Threats
NTI touts ratification of Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) said the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) has been ratified by 50 nations and will enter into force early next year. The initiative serves as a call to action, accelerating progression to a world without nuclear weapons. NTI CEO Ernest J.... Read More »
NIST initiates efforts to strengthen technological resilience
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has crafted Cybersecurity Framework guidelines addressing positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) data - to strengthen critical infrastructure. The new guidelines are designed to help mitigate cybersecurity risks endangering systems... Read More »
University of Maryland research shows diversity in hate crime offenders’ backgrounds, motivations
New research from the University University of Maryland’s National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) found tremendous diversity in hate crime offenders' backgrounds and motivations. Researchers determined that these criminals are a diverse group, varying... Read More »
McGill University researchers create real-time, online COVID-19 vaccine development tracker
Researchers from McGill University are tracking the global race for a COVID-19 vaccine with a new online tool that tracks real-time progress on the development of the more than 50 candidates currently in human trials. "Our goal with the vaccine tracker is to help the public find and access... Read More »
COVID-19 vaccine chiefs eye January launch
Leaders of the effort to develop a COVID-19 vaccine said Tuesday more than 60,000 Americans have volunteered to participate in clinical trials at six different pharma companies with the goal to begin distributing a vaccine by January. Operation Warp Speed, created by the Trump administration... Read More »
DARPA conducts sensor testing in Indianapolis
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) SIGMA+ program conducted a test of advanced chemical and biological sensing systems in the Indianapolis area this past August. DARPA collected more than 250 hours of daily life background atmospheric data in the city that helped train... Read More »
US-Mexico law enforcement arrest two for lasing an aircraft near border
Law enforcement authorities in the United States and Mexico are seeking to identify individuals lasing aircraft along the U.S.-Mexico border from Del Rio, Texas/Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila to Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras. During multiple evening operations earlier in October, aircraft operated by the... Read More »
Rep. McKinley: Congress must continue to combat opioid crisis
On the second anniversary of the passage of the SUPPORT for Patients and Community Act, U.S. Representative David B. McKinley (R-WV) urged fellow legislators not to overlook the opioid crisis facing the country during the Covid-19 epidemic. On Friday, McKinley said that Congress must continue... Read More »
States laying deployment plans of 100 million federally distributed COVID-19 tests
A month after the federal government announced it would provide 150 million Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 tests throughout the United States, states have begun detailing how they, in turn, will utilize those tests for maximum effect. For most of the 32 states and the District of Columbia, which have... Read More »
USAID offers $20M in aid to CEPI for infectious diseases vaccine development
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) gained a $20 million investment from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) last week to support the development of vaccines targeting emerging infectious diseases. These funds will be provided over a five year period,... Read More »
Sens. Markey, Merkley introduce SAUDI WMD Act
U.S. Sens. Edward Markey (D-MA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced legislation that seeks to restore oversight of Saudi Arabia’s nuclear capabilities and impede access to technologies that could pave the way to Saudi Arabia’s first nuclear weapon. The Stopping Activities Underpinning... Read More »
Florida Reps. Murphy, Waltz request more information on Russia and Iran hacking
U.S. Reps. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) and Michael Waltz (R-FL) are seeking a briefing from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Director of National Intelligence, and the Attorney General on Russian and Iranian interference in the 2020 election. The request follows an announcement last week by FBI... Read More »
CBP opens New York processing facility
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and General Services Administration (GSA) personnel are touting the opening of a new commercial land crossing facility at the Alexandria Bay Port of Entry. “This new facility truly fits the needs of the current times as the United States continues to stand... Read More »
Roche backs Atea Pharmaceuticals’ oral antiviral for COVID-19
Roche and Atea Pharmaceuticals, Inc. are now collaborating on the development, manufacture, and distribution of AT-527, an Atea-created investigational oral antiviral for use on COVID-19. The drug, which is currently in phase two clinical trials for hospitalized patients with moderate COVID-19,... Read More »
Remdesivir approved as first official COVID-19 treatment for hospitalized patients
While the pursuit of treatments and vaccines for COVID-19 is ongoing, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a major milestone last week with the approval of the first treatment for the deadly disease: Gilead Sciences Inc.’s Veklury, also known as remdesivir. The approval is... Read More »
Republicans introduce China Task Force Act in House
U.S. Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY), Michael McCaul (R-TX) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) introduced the China Task Force Act, which includes bills and recommendations laid out by the House China Task Force (CTF) to combat economic, military, political and technological threats from China.... Read More »
CEPI reaches manufacturing agreements for COVID-19 vaccines
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has expanded the manufacturing network for its COVID-19 vaccine portfolio. The nonprofit foundation, which finances independent research projects to develop vaccines against emerging infectious diseases, has signed vaccine manufacturing... Read More »
Firm touts tote-based Baggage Handling System
The threat detection and security screening technologies firm Smiths Detection is touting the benefits of integrating its CTX 9800 DSi explosive detection system with a tote-based Baggage Handling System (BHS). “We have gained expertise by working with a broad range of baggage handling system... Read More »
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to launch new technology lab
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) officials said a geospatial technology lab slated for launch at the T-REX innovation center in St. Louis, Missouri, would advance regional NGA, industry, and academia efforts. “We will deliver trusted GEOINT with the speed, accuracy, and precision... Read More »
NJ legislative committee approves bill requiring opioid-antidote prescriptions
The New Jersey Legislature’s Assembly Health Committee on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill that would require opioid-antidote prescriptions for certain high-risk patients. Assembly bill 3869, sponsored on March 23 by Assemblymen John Armato (D-Atlantic) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle... Read More »
PEW researchers: expanded naloxone access can curb opioid deaths
Researchers with The Pew Charitable Trusts have found that expanding access to naloxone, and changing public policy to ensure the opioid-overdose reversal drug gets into the hands of those who need it, can reduce opioid-related overdose deaths. Additionally, researchers said, expanded access to... Read More »
DHS opens Center for Countering Human Trafficking
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) opened the Center for Countering Human Trafficking, the U.S. government’s first law enforcement operations center directly related to human trafficking and forced labor. The center is based in Washington and is led by U.S. Immigration and Customs... Read More »
DEA launches initiative to reduce violent crime
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has launched a new initiative designed to reduce violent crime in communities throughout the country. The DEA’s Project Safeguard will identify and prioritize ongoing drug trafficking investigations with a nexus to violent crime. Working with federal,... Read More »
BARDA to aid COVID-19 clinical trial
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has enlisted its clinical studies network's services to assist with a COVID-19 clinical trial. Officials said Technical Resources International, Inc. (TRI), a BARDA subsidiary, would support the clinical trial in conjunction... Read More »CEPI adds two labs to centralized effort to standardize COVID-19 vaccine assessment
The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) in the United Kingdom and Q2 Solutions in the United States became the latest labs to join the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations’ (CEPI) centralized laboratory network for COVID-19 vaccines this week. “We are... Read More »
Latest CARB-X annual report shows $127.5M, 23 awards dolled out for solutions to drug-resistant bacteria
Last year, CARB-X awarded $127.5 million and 23 awards to developers pursuing novel ways to fight antibiotic resistant bacteria, according to its fourth annual report. This marks the largest funding effort so far conducted by CARB-X, which coincided with several other successful milestones. For... Read More »
Justice Department awards $536M to various community public safety initiatives
The Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) awarded more than $536 million in fiscal year 2020 for various policing, school safety, and anti-opioid efforts. The money went to various programs to increase law enforcement hiring and improve school... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Escobar introduces bill to protect border communities from COVID-19
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar (R-TX) introduced legislation designed to protect border communities against the COVID-19 pandemic by amending the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission Act. This bill, the Binational Health Strategies Act of 2020, directs the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission to... Read More »
NIH initiative targets opioid use disorder
National Institutes of Health (NIH) personnel have joined other federal entities in outlining support for a $350 million multi-year HEALing Communities Study to address opioid use disorder (OUD) interventions. The HEALing Communities Study is funded by the NIH Helping to End Addiction... Read More »
TSA screens highest number of passengers since March 2020
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials said the agency screened over 1 million passengers on Sunday, which marked the highest number of passengers screened at TSA checkpoints since March 17, 2020. “TSA has been diligent in our efforts to ensure checkpoints are clean, safe and... Read More »
UTHealth researchers partner with Texas DSHS on effort to determine prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies
A cooperative effort between The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) gave life to the Texas Coronavirus Antibody Response Survey (CARES) this week, to chart how many people in Texas have COVID-19... Read More »
BARDA doles out Medical Countermeasures Clinical Studies Network awards to four developers
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) awarded contracts this week to ICON Government & Public Health Solutions, Pharm-Olam LLC, PRA Health Sciences, Inc., and Technical Resources International, Inc. for the development of various medical countermeasures. Granted... Read More »
Justice Department funds target addiction
Department of Justice personnel said the agency has earmarked more than $341 million in grants to aid the nation in combating addiction. “The addiction crisis has taken an enormous toll on America’s families and communities, eroding public health, threatening public safety and claiming tens... Read More »
Critical, merging technology strategy released by Trump administration, Department of Homeland Security
The Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security said they have issued the first National Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology to ensure the nation’s innovative edges are guaranteed. Authorities indicated the plan outlines methods to protect technologies across... Read More »