Recent News

By Region: North America

WMD Intelligence Bill Clears House

(Global Security Newswire) The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday endorsed a bill to establish guidelines for the Homeland Security Department’s participation in and assistance for efforts involving data on weapons of mass destruction-related threats. The Weapons of Mass Destruction Intelligence and Information Sharing Act would mandate DHS cooperation with separate U.S. intelligence entities in Read More »

June 1, 2012
| Filed under North America and Policy & Initiatives
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Veterinary workshop in Kazakhstan provides advanced training to diagnosticians, technicians, inspectors

(AgriLife Today) ASTANA, Kazakhstan – Veterinary diagnosticians, technicians and inspectors from the Republic of Kazakhstan received advanced training in molecular methods, biosafety measures and diagnostic epidemiology during a recent two-day workshop here, led by the National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense.

May 31, 2012
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, Europe, North America, Agriculture, International, and Policy & Initiatives
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Questions Persist Over Biodefense Board’s Review of Bird Flu Research

(Global Security Newswire) A U.S. biodefense panel’s 2011 recommendation to withhold certain details from two avian influenza virus studies and its subsequent reversal of that call have prompted questions among participants and other experts over the board’s readiness to advise on future research with possible biological weapons applications, the journal Nature reported last week.

May 31, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, Biological Weapons, International, Policy & Initiatives, Public Health, and Research
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Anthrax vaccine – To the victor, the spoils

(Scientific American) In my last post, we began to play “Follow the Money” to better understand the history of the anthrax vaccine and the current proposal to test the vaccine on children. Conflicts of Interest-Case Study: Major issues with the anthrax vaccine include safety, conflicts of interest and the lobbying power of the drug developer. Read More »

May 31, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Countermeasures, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
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OHSU Oregon National Primate Research Center develops new, safer method for making vaccines

(Oregon Health & Science University) OHSU researchers have discovered a new method for creating vaccines that is thought to be safer and more effective than current approaches. The method uses hydrogen peroxide to inactivate viruses for use as vaccines. The research results are published online in the journal Nature Medicine.