News
Measure seeks to bolster school security
U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently introduced a bill designed to codify into law the Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety as a means of bolstering school security efforts. The Luke and Alex School Safety Act of 2021 would help inform parents and... Read More »
Altimmune COVID-19 vaccine candidate to start Phase 1 clinical trial this week
Following positive results from preclinical testing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham last year, the Altimmune Inc. COVID-19 vaccine candidate AdCOVID is set to start a phase one clinical trial this week. Efforts will begin with patient enrollment, now that the U.S. Food and Drug... Read More »
BARDA supports Luminex single, rapid test to distinguish between flus, RSV and COVID-19 infections
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Luminex Corporation announced a collaboration on advanced development support of a single test to rapidly detect and differentiate between COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Prevalent pathogens all,... Read More »
Bipartisan bill introduced to create commission to investigate Jan. 6 attack, domestic terrorism
A bipartisan group of legislators is introducing a bill to investigate the Jan. 6 domestic terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol and the federal government’s failure to respond to the threat of domestic terrorism over the past two decades. The Commission on Domestic Terrorism Act of 2021 would... Read More »
Rep. Aguilar sponsors bill to prevent white supremacists, domestic terrorists from enlisting in military
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) introduced legislation that seeks to prevent white supremacists and other domestic extremists from enlisting in the U.S. Military. His bill – the Shielding Our Military from Extremists Act – comes after a Department of Defense (DoD) report that said white supremacist... Read More »
Bills address Chinese Communist Party influence
Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) has introduced five bills to address the Chinese Communist Party's malign influence. Officials said the legislation, previously introduced by Green in the 116th Congress, includes the Bring American Companies Home Act, the Our Money in China Transparency Act, the Secure... Read More »
CISA unveils global international engagement strategy
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has unveiled CISA Global, the agency's initial international strategy. Acting CISA Director Brandon Wales shared the initiative during the recent Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) amid a fireside chat with BCIU... Read More »
HHS declares public health emergency in Texas due to deadly winter storms
A public health emergency was declared in Texas this week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Acting Secretary Norris Cochran due to recent winter storms that left millions without power. President Joe Biden had already declared an emergency in the state last week.... Read More »
Biden announces US pledge of $4B for COVAX initiative to aid global COVID-19 vaccinations
With money appropriated by Congress last year, President Joe Biden pledged a total of $4 billion to the global COVAX initiative to get poorer nations access to COVID-19 vaccines. The announcement, made during a virtual G7 Summit, also encouraged partners within that group of wealthy nations to... Read More »
DHS investigators seize 11 million counterfeit respirator masks
Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) have seized approximately 11 million counterfeit 3M N95 respirator masks in recent weeks. The effort resulted from a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and manufacturer 3M. “These seizures... Read More »
CISA, FBI and Treasury issue North Korean malware warning
Federal authorities issued a cybersecurity warning about possible malicious activity by the North Korean government related to the “AppleJeus” malware. The advisory was issued by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the... Read More »
DHS technology aids wildland firefighters
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) personnel are touting Team Awareness Kit (TAK) utilization - a training tool aiding California firefighters in wildland response efforts. The mobile application harnesses wildfire situational awareness data and DHS... Read More »
LLNL researchers initiate skin protein study
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers are working to determine if, after a terrorist bombing, the bomb maker can be identified by skin proteins left on bomb components. As a means of conducting the research, personnel from LLNL's Weapons Complex Integration (WCI) and Global... Read More »
Smiths Detection’s BioFlesh system capable of detecting SARS-CoV-2 in the air
In tests conducted by the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), a new screening technology from Smiths Detection broke new ground in efforts to find and contain COVID-19: the capability to detect the virus SARS-CoV-2 in the air. The BioFlesh Biological... Read More »
GSK, Vir Biotechnology to cooperate on new flu, respiratory virus therapeutics
Building off a 2020 research and development agreement for coronavirus therapies, GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) and Vir Biotechnology, Inc. announced a binding agreement this week to expand that collaboration into new therapies for flu and other respiratory viruses. The pair will work together on... Read More »
Defense Department awards $1.4M grant to WVU to study antibiotic resistance
The U.S. Department of Defense awarded a $1.4 million grant to scientists at West Virginia University (WVU) to develop therapeutics to treat infections prone to antibiotic resistance. Mariette Barbier of the WVU School of Medicine will lead the research effort. Barbier and her team will present... Read More »
Reps. Upton, Gottheimer introduce bill to install silent alarms in schools
U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) introduced a bill to require silent panic alarms in all schools to immediately alert law enforcement of an active shooter. The bill is called the Alyssa’s Legacy Youth in School Safety Alert Act (the ALYSSA Act) -- named after Alyssa... Read More »
DHS highlights transit system safeguard measures
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials are touting initiatives designed to ensure continued nationwide safety and security of mass transit. DHS S&T has collaborated with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City to examine... Read More »
Lockheed Martin to lead combat vehicle protection system testing
Army officials said Lockheed Martin is slated to begin supporting formal integration and testing of the branch's combat vehicle protection system to keep soldiers safer and more secure from threats. Lockheed Martin would provide its Modular Active Protection System (MAPS) base kit, which... Read More »
COVAX expects majority of first AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine deliveries in March
Following the World Health Organization (WHO) emergency use listing of the AstraZeneca/University of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine this week, the COVAX initiative announced it intends the bulk of the first deliveries to occur in March. COVAX is finalizing the first and second quarter allocations of... Read More »
Johns Hopkins report identifies four policy recommendations to contain spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants
A new report from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security addresses the status of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, sequencing, and the three emerging variant strains, establishing four policy recommendations to identify and manage them. “Staying Ahead of the Variants: Policy Recommendations to... Read More »
Over 300 health organizations urge Congress to provide additional funding to fight COVID-19
Leading health and public health organizations in the United States are seeking $4.5 billion in additional annual funding for states, localities, tribes, and territories to support public health infrastructure and workforce. Representatives from 316 organizations sent a letter to Congressional... Read More »
Sen. Collins urges Defense Secretary to review the modular pressure mobile containment systems
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) is urging the Secretary of Defense to review the modular pressure mobile containment systems that can offer a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) or hospital the capability to treat patients with COVID-19 symptoms. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin,... Read More »
DHS initiative addresses southwest border processing
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel said on Feb. 19 that the agency would begin the initial phase of a program designed to restore safe and orderly southwest border processing. Authorities indicated DHS would begin processing those who had been forced to remain in Mexico under... Read More »
NIA, PGS release advanced nuclear energy development strategy
A joint document recently released by the Nuclear Innovation Alliance (NIA) and Partnership for Global Security (PGS) defines a comprehensive domestic strategy to advance nuclear power development. “Clean energy technologies, including advanced nuclear energy, are essential to meet mid-century... Read More »
NIAID ACTIV-2 trial begins Phase 2/3 testing on four COVID-19 therapeutics
Another four COVID-19 therapeutics for those with mild to moderate symptoms moved further up the pipeline this week, with the announcement of enrollment for Phase 2/3 testing in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) ACTIV-2 trial. ACTIV, or the Accelerating COVID-19... Read More »
WHO authorizes AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use, COVAX roll-out
The World Health Organization (WHO) formally approved emergency authorization for AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, allowing two versions of it to be distributed through the global COVAX program. AstraZeneca-SKBio is producing the two vaccines in the Republic of Korea and the Serum Institute of... Read More »
Reps. Schneider, McKinley sponsor bill to boost PPE, testing supplies production
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and David McKinley (R-WV) introduced a bill to address shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing supplies. The Protecting Providers Everywhere (PPE) in America Act would boost domestic PPE and testing supply production. It would also promote a... Read More »
Rep. Katko, committee leaders, urge Biden not to rollback border security policies
Republican members of the House Committee on Homeland Security are urging Biden administration officials not to roll back border security or immigration enforcement policies. In a letter to President Biden, the committee members warn of a surge in encounters at the border at a time when U.S.... Read More »
BAE Systems secures ACV contract with Marine Corps
BAE Systems has been awarded a $184 million contract option via the Marine Corps, covering production, fielding, and support costs for the Amphibious Combat Vehicles personnel carrier (ACV-P) variant. The firm was awarded the initial full-rate production contract option in December for the... Read More »
US Chamber launches COVID-19 vaccination resource initiative
U.S. Chamber of Commerce officials said a recently launched digital resource center seeks to aid business leaders and associations in wholly navigating varied COVID-19 vaccine questions. Authorities noted the COVID-19 Vaccines Digital Resource Center contains state-specific information, guidance... Read More »
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security creates new website for COVID-19 testing info
The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security introduced a new website last week known as the COVID-19 Testing Toolkit to provide essential information on available tests, testing services, how they work, and how accurate they are for any interested organizations. “For a lot of organizations,... Read More »
HHS, DoD purchase 200 million additional doses of Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines
The United States Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Defense (DoD) will purchase another 100 million doses each of the COVID-19 vaccines offered by Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. by the end of July. President Joe Biden announced the deals last week, in a speech delivered at the... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions to bottle Providence Therapeutics new COVID-19 vaccine
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. on Friday announced a new contract development and manufacturing company (CDMO) agreement with Canadian-based Providence Therapeutics, which is producing a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine similar to the Moderna Inc. and Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus shots already being... Read More »