Threats
COVID-19 pandemic caused setbacks in fight against antimicrobial resistant infections throughout United States
While the general focus has been on the immediate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the outbreak also reversed years of progress in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AR), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In a report released this week – "COVID-19:... Read More »
DHS S&T, CISA detail software vulnerabilities collaboration
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) detailed the benefits of a collaboration addressing software vulnerabilities. The effort is significant because software weaknesses are a prime... Read More »
NIAID launches clinical phase 1 trial of mRNA Nipah virus vaccine
Nipah virus became the newest target of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) this week, with the launch of a phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate an investigational vaccine from Moderna, Inc. and NIAID’s own Vaccine Research Center. This potential vaccine was built... Read More »
Moderna bivalent booster displays high antibody response to Omicron subvariants
With new and aggressive strains of COVID-19 continuing to emerge, such as the omicron subvariants BA.4/5, Moderna, Inc. has continued developing new means to counter them, including its booster candidate mRNA-1273.214, which recently delivered promising results. One month after administration... Read More »
Biden administration secures 3.2 million Novavax COVID-19 vaccine doses
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it had secured 3.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, Novavax. Working in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), HHS said it acquired the doses as a way to provide additional protection options for... Read More »
HHS offers another 144,000 doses of JYNNEOS vaccine in bid to lockdown monkeypox early
States and jurisdictions will begin receiving another 144,000 doses of the Bavarian Nordic JYNNEOS vaccine from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) this week as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) pivots to focus more heavily on monkeypox. As of July 8, the Centers for... Read More »
Coalition of scientists, researchers and public health experts recommend means to strengthen oversight of pathogen research
New recommendations meant to overhaul U.S. research oversight for enhanced potential pandemic pathogens (ePPPs) and life sciences dual-use efforts were submitted last week by a 34-member group of scientists, public health experts, and policy researchers. These recommendations were submitted by... Read More »
Smiths Detection, Kromek enter agreement for development of wearable radiation detection equipment
Threat detection and security firm Smiths Detection announced that it has entered an agreement with Kromek to deliver wearable radiation detection equipment to North and South America. “Smiths Detection is committed to deliver the best security screening solutions to our customers," Smiths... Read More »
Reps. Turner, Veasey seek to halt release of terrorists to Afghanistan
In response to Afghanistan’s return to Taliban rule, U.S. Reps. Mike Turner (R-OH) and Marc Veasey (D-TX) introduced legislation last week – the Preventing Terrorist Transfers to Afghanistan Act – that would disallow the release of terrorism-aligned individuals to Afghanistan. A similar... Read More »
CBP details northern Puerto Rico cocaine seizure
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently detailed the seizure of 1,342 pounds (609 Kilos) of cocaine left inside a smuggling vessel in El Paraiso Beach. The estimated value of the narcotics discovered in northern Puerto Rico is $12.7 million - crediting the seizure to Border Patrol... Read More »
Nuclear Threat Initiative experts among more than 50 participants of International Partnership for Disarmament Verification exercise
More than 50 participants from 19 countries gathered in Belgium last month for the first in-person meeting of the International Partnership for Disarmament Verification (IPNDV) in more than two years to tackle a tabletop exercise for verifying the transport and long-term storage of nuclear... Read More »
DHS S&T, U.S. Army partner to validate data through new Chemical Security Laboratory
The U.S. Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) opened an experimental new facility known as the Chemical Security Laboratory (CSL) this week in partnership with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC). Located at Aberdeen Proving Ground in... Read More »
Maryland Gov. Hogan announces $122.5M to re-fund police departments through State Aid for Police Protection program
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced this week that $122.5 million had been awarded through the State Aid for Police Protection (SAPP) program to expand resources for police departments statewide. “Prioritized by our budget, this record 60% increase in funding will help police officers and the... Read More »
Sens. Warner, Rubio encourage Federal Trade Commission to investigate TikTok, ByteDance
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to formally investigate TikTok and the platform's parent company, ByteDance. Warner and Rubio, respective chairman and vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence,... Read More »
Joint Cybersecurity Advisory provides information on Maui ransomware
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) recently released a joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) providing information on Maui ransomware. The Maui ransomware has been used by North... Read More »
Measure seeks to address delays in defense equipment deliveries to Taiwan, Indo Pacific allies
U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Young Kim (R-CA) have introduced a bill that seeks to ensure efficient delivery of domestic defense equipment sold to Taiwan and Indo Pacific allies. The Arms Exports Delivery Solutions Act (H.R. 8259) would track transfers while reaffirming congressional... Read More »
Senators introduce bipartisan resolution of commitment to rebuilding Ukraine
As the war between Ukraine and Russia continues unabated, despite hundreds of deaths and months of economic sanctions, some lawmakers in the United States have begun looking to the future, with a resolution committing the United States to rebuild the ravaged Ukraine. Essentially, the bill would... Read More »
DHS awards $195,000 to winners of extreme heat challenge
As part of a competitive search for climate-friendly cooling solutions in the face of extreme heat conditions, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded $195,000 to winners of the Cooling Solutions Challenge this week. Participants worked on innovative solutions to heat, inventing... Read More »
HHS orders 2.5 million additional doses of Bavarian Nordic’s monkeypox vaccine
Responding to the more than 450 cases of monkeypox reported in the United States as of July 1, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ordered another 2.5 million doses of Bavarian Nordic’s JYNNEOS vaccine for smallpox and monkeypox. The case count held at 459 at the end of... Read More »
FEMA launches update to mobile app, touts increase personalization options
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently unveiled an updated version of its mobile app, which now provides users with increased personalization options while aiding disaster safety efforts. “FEMA is committed to providing families with the tools and information they need to keep... Read More »
BARDA, French partner Crossject to develop needle-free ZENEO midazolam autoinjectors
In an effort to stock up for emergencies involving nerve agents, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) announced last week it will work with French developer Crossject to gain ZENEO needle-free autoinjectors for the anticonvulsant midazolam. Midazolam works to treat... Read More »
Sens. Warner, Baldwin lead effort advocating domestically made masks purchases
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), advocating support for a CMS proposal encouraging hospitals to buy domestically-produced masks. U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined six colleagues in sending... Read More »
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 »