Recent News

By Category: Policy & Initiatives

New Way to Test Airborne Pathogen Sensors Slated for BioWatch Program

(National Defense Magazine) The test and evaluation community for the past 70 years has used one method to find out whether sensors designed to detect weaponized pathogens work as advertised. It is not a simple task. One can’t walk out into a field and release live anthrax spores into the air. That would obviously endanger Read More »

January 17, 2013
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Biological Weapons, Biotechnology, Countermeasures, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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Integrated neglected tropical disease control and elimination programs: A global health ‘best buy’

(EurekaAlert) A recently released report, entitled “Social and Economic Impact Review on Neglected Tropical Diseases,” highlights links between neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and socio-economic prosperity. Published by Hudson Institute’s Center for Science in Public Policy, in partnership with the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, an initiative of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, the paper found Read More »

January 17, 2013
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, International, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
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CDC: 11 lab workers infected from 2004 to 2010

(USA Today) At least 11 workers at U.S. biological laboratories were infected with dangerous pathogens from 2004 to 2010, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday in a report on security measures stemming from the deadly 2001 anthrax attacks. None of the infected workers died. The Atlanta-based agency said the infection rate Read More »

January 16, 2013
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Biosafety, Policy & Initiatives, Public Health, and Research
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Supreme Court won’t hear stem cell funding suit

(American Medical News) The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to take up a case challenging the federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. The high court’s denial effectively means the federal government may continue financial support of such research. Two physician researchers sued the Dept. of Health & Human Services in 2009, arguing that paying Read More »

January 14, 2013
| Filed under North America, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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Experts differ on HHS select-agent proposal for H5N1

(CIDRAP) Some professional groups and scientists think it’s a good idea to classify highly pathogenic avian (HPAI) H5N1 influenza viruses as “select agents” requiring special research precautions, while others say the step is unnecessary and would impede research, according to comments they have filed with the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). For Read More »