Threats
Bill addresses cyber incident response planning
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced legislation last week that would require the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assess its cyber incident response plans and procedures. The DHS Roles and Responsibilities in Cyber Space Act's original co-sponsors were three members of the... Read More »
NSA, Maryland form new cybersecurity partnership to address data policies, security
Through a new cybersecurity fellowship announced last week by the State of Maryland and the National Security Agency (NSA), the partners intend to pursue best data practices, policies, standards, and security. As part of this arrangement, NSA senior data analyst Jason Jabers joined Gov. Larry... Read More »
HHS invests more than $562M into manufacturing of domestic COVID-19 tests
In recent weeks, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has invested more than $562 million into U.S. companies to boost domestic manufacturing of COVID-19 tests and supplies. These funds, pulled from the American Rescue Plan Act, have benefited supplies such as pipette tips,... Read More »
Bill seeks to avert biomedical research threats
U.S. Rep. John Joyce (R-PA) has introduced a bill he said seeks to protect from foreign threats biomedical research conducted or funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH). The Securing and Fortifying Everyday Biomedical Research Act (SAFE Biomedical Research Act - H.R. 5626) would ensure... Read More »
Novartis expands Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine support
Novartis officials said the company has established an agreement leveraging its manufacturing capacity and capabilities to address the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine support. The agreement targets the fill and finish of more than 50 million doses in 2021 at the Novartis... Read More »
LLNL joins Human Vaccines Project to accelerate vaccine development
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) announced it had joined the international Human Vaccines Project (HVP) Thursday, bringing its expertise and computing resources to the project to aid the development of a universal coronavirus vaccine and to improve understanding of immune response.... Read More »
Bill targets continued federal anti-terrorism support
U.S. Reps. Val Demings (D-FL) and Don Bacon (R-NE) last week introduced legislation to create a plan to continue federal anti-terrorism support for Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI)-funded homeland security capabilities. The Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act (H.B. 5615) directs... Read More »
Gates Foundation pledges up to $120M to spur access to COVID-19 drug molnupiravir for low-income countries
Recognizing the delays that have plagued low-income countries at nearly every aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced this week a pledge of up to $120 million to accelerate access to the antiviral drug molnupiravir among low-income nations. Molnupiravir is... Read More »
House advances Secure Equipment Act
House Republican Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and U.S. Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) applauded their U.S. House of Representatives colleagues for advancing the Secure Equipment Act. The measure prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from reviewing or issuing new equipment licenses... Read More »
BARDA accepting applications for at-home COVID-19 diagnostics, technologies
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) announced a new solicitation this week for the development of rapid and affordable at-home SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics, as well as supportive technologies to further more widespread, decentralized testing for COVID-19. In reaching... Read More »
CISA awards $2M for cybersecurity workforce training
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) officials announced that two organizations have secured awards totaling $2 million to develop cybersecurity workforce training programs. NPower and CyberWarrior will focus on the unemployed and underemployed, urban and rural underserved... Read More »
FDA expands use of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses in eligible populations
On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration took action to expand the use of a booster dose for COVID-19 vaccines in eligible populations. “Today’s actions demonstrate our commitment to public health in proactively fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Acting FDA... Read More »
House approves sweeping bipartisan bill to revamp Strategic National Stockpile
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday voted 397-22 to approve a bipartisan bill that aims to reform how the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is administered and managed. The legislation now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration. The Strengthening America’s Strategic National... Read More »
Bill seeks to enhance wildfire combating efforts
U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) introduced Tuesday the Military Support for Fighting Wildfires Act, which seeks to bolster wildfire combating efforts. Garamendi joined U.S. Reps. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA) in delivering the bill for consideration. The legislation seeks to... Read More »
Phase 3 results of Valneva COVID-19 vaccine candidate show high antibody response, tolerability
Results arrived this week for a Phase 3 trial of Valneva SE’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate, VLA2001, and they revealed neutralizing antibody activity greater than 95 percent, along with broad T-cell responses and significant tolerability. It was reported that the inactivated, adjuvanted vaccine... Read More »
Rep. Portman seeks answers from Customs and Border Protection nominee on crisis at Southern Border
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, grilled Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus, President Joe Biden’s nominee for Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), on the need for enhanced border security... Read More »
DHS provides 24/7 hotline for modeling and analysis of chemical hazards during severe weather
Recognizing the additional level of dangerous chemical hazards brought on by storm-damaged infrastructure could cause, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is providing a 24/7 hotline to address a variety of threats and how they could... Read More »
Lockheed Martin secures Army tactical vehicle contract
Lockheed Martin has secured a $9,672,781 Army Project Agreement to continue developing the Terrestrial Layer System (TLS) program for the branch's tactical vehicles. The action via the Army's Consortium Management Group (CMG)/Consortium for Command, Control, and Communications in Cyberspace (C5)... Read More »
Sen. Murray promotes $1.85B budget increase for CDC, public health funding amidst pandemic
Fed up with the dangers of an unprepared and underfunded public health system, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) voiced support this week for a fiscal year 2022 bill that would increase Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding by $1.85 billion. The bill, released by the Labor, Health... Read More »
Sens. Portman, Peters introduce bipartisan legislation to combat human trafficking
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI), the ranking member and chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced legislation Monday designed to enhance the country’s ability to combat the rise of human trafficking. The Countering Human Trafficking Act... Read More »
Rep. Higgins assesses updated CDC COVID-19 vaccination guidance regarding international travel
After a recent request from U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) updated guidance on recognizing people as fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The White House indicated it will reopen land ports of entry on Nov. 8, 2021, after the sites have... Read More »
FDA advisory committee unanimously recommends Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine booster for emergency use authorization
Adults at least 18 years old could soon gain access to a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine booster shot if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agrees with the unanimous recommendation of its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC). Last week, in a 19-0 vote,... Read More »
Report warns of cyberthreat to U.S. Water and Wastewater Systems facilities
A joint cybersecurity advisory (CSA) from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Security Agency (NSA) has detailed an ongoing cyber threat to the U.S. Water and Wastewater... Read More »
Tuberculosis deaths rise for first time in more than a decade as spending falls, COVID surges
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported last week that tuberculosis (TB) deaths rose for the first time in more than a decade as COVID-19 continues to impact the world. According to WHO, approximately 1.5 million people died as a result of TB in 2020. The organization noted that fewer... Read More »
NIH RADx initiative awards $77.7 million for rapid COVID-19 diagnostics tests
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative split $77.7 million among 12 new contract awards last week for potential, rapid SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests. Part of the RADx Tech program, which gathered a panel of technical, regulatory and business... Read More »
FDA session to address COVID-19 oral treatment
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials said the agency will conduct a Nov. 30 meeting via its Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee (AMDAC) to discuss a COVID-19 oral treatment. The FDA indicated the effort would focus on Merck and Ridgeback’s request for an emergency use authorization... Read More »
REGEN-COV earns FDA priority review and EMA review for use against COVID-19
Following two successful Phase 3 trials of more than 6,000 patients, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week accepted the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. anti-COVID-19 cocktail known as REGEN-COV for priority review. REGEN-COV is a mix of the antibodies casirivimab and... Read More »TSA details checkpoint firearm detection statistics
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers have detected a record number of firearms at airport security checkpoints this year. As of Oct. 3 officers had stopped 4,495 airline passengers from carrying firearms aboard flights, exceeding the full calendar year 2019 previous record of... Read More »MITRE panel: Maintain warp speed in preparation for next global health crisis
The all-star team of government officials, scientists and industry executives who tackled COVID-19 made great strides in the development of an effective vaccine against the novel virus, but that is no guarantee that the United States will be ready for the next pandemic that rears its head, speakers... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions begins phase 3 study of chikungunya virus vaccine candidate
The first participant in a new trial phase recently received a dose of a vaccine candidate against chikungunya disease that is being developed by Emergent BioSolutions Inc. “Emergent has achieved a major milestone as we begin our phase 3 study for our single-dose chikungunya vaccine... Read More »
20 years after anthrax attacks, report finds U.S. government still behind on biodetection
Shortly after the terrorist events of Sept. 11, 2001, letters containing deadly anthrax spores arrived at locations across the country, killing five Americans and sickening 17 others. Twenty years after these incidents, considered the worst biological attacks in U.S. history, the federal government... Read More »
Smiths Detection details emerging variants identification efforts
The threat detection and security screening technology firm Smiths Detection recently confirmed its BioFlash air sampler detects a series of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Officials said the detected variants include the Alpha variant, Beta variant, Gamma variant, the Kappa variant and the Delta and Delta... Read More »
WHO proposes 26 members for advisory group on the origins of novel pathogens
The World Health Organization (WHO) has whittled down a list of more than 700 applicants to 26 proposed members to act as expert advisors on its new Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO). These experts will advise WHO as it develops a global framework for defining... Read More »Lawmakers urge expanded global COVID-19 vaccine access, review of Moderna-HHS contract
In a letter to high-ranking members of the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 response efforts, three Democratic senators and representatives this week urged a cautious review of the United States Health and Human Services (HHS) contract with Moderna, Inc. and called for efforts to expand global... Read More »