Threats
DHS S&T, Israel National Cyber Directorate detail cybersecurity collaboration
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD) recently formed the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Cyber program-managed joint initiative, which would enhance critical infrastructure cyber... Read More »
Collaborative, NIH-funded research develops fast, cheap genotyping approach to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants
The efforts of an interdisciplinary research team funded by the National Institutes of Health’s Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) Tech program have yielded a quick, cost-effective new means of detecting and identifying known variants and subvariants of SARS-CoV-2. The results of the... Read More »
DOJ forms collaborative New England Prescription Opioid Strike Force in focus on illegal opioid prescriptions
Struggling to contain a national opioid epidemic, the United States Justice Department (DOJ) Criminal Division this week gathered various law enforcement operations together under the New England Prescription Opioid (NEPO) Strike Force. The strike force represents a renewed focus on unlawful... Read More »
Experts, public health leaders gathered to discuss need for well-funded public health system in wake of COVID-19
Public health policy organization Trust for America’s Health and the nonprofit collective known as the Coalition for Health Funding assembled expert panelists and public health officials last week to discuss public health funding in the post-COVID landscape. While COVID-19’s effects are... Read More »
HHS details agreement to purchase 105 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently detailed an agreement to purchase 105 million doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for a fall vaccination campaign. HHS collaborated with the U.S. Department of Defense on the $3.2 billion contract that includes a combination of... Read More »
New DARPA-funded blockchain study points out exploits of security
A new study conducted by consulting firm Trail of Bits and funded by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) concluded that despite claims to the contrary, blockchains are not impenetrable but can be subverted to dishonest means. Despite the growing prevalence of blockchains... Read More »
Sen. Tester urges Biden administration to reopen northern border
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) is requesting the Biden administration reopen the northern border and recently encouraged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to end the trucker and traveler vaccination mandate. Tester recently implored Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro... Read More »
NIH Clinical Center begins phase 1 trial of universal flu vaccine candidate
Inoculations began this week at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, for up to 100 participants in a phase 1 trial of novel universal flu vaccine candidate BPL-1357. Testing will be conducted at this site alone and will focus on volunteers between 18 and 55... Read More »
FDA to review biologics license application for Emergent BioSolutions anthrax vaccine candidate
With the acceptance of a biologics license application (BLA) from Emergent BioSolutions Inc. last week, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to review the potential of AV7909, an anthrax vaccine candidate. “Over the last 20 years, Emergent has partnered with the U.S.... Read More »
Rep. Cicilline urges increased legislative action to combat gun violence
Following the advancement of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, Rep. David N. Cicilline said the momentum must be used to pass other gun violence combating measures. “This is the first time in nearly 28 years that Congress has sent a comprehensive gun violence prevention bill to the... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection, Grace Farms Foundation host federal law enforcement summit
At a conference jointly hosted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Grace Farms Foundation last week, hundreds of law enforcement officials gathered to discuss transnational threats, as well as the information sharing and best practices needed to tackle them. “U.S. Customs and... Read More »
Soligenix bivalent thermostabilized vaccine demonstrations full protection against filovirus in non-human primates
Late-stage biopharmaceutical company Soligenix, Inc. announced last week that it has created and tested a bivalent filovirus vaccine that offered 100 percent protection to non-human primate test subjects against the lethal Marburg and Ebola viruses. "Filoviruses such as Zaire ebolavirus, Sudan... Read More »
Legislation seeks sensitive data protections from high-risk foreign countries
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) recently introduced the Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Surveillance Act, which seeks to create protections against selling or transferring domestic sensitive... Read More »
CDC expands monkeypox testing capacity with shipments to five commercial lab companies
Working through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began shipping monkeypox tests to five commercial lab companies this week. It aims to boost the nation’s monkeypox testing capacity at large, with assistance from Aegis... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Hoeven, Rosen applaud enactment of cybersecurity workforce legislation
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) recently applauded the enactment of their legislation to recruit, develop and retain skilled cybersecurity professionals in the federal workforce. The Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act became law in the wake... Read More »
Global Fund partners with SC Johnson to address malaria throughout Africa
A new partnership arranged between SC Johnson and the Global Fund this week will focus on resource development for malaria, one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases. Together, the pair intend to push for social impact in some of the places malaria has proven most stubborn: Burundi, the... Read More »
OPCW Director-General meets U.S. Arms Control officials to discuss current international security, stockpile destruction
In an official visit to Washington, D.C., the Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Fernando Arias, met with various U.S. officials to address current international security and prevent the re-emergence of chemical weapons. Under... Read More »
GAO issues cyber risk, insurance assessment recommendations
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently issued two recommendations to the Treasury Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding cyber risks and cyber insurance assessments. Per the GAO, the agency conducted the study amid cyber threats to critical... Read More »
Bipartisan group of senators call for more advanced artillery for Ukraine
This week, a bipartisan call from four senators urged the U.S. Department of Defense to dispatch more advanced artillery rocket systems and ammunition to Ukraine in support of its efforts to repel a Russian invasion. In a letter, U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick... Read More »
International IED training at New York State preparedness training center deemed success
Over the course of a week, the latest iteration of the Raven’s Challenge, an improvised explosive devices (IED) training exercise for state, federal, and international partners in public safety and military, gathered more than 100 personnel in New York’s Oneida County this month. The State... Read More »
Battelle introduces PFAS contamination solution
Battelle officials have indicated the company has developed a proven solution to eliminate the source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminated drinking water. The PFAS ANNIHILATOR, which destroys the chemicals by preventing them from entering drinking water systems, stemmed... Read More »
Republican House committee leadership promote more aggressive response to Russian nuclear threats
According to a letter from the Republican leads on three House committees, not enough is being done to deter Russia from utilizing nuclear weapons in its assault on Ukraine – and they urged President Joe Biden to be clearer and more combative in his approaches. At this point, said U.S. Reps.... Read More »
DHS releases enforcement strategy for blocking forced labor-made goods from China’s Xinjiang
Following up on the demands made by the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week published its official strategy for barring importations from China’s Xinjiang region and cracking down on goods made from forced labor. China has come... Read More »
Measure seeks to address gun sales loophole
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) announced the reintroduction of the Default Proceed Sale Transparency Act, which seeks to close a loophole enabling some gun sales to be completed without Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background check results. U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jimmy... Read More »
National Defense Authorization Act advances through Senate Armed Services Committee
The upcoming fiscal year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) overcame one of its major hurdles last week, advancing out of the Senate Armed Services Committee after consideration of 433 amendments and the adoption of 223. Committee markup and approval is the first big step to set... Read More »
HSI details $4.7M narcotics trafficking indictment
The U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) recently led an investigation that led to the indictment of 20 Mexican nationals among 39 defendants for narcotics trafficking. The individuals had roles in a $4.7 million conspiracy to distribute more than 335 kilograms of methamphetamine and 22... Read More »
DOJ, European Union unify ransomware attack combating efforts
Department of Justice and European Union officials are espousing the benefits of a recent two-day workshop in The Hague to share best practices and enhance collaboration in confronting ransomware attacks. “Only by working together with key law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in the EU... Read More »
Senate advances PACT Act of 2022 to president, promising greater focus on toxic exposure among veterans
A positive vote of 84-14 in the Senate passed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 through its final legislative hurdle last week, advancing it to President Joe Biden to sign. The legislation introduced by U.S. Sens.... Read More »
Reps. LaHood, Panetta lead coalition urging strengthened U.S. supply chains
U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood (IL) and Jimmy Panetta (CA) led 18 colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden, encouraging him to improve supply chains, national preparedness, and vaccine delivery efficiency. They hope this will help the nation recover economically from the COVID-19... Read More »
FDA issues emergency use authorization for Roche’s cobas SARS-CoV-2 Duo
Roche broke new ground with its cobas SARS-CoV-2 Duo, which this week received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorization (EUA) to become the first PCR test capable of simultaneously detecting COVID-19 and quantitatively measuring viral load levels. “The test’s... Read More »
DARPA exploring new hybrid reef-mimicking structures research
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected three research teams to develop solutions for hybrid reef-mimicking structures research. DARPA launched the Reefense program to target coastal flooding, erosion, and storm damage threatening civilian and Department of Defense... Read More »
DHS S&T aiding indoor mapping capability development
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is funding the development of a cloud-based capability aiding digital indoor mapping capability. Collaboration with Waterloo, Ontario-based Mappedin Inc. yielded Mappedin Response, which enables first... Read More »
Lawmakers seek comprehensive southern border policy review
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) recently joined 34 colleagues in forwarding correspondence to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeking a review of the department's southern border policy. The lawmakers noted that the follow-up letter to DHS Inspector General... Read More »
Sanofi-GSK next-generation COVID-19 booster vaccine makes strong protective showing against variants of concern
In two trials of a new Sanofi-GSK COVID-19 booster vaccine, strong immune responses were offered to previously vaccinated adults, and solid protection was offered against variants of concern, according to the company’s latest data. This booster is modeled on the Beta variant antigen,... Read More »