Threats
U.S. House approves Lyme disease amendment, increases research funding by $4M
The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved an amendment increasing Lyme disease research funding to a total of $20 million at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for fiscal year 2021. The amendment, authored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), boosts Lyme disease research... Read More »
Reps. Joyce, Trone introduce bills to improve national security, medical insfrastructure
U.S. Reps. John Joyce (R-PA) and David Trone (D-MD) introduced bills to strengthen the nation’s national security and improve its medical infrastructure. One of the bills is the Strengthening Our Health Security Through Resilient Medical Supply Chains Annual Review Act. This legislation would... Read More »
GeoVax Labs collaborating on vaccine candidates for Marburg virus, Sudan ebolavirus
GeoVax Labs is working on a collaboration to develop vaccine candidates for both the Sudan ebolavirus and Marburg virus. The collaboration is between GeoVax, the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), and Battelle Memorial Institute. The partners will utilize the suite of preclinical... Read More »
UW researchers develop COVID-19 infection lowering model
University of Washington (UW) researchers have received a $33,000 grant to develop a model using local data to potentially aid in lowering COVID-19 infections in King County. The UW delegation is one of nine global groups receiving Society for Medical Decision Making's COVID-19 Decision Modeling... Read More »
Legislation aids COVID-19 impacted first responder families
President Donald Trump has signed into law the Safeguarding America’s First Responders Act (SAFR), which improves access to financial assistance public safety officer families lost to COVID-19. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced the measure, which they said... Read More »
HHS, DoD tap McKesson Corporation as central distributor for future COVID-19 vaccines
As part of the federal Operation Warp Speed, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Defense (DoD) recently announced a partnership with the McKesson Corporation, which will help distribute future COVID-19 vaccines and supplies. The decision taps an existing Centers for... Read More »
FDA grants emergency use authorization to Yale’s SalivaDirect COVID-19 test
A COVID-19 diagnostic created by Yale School of Public Health -- the SalivaDirect test -- became the first of its kind to gain a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorization (EUA) last week. SalivaDirect approaches the processing of saliva samples in an entirely... Read More »
Marine Corps System Command uses virtual training to support Marines
The Marine Corps Systems Command’s mission to support Marines continues, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. With travel restrictions in place, MCSC began conducting online training to teach marines how to use new gear. This online training, called Virtual NET, is designed to replicates a live... Read More »
Bill introduced in Congress seeks to improve local government IT infrastructure
Members of the Congressional Cyberspace Solarium are introducing a bill to modernize and secure state and local government information technology. The bill, the State and Local IT Modernization and Cybersecurity Act, addresses a recommendation from the Solarium’s pandemic white paper that... Read More »
BAE Systems secures Marines wargaming prototype contract
The Marine Corps has awarded a $19 million contract to BAE Systems to develop the prototype design for a Wargaming Center at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. “We will build on our experience supporting the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory Wargaming Division and partner with a diverse... Read More »
NSA, FBI issue Russian malware advisory
National Security Agency (NSA) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) personnel have issued a new Cybersecurity Advisory regarding previously undisclosed Russian malware. The NSA and FBI said the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) 85th Main Special Service Center... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Merkley, Braun introduce TRACK act for coronavirus funding transparency
With billions in public funding being directed to coronavirus treatment and vaccine research, U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Mike Braun (R-IN) have introduced the Taxpayer Research and Coronavirus Knowledge (TRACK) act to publicly account for where those dollars are going. The bill would... Read More »
HHS invests $6.5M into commercial diagnostic labs to expand COVID-19 testing capacity
In an effort to expand SARS-CoV-2 -- the virus that causes COVID-19 -- tests by millions per month, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has invested $6.5 million into two commercial diagnostic laboratories: Aegis Sciences Corporation and Sonic Healthcare USA. These... Read More »
NSF, START examine cartel tracking
National Security Forum (NSF) and Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) personnel are espousing the benefits of a recent dialogue session focusing on efforts to track drug cartels. “An exciting development for our upcoming programs is a new collaboration NSF is building with... Read More »
Novateur Ventures unveils new strategy to analyze, treat deadly COVID-19 induced hyperinflammatory response
A new strategy created by Novateur Ventures for treating deadly COVID-19 induced hyperinflammatory response in multiple organs was released to the public this week through the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology. Co-authored by Ali Ardakani, founder and managing director of Novateur Ventures, and... Read More »
CARB-X funds Evotec efforts to create new class of antibiotics for multidrug-resistant infections
The global non-profit CARB-X awarded $2.91 million to German drug company Evotec SE this week, funding its efforts to develop an entirely new class of broad-spectrum antibiotics meant to treat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 700,000... Read More »
Senate bill would protect telecommunications networks from cyberthreats
Legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate seeks to help safeguard American telecommunications networks against cyberthreats from untrusted foreign equipment suppliers. The Ensuring Network Security Act would expand access to federal “rip and replace” funding for telecommunications providers... Read More »
TSA utilizing CAT checkpoint technology
Transportation Security Administration officials said personnel at two airports are using new Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) to confirm the identification (ID) validity and flight information in near real-time. Systems at Baltimore/Washington International-Thurgood Marshall Airport... Read More »
Bill offers universities COVID-19 research protections
Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY) and Frank Lucas (R-OK) introduced a measure they said is designed to aid universities and research institutions in protecting COVID-19 research from China and Russia cyberattacks. The legislation would grant universities and research institutions access to cybersecurity... Read More »
Senate Democrats introduce bill to assure free COVID-19 vaccine for all
Insurance-exempt and cost-share free, a new bill introduced to the Senate this week would waive any costs for Americans in need of a COVID-19 vaccine, whenever one emerges. Introduced by U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) and co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO),... Read More »
HHS, DoD order 100 million doses of Moderna’s still-in-trial COVID-19 vaccine
Under a new agreement reached with Moderna, Inc., the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Defense (DoD) have ordered 100 million doses of the mRNA-1273 vaccine, a candidate for use against COVID-19. That vaccine was co-developed by Moderna and the National Institute of... Read More »
HHS posts states’ COVID-19 testing plans for second half of year
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) posted the COVID-19 Testing Plans from all states and localities for July through December on its website. The State Testing Plans were developed in partnership with the federal government for each jurisdiction. The plans include details on... Read More »
GOP lawmakers want to see Al Jazeera registered as a foreign agent
A group of Congressional Republicans is urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to require media company Al Jazeera to register as a foreign agent. The lawmakers said that Al Jazeera, which is owned by the Qatari government, have engaged in activities that align closely with the priorities of... Read More »
Bill targets synthetic drug trafficking
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure they said bolsters global cooperation in combating synthetic drug trafficking. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) have collaborated with Reps. David Trone (D-MD) and Michael McCaul (R-TX) in crafting the Fighting Emerging... Read More »
COVID-19 Prevention Network launches two phase 3 trials of monoclonal antibodies for use against SARS-CoV-2
With funding from the United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the COVID-19 Prevention Network (CoVPN) announced this week that it will undertake two phase 3 trials to determine the efficacy of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 is the... Read More »
Senators write leadership urging $15.5B for NIH research amid COVID-19 relief package
As Congress continues to grapple over the next COVID-19 relief package, more than two dozen senators wrote a letter to Senate leadership this week to request inclusion of $15.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Whatever form the final legislation takes, they reasoned, funds... Read More »
Lawmakers introduce bill to improve documentation of COVID-19 cases in prisons
Legislation that would require the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the United States Marshals Service (USMS), and state governments to collect and report data about COVID-19 in correctional facilities was introduced in Congress. Prisons and jails have become hotspots for the spread of COVID-19,... Read More »
Lawmakers launch Pandemic Preparedness Caucus
Three lawmakers have launched the Pandemic Preparedness Caucus, a coalition of lawmakers they said would work to advance policy solutions to challenges presented by COVID-19 and future public health emergencies. Reps. Troy Balderson (R-OH) and Cindy Axne (D-IA) said the caucus would focus on... Read More »
NIH offers up to $20M for research proposals to identify children at-risk for COVID-19 complications
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is taking a new look at a severe complication of COVID-19 that affects a small percentage of children -- Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) -- through the possibility of a $20 million award for research proposals. “We urgently need... Read More »
Senators introduced bill to help veterans deployed at K2 in Uzbekistan
Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced a bill designed to help veterans who served at Karshi Khanabad (K2) Airbase in Uzbekistan to obtain the health screenings and services they need. According to a U.S. Army study conducted in 2015, service... Read More »
HHS reaches agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals for COVID-19 vaccine candidate
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense (DoD) struck a deal with the Janssen Pharmaceuticals, which is part of Johnson & Johnson, to demonstrate large-scale manufacturing and delivery of the company's COVID-19 vaccine candidate. As part of the agreement,... Read More »
Organizations seek nationwide mask requirements
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) personnel have forwarded correspondence to the White House advocating nationwide mask requirements. The organizations are urging issuance of a federal mask directive to curtail the spread of COVID-19, protect the... Read More »
Justice Department funds to combat Alaska human trafficking
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has earmarked $1 million to combat human trafficking in Alaska via the agency’s Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking program. Officials said Covenant House Alaska and the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) would receive $500,000 each... Read More »
I-SPY COVID trial enrolls first patients to test various therapeutics
A clinical trial dubbed I-SPY COVID enrolled its first patients last week, setting into motion plans to evaluate the efficacy of several COVID-19 therapeutics under the collaborative efforts of the COVID R&D Alliance, AbbVie, Inc., Amgen Inc., and Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. “I’m proud... Read More »