Recent News

By Region: North America

Harris Corp. awarded $9 million Army contract to boost biodefense

The U.S. Army recently signed a $9 million deal with Harris Corp. to bolster the army’s biological defense capabilities; Harris will provide the Army’s Joint Biological Point Detection System (JBPDS) with its advanced Falcon II AN/PRC-150 high-frequency radio system; the radio system is capable of detecting and identifying biological warfare agents and will automatically send Read More »

February 25, 2011
| Filed under North America, Biotechnology, and Countermeasures
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Pentagon Looks to Africa for Next Bio Threat

The Pentagon agency charged with protecting the United States from weapons of mass destruction is looking to the insecure storage of pathogens at clinics in Africa as the next flashing red light for a potential biological outbreak. Kenneth Myers, the director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, joined his old boss, Sen. Richard Lugar, on Read More »

February 25, 2011
| Filed under Africa, North America, and Biological Weapons
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Agency Chief Outlines Threat Reduction Strategy

Defense Threat Reduction Agency people are at work around the clock to protect American forces and citizens from nuclear, chemical and biological threats, the agency's director said Feb. 23. Speaking to the Defense Writers Group, Kenneth A. Myers III, who also is director of the U.S. Strategic Command Center for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction, said the Read More »

February 25, 2011
| Filed under North America and Policy & Initiatives
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New Pathogen Detection Test Dramatically Reduces Wait Times

An Illinois based pharmaceutical company, recently introduced Plex-ID, a new detection system that can accurately identify seventeen different dangerous biological pathogens; the system fills a critical gap in detection capabilities as it can analyze direct samples like blood, food, water, or air filters and provide results in less than eight hours; current blood and tissue Read More »

February 24, 2011
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, and Research
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Boise State Biodefense Research Addresses Serious Threats to National Security

At the intersection of science and technology, there is just as much potential for danger as progress. Bioterrorism has emerged as one of the most significant threats to national security and public health, prompting the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) within the U.S. Department of Defense to invest heavily in research that addresses chemical and Read More »