Threats
DHS transferring ownership of National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility to USDA for research, vaccine development
A new facility -- the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility -- meant to house top-of-the-line labs for research into foreign animal diseases will soon transfer from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), but outstanding issues could... Read More »
DARPA deploys automated radiation detection system to Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
After five years of development, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has greenlit an automated, networked radiation detection system known as SIGMA for use by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, promising new protections for the region. In theory, the system is... Read More »
Smiths Detection secures CBP contract for railway X-ray scanners
The Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has awarded a $13.5M contract to Smiths Detection to provide HCVT advanced X-ray scanners for use at railway checkpoints. The scanners would be used at northern and southern border checkpoints, with initial deliveries... Read More »
Sen. Durbin queries potential COVID-19 vaccine providers
Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) has forwarded correspondence to eight potential COVID-19 vaccine providers, inquiring about maintaining scientific and data-based standards in the wake of possible political pressure. Durbin sent letters to Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sanofi and... Read More »
Operation Warp Speed turns to DoD to host phase 3 clinical trial of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) will host a phase three trial of the vaccine candidate AZD1222, developed by AstraZeneca, at five locations selected by Operation Warp Speed. For the trial, the selected sites include Naval Medical Center San Diego, Joint Base San Antonio Brooke Army Medical... Read More »
Sanofi, GSK launch phase 1/2 clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidate
Sanofi and GSK began a phase 1/2 clinical trial of their jointly developed COVID-19 vaccine candidate last week, opening enrollment for 440 participants after pre-clinical studies show promising positive safety and immunogenicity. The vaccine is based on the recombinant protein-based technology... Read More »
DHS releases new report on electromagnetic pulse attacks
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a new report on its efforts to combat Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) attacks, which could disrupt the electrical grid and potentially damage electronics. The report, called the Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Program Status Report, establishes... Read More »
OPCW leader issues statement on alleged poisoning of Russian political leader
The head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) issued a statement about the alleged poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. “Under the Chemical Weapons Convention, any poisoning of an individual through the use of a nerve agent is considered a use of... Read More »
DOE unveils new Emergency Communications Network center in Las Vegas
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has introduced a new communication network that allows emergency responders to exchange secure real-time voice, data, and video information during nuclear or radiological emergencies. The Emergency Communications... Read More »
NIH awards $129M for COVID-19 testing technologies
The National Institutes of Health awarded $129.3 million for COVID-19 testing technologies as part of its Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative. The contracts went to nine companies for technologies that include portable point-of-care tests for immediate results or results within... Read More »
Report examines potential election interference lessons
A Center for American Progress (CAP) report maintains there are lessons to be learned regarding 2016 election interference and addresses steps to shield future votes from such actions. “America was caught off guard in 2016, but there are no excuses in future elections,” said James Lamond,... Read More »
CISA, EAC introduce election risk profile tool
Two government entities said they have partnered to introduce the Election Risk Profile Tool to aid election officials and federal agencies in prioritizing and managing election infrastructure cybersecurity risks. “There is no question the security of our election systems has vastly improved,... Read More »
Sanofi, Regeneron pull plug on Kevzara ambitions for COVID-19 following trial failure
The intravenously administered drug Kevzara will no longer be investigated as a potential COVID-19 treatment, Sanofi confirmed this week, after it failed to meet either its primary or secondary goals during a phase 3 trial among severely and critically ill patients. Hundreds were tested with the... Read More »
Hydrocortisone boosts COVID-19 patient survival rates in international study
A study run by collaborators from Imperial College London and Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre has found that the over the counter steroid hydrocortisone improves recovery changes among patients critically ill with COVID-19. "The studies published today show that we now have more... Read More »
DHS proposes new rule for biometric collection
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is looking to expand the department’s authorities and methods for collecting biometrics to improve the screening and vetting process. The proposed rule changes would modernize biometrics collection and authorize expanded use of biometrics beyond... Read More »
COVID-19 virus has mutated minimally since outbreak, Walter Reed researchers say
The virus that causes COVID-19 has mutated minimally since December 2019, according to a study by a team of scientists from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. The research team arrived at this conclusion after conducting a genetic analysis of sequences from more than 27,000 individuals... Read More »
CBP bolsters biometric technology applications
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that the agency has deployed more biometric facial comparison technology to reduce traveler contact and streamline the travel experience. Officials said, through a partnership with Los Angeles World of Airports (LAWA), Los Angeles International... Read More »
Roche to offer SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test to CE Mark accepting countries, apply for EUA
Roche announced this week plans to launch a SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test capable of 15-minute turnarounds for markets accepting the CE Mark and file for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Meant for use in point of care settings -- which allow... Read More »
Vir Biotechnology, GSK doses first patient in trial for COVID-19 treatment
Vir Biotechnology and GlaxoSmithKline dosed the first patient last week in a phase 2/3 study with its COVID-19 treatment. The treatment, VIR-7831, is a fully human anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody, for the early treatment of COVID-19 in patients who are at high risk of hospitalization.... Read More »
Sen. Durbin urges DoD to adopt fast COVID-19 testing system
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged the Department of Defense (DoD) to adopt SHIELD T3, a system of COVID-19 testing and tracing developed by the University of Illinois. SHIELD T3 provides rapid results in two to six hours at costs significantly below current alternatives. It could be used to... Read More »
BARDA, NOWDiagnostics partnership proposes rapid, over-the-counter COVID-19 test
A partnership between the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and NOWDiagnostics, Inc. will produce a rapid, point of care, in vitro diagnostic test for COVID-19 known as ADEXUSDx. Based on the similarly named ADEXUSDx platform, the test proposes rapid detection of... Read More »
AstraZeneca begins phase 3 testing of COVID-19 vaccine testing in United States
The United Kingdom-based biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca launched phase 3 testing of its potential COVID-19 vaccine -- AZD1222 -- in the United States this week, with plans to enroll as many as 30,000 adult volunteers across 80 testing sites. AZD1222 was originally developed by Oxford... Read More »
Coast Guard halts illegal charters
Coast Guard officials said the service branch has halted at least five illegal charter voyages discovered across the Mid-Atlantic since July. “The recent increase of illegal charters in the Maryland National Capital Region is a serious issue. Illegal charters pose a significant hazard to life,... Read More »
Bill targets global health accountability
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure they said is designed to hold foreign nations accountable for suppressing or distorting information concerning international public health crises. Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) joined Reps. John Curtis (R-UT), Mike Gallagher... Read More »
DHS awards Synthetik $1M to support machine learning efforts in airport security
Seeking to advance explosive detection equipment, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded $1 million to Synthetik Applied Technologies last week to help it develop machine learning training data for airport security. Such data simulates human travelers and baggage object models to... Read More »
Emergency use authorization for remdesivir now allows use on all COVID-19 hospitalized patients
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week expanded the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the drug Veklury (remdesivir) to allow its use on all hospitalized patients with suspected or lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19. Its use was formerly restricted by severity, but those... Read More »
Lawrence Livermore National Lab chemists prepare for proficiency exam to test chemical weapons
Chemists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) will spend the next month and a half preparing for an exam that will certify the laboratory to test for chemical weapons, a task it has been certified to do since 2003. Taken in October by chemists a part of the laboratory’s... Read More »
CISA, FBI warns about North Korean cyberthreat on ATMs
Federal authorities are issuing an alert about an automated teller machine (ATM) cash-out scheme by North Korean government cyber actors. This scheme is referred to as “FASTCash 2.0: North Korea's BeagleBoyz Robbing Banks.” The alert – issued by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure... Read More »
Coast Guard executes international narcotics seizures
Coast Guard officials said crews recently executed narcotics seizures in international waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean Sea. The Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton crew offloaded approximately 11,500 pounds of cocaine and... Read More »
DHS S&T funding to aid development of flood hazard modeling process
Deltares USA and Deltares have secured $950,000 in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) funds to develop a flood hazard modeling process. The endeavor, which officials said would utilize open source data, models, and software, is in accordance with the... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Warren, Smith press large test labs for data on COVID-19 test processing capacity
In response to reports that rising COVID-19 cases in July strained lab capacity and caused a decline in daily tests, U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tina Smith (D-MN) wrote letters to several COVID-19 testing labs requesting information on the processing capacity for each. June and July... Read More »
NIAID creates Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases with $82M investment plan
Seeking greater investigations into how and where viruses and other pathogens can crossover from wildlife to people, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) officially created the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (CREID) this week through an initial 11... Read More »
Infectious diseases society cautions FDA commissioner on COVID-19 vaccines
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) are urging the Food and Drug Administration to make sure that rigorous safety and efficacy data support the approval of a COVID-19 vaccine. Full licensure of a vaccine is preferable to an Emergency Use... Read More »
Rep. Green introduces bill to strengthen CISA
U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) introduced legislation to strengthen the ability of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to address cyberthreats on Federal government systems. The bill, called the Protecting Federal Networks Act, gives CISA the authority to address threats and... Read More »