Recent News

By Region: North America

Court Rejects Appeal of Livermore Biolab Decision

(Global Security Newswire) The U.S. Energy Department has adequately assessed potential extremist threats to a new biological defense laboratory at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, three federal judges determined on Tuesday in a unanimous decision to allow the site to remain open. The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2006 froze work Read More »

February 9, 2012
| Filed under North America, Biosafety, Bioterrorism, and Policy & Initiatives
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The Governance of Synthetic Biology

(Synthetic Biology Project) The Synthetic Biology Project at the Woodrow Wilson Center is launching a new web-based Synthetic Biology Scorecard, designed to track federal and non-federal efforts to improve the governance of synthetic biology research and development so risks are minimized and broad social and economic benefits can be realized.

February 9, 2012
| Filed under North America and Research
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Doomsday flu decision time: The story so far

(New Scientist) Last year, two flu research groups created what could be extremely dangerous viruses through their research into bird flu. Both studies will be censored when they are published, and all similar work has been put on hold – unprecedented actions in biomedical research. Ahead of a World Health Organization meeting to plot a Read More »

February 9, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, Biosafety, Public Health, and Research
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Biodefense Panel Chairman Admits Bird Flu Data Will “Get Out”

(Global Security Newswire) Scientific data on how the avian flu can be altered to more easily pass between humans will eventually “get out,” despite efforts to contain the information so it cannot be misused by terrorists seeking to produce a biological weapon, a leading U.S. biodefense expert told the London Independent . National Science Advisory Read More »

February 9, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, Public Health, and Research
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Kan. gov. says state faces ‘continuous fight’ for federal funding to build new …

(The Republic) Brownback told two-dozen lawmakers during a Monday evening meeting at his official residence that he expects the legislative battle over the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility to last another five years. A site in Manhattan, near the Kansas State University campus, has been cleared for construction of the $650 million biosecurity lab.