham Accords, normalize Israel relations
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jim Risch (R-ID), Todd Young (R-IN), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced last week the Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021, hoping to strengthen and expand peace and normalization agreements between Israel and surrounding nations. The bill... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster relations between United States, Taiwan
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) recently reintroduced a bill designed to enhance the relationship between the United States and Taiwan. The Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act would strengthen the relationship between the nations by creating an interagency Taiwan policy task... Read More »
Bill targets bolstering military survivor benefits
Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT) and Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) recently introduced a measure they said adjusts monthly benefits for family members and survivors of veterans who lost their lives in service to the nation. The Caring for Survivors Act of 2021 seeks to... Read More »
GSK, Vir Biotechnology submit COVID-19 antibody treatment for FDA emergency use authorization
Investigational SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody VIR-7831 was submitted for emergency use authorization (EUA) at the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week by developers GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) and Vir Biotechnology, Inc. Pitched as a treatment for mild to moderate cases of... Read More »
Senators urge VA to counter coronavirus vaccine misinformation spreading among veterans
A bipartisan group of senators, led by U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), wrote to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) last week with concerns about and calls to action against coronavirus vaccine misinformation being sown among veterans. While misinformation has been a... Read More »
Phoenix man charged with fraud over $450,000 in COVID relief funds
A Phoenix man is in custody after being charged with fraudulently applying for Paycheck Protection Program loans, investigators with the federal government said. James Theodore Polzin, 47, of Mesa, Ariz., was charged with three charges of fraud in connection with major disaster or emergency... Read More »
Rep. Meeks, Sen. Durbin offer input on GAO Mexico firearms trafficking report
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) have offered thoughts regarding the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) update of its January 2016 report assessing firearms trafficking from the United States to Mexico. Meeks and Durbin provided input regarding how the report... Read More »
Bill seeks to empower immigration courts
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) has introduced four bills designed to empower immigration courts and make offender aliens deportable. “The Biden administration’s reckless policies are openly inviting gangs and cartels to flock to the border, so it’s more urgent than ever that we ensure dangerous... Read More »