Recent News

By Category: Policy & Initiatives

House re-ups bioterrorism, public health funding

(Government Health IT) In late January, the House passed a bill funding several public health preparedness and monitoring programs, including bioterrorism surveillance and the federal disaster medical system, getting support from the biotechnology and public health communities, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act (HR 307) passed by a Read More »

January 30, 2013
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Bioterrorism, and Policy & Initiatives
Share

Pandemic controversies: The global response to pandemic influenza must change

(EurekAlert) ‘Evil’ scientists, deadly viruses and terrorist plots are usually the preserve of Hollywood blockbusters. But when it comes to pandemic influenza, it is the stuff of real life. As controversy about research into the H5N1 bird flu virus continues, a new paper argues for a complete overhaul of current approaches to pandemic preparedness. To Read More »

January 29, 2013
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, International, Policy & Initiatives, Public Health, and Research
Share

DHS releases first draft for $3.1B BioWatch program

(Washington Technology) The Homeland Security Department has released a draft request for proposals for the first stage of its $3.1 billion BioWatch Gen-3 program. DHS’ Office of Health Affairs is running the program to build an autonomous network of biodetectors to monitor the air for biological and chemical threats. The program began in 2003, and Read More »

January 29, 2013
| Filed under North America, Biotechnology, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
Share

U.S. to Finalize Avian Flu Funding Policy in Weeks

(Global Security Newswire) The United States plans “in the next several weeks” to issue its final policy on how it will consider future grant requests for research intended to produce more virulent or communicable versions of avian influenza, National Institutes of Health leaders said on Friday. More than three dozen scientists this week announced they Read More »

January 28, 2013
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
Share

House Votes Again to Extend Biodefense Measures

(Global Security Newswire) The House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to reauthorize several programs designed to bolster U.S. medical capabilities for responding to disease agents and other potential WMD threats. The latest version of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act, endorsed in a 395-29 decision, is “virtually identical” to a version of the text Read More »