Recent News

By Region: North America

National Academy of Sciences committee to hear from experts

(The Republic) TOPEKA, Kan. — A committee of the National Academy of Sciences will hold three teleconferences this week to hear expert testimony on the need for a proposed biosecurity lab in Kansas. The $1.14 billion National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan would be a center for research of deadly animal diseases. The National Read More »

May 1, 2012
| Filed under North America, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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US Army Contracts for Infectious Disease Research in Thailand

(Global Biodefense) The US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) has announced its intent to award two contracts under a sole-source basis to support research activities in Thailand. The first contract is for collaborative influenza surveillance studies with Phramongkutkloa Hospital in Bangok under Solicitation Number: W81XWH12T0227.

May 1, 2012
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, North America, International, Policy & Initiatives, Public Health, and Research
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Federal government reviewing projects for high-risk dual use bioresearch

(Fierce Homeland Security) The federal government is undertaking a comprehensive risk assessment of its funded biological research that involves experimentation with agents that have the potential to cause mass casualties, officials told a April 26 Senate panel. The review is the result of an updated policy (.pdf) on “dual use research of concern” issued in Read More »

May 1, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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H5N1 Answers Wanted

(The Biological SCENE) Last week saw more questions and, maybe, a few answers about the drawn-out controversy over recent H5N1 avian flu research. After exchanges of letters and a congressional hearing, cooler heads seemed to prevail with signs of a consensus among stakeholders. The week began with an April 23 letter from Rep. F. James Read More »

May 1, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, International, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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Top DHS Official Defends Kansas Biodefense Lab

(Global Security Newswire) A top U.S. Homeland Security official this month defended plans to build a massive state-of-the-art biodefense complex in Kansas even as she recognized the enormous expense of the project posed serious problems for the federal government at a time of wide-ranging cutbacks, Harvest Public Media reported on Tuesday. The envisioned National Bio and Read More »