Recent News

By Category: Policy & Initiatives

NBSB starts work on new medical countermeasure review

(CIDRAP News) In its first meeting of the year, a panel that advises the federal government on biodefense issues started work on revising the government’s strategy for building the best collection of medical countermeasures against biological, chemical, and other threats. Nicole Lurie, MD, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the US Department of Health Read More »

February 3, 2012
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, and Policy & Initiatives
Share

Don’t Censor Influenza Research

(New York Times) IN December, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity made an unprecedented request: it asked the editors of the journals Nature and Science not to publish certain details in two papers describing experiments in which scientists created a …

February 3, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
Share

Japan to Develop Predictive Capacity for Dispersal of WMD Agents

(Global Security Newswire) Japan intends to establish the capacity to forecast the dispersal patterns of dangerous materials released following a potential WMD attack or mishap, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Sunday. The Japanese Defense Ministry is working on technology that could determine how radiation would spread following another atomic energy plant incident or a feared Read More »

February 3, 2012
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, Biological Weapons, Countermeasures, and Policy & Initiatives
Share

New Uses Found for U.S. Chem, Bio Defenses

(Global Security Newswire ) The absence over the last 10 years of chemical or biological strikes in the United States has resulted in alternative uses being devised for U.S. capabilities established for spotting and countering such events, the Los Angeles Times reported on Saturday. In one case, an Arkansas Health Department terrorism defense analysis facility Read More »

February 3, 2012
| Filed under North America and Policy & Initiatives
Share

TODAY: Hearing on DHS Effectiveness at Countering Emerging Threats

(Homeland Security Subcommittee) Today’s hearing, the first in a series of subcommittee hearings on DHS effectiveness, will examine the Department’s current homeland security strategic documents including the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR), which provides a framework for department-wide strategies; the Bottom Up Review (BUR), which is a report of initiatives, authorities, activities, and directives for Read More »