Recent News

By Region: North America

Pandemic preparedness

(University of Texas at Austin, Texas Advanced Computing Center) Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and the Texas Advanced Computing Center developed the “Texas Pandemic Flu Toolkit” to assist public health officials in planning for and managing a disease outbreak. The toolkit is a web-based service that simulates the spread of pandemic flu Read More »

June 8, 2012
| Filed under North America, Policy & Initiatives, Public Health, and Research
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‘Hunger Games’ Science: Investigating Genetically Engineered Organisms

(New York Times) What lessons can we learn about genetically engineered organisms from the example of the jabberjay, a fictional bird in the movie “The Hunger Games”? In this lesson, students discuss the definition of genetically modified organisms, learn about the risks and benefits of research on G.M.O.’s, explore the growing do-it-yourself biology movement, and Read More »

June 7, 2012
| Filed under North America, Biosafety, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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Fate of Kansas Biodefense Lab May Hinge On Two Reports Due This Month

(Global Security Newswire) The findings of two analyses due this month from the National Research Council could determine the fate of a planned high-tech animal disease research laboratory in Kansas, Reuters reported on Sunday. Construction on the $1 billion National Bio and Agro-Defense Center in Manhattan has yet to begin. Budget cutbacks in Washington and Read More »

June 7, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agriculture, and Policy & Initiatives
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Emergent BioSolutions Secures Additional Funding from BARDA to Pursue Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Indication for BioThrax

(Press Release) Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) announced today that it has reached an agreement with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to conduct a non-interference study to be used to support a Read More »

June 6, 2012
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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Agriculture-development programmes: USDA/FAS delegation visits Punjab to review progress

(Business Recorder) A delegation from the US Department of Agriculture Foreign Agriculture Service (USDA/FAS) visited the Punjab last week as part of a larger visit to the country to assess the progress of USDA’s $49 million worth of agricultural development programmes in Pakistan. The goal of these programmes is to increase agricultural productivity and economic Read More »