Virtual Biosecurity Center | Your online source for biosecurity news, events, reports and other information.

Op-Ed – Dual-Use Research: Is it possible to protect the public without encroaching rights?

T. Tosin Fadeyi, Master’s Candidate, Biotechnology (Biodefense and Biosecurity Concentration), University of Maryland University College For decades, scientists have had reasonable freedom and control over their research and experiments and able to publish and share their work without much inconvenience. The freedom of creativity in the field of science is much like that of an artist – often fueled by an inspiration from other sources, a passion for a unique realm of art (in this case, science), and a natural curiosity. Within reasonable limits, artists and scientists had the world at their fingertips; as long as they weren’t causing a societal disruption Read More »
- May 18, 2015 |
- Filed Under Biosafety, Biotechnology, International, Policy & Initiatives, Research
Book Review: Bioinsecurity and Vulnerability

Reviewed by T. Tosin Fadeyi Edited by Nancy N. Chen and Lesley A. Sharp Contributors: Steven C. Caton, Nancy N. Chen, Joseph Masco, Monir Moniruzzaman, Carolyn Rouse, Lesley A. Sharp, Glenn Davis Stone, Ida Susser, David Vine, and Michael J. Watts. Bioinsecurity and Vulnerability is an intuitive compilation of writings that explore the hysteria surrounding preparation for a silent threat: biological terror. The essays in this book illustrate the reality of biological preparedness in the 21st century by bringing together previously unacquainted realms like genetic engineering, the military, and accidental disasters around the world. Bioinsecurity features relevant photography to illustrate and enhance the contributors’ discussions. Rather Read More »
- April 30, 2015 |
- Filed Under Biosafety, Bioterrorism, International, Policy & Initiatives
Op-Ed – Microbial Forensic Attribution: Where Science Meets International Relations

Christopher A. Bidwell, JD, Senior Fellow for Nonproliferation Law and Policy, Federation of American Scientists & Mark Jansson, Program Manager, CRDF Global. The U.S. government is making significant investments in bio forensics as a tool for attribution. In order for that investment to pay-off, it must be combined with investments in international collaborations so that the science behind any future attribution claims that may be made are accepted as fact, both in scientific and political terms. To better understand how evidence derived from microbial forensics will be received in international contexts among people with different cultural, professional, and political backgrounds, the Federation of American Read More »
- July 17, 2014 |
- Filed Under Agents & Toxins, Biocrimes, Biological Weapons, Biosafety, Bioterrorism, Countermeasures, International, Policy & Initiatives, Public Health
Op-Ed – Science Needs for Microbial Forensics: Developing Initial International Research Priorities

Committee on Science Needs Microbial Forensics: Developing an Initial International Roadmap, Board on Life Sciences, Division of Earth and Life Sciences, National Research Council of the National Academies. Today we find ourselves with a complex infrastructure of government agencies, Select Agent registries, regulated research, environmental monitoring in designated cities, federal and state regulations—all resulting from one more or less successful biological attack on the United States. The Amerithrax attack with highly refined material produced by a knowledgeable expert (presumably in a U.S. bioweapons laboratory) resulted in 22 illnesses and 5 deaths. Approximately 4 g of material were used in the Amerithrax attack. Read More »
- July 17, 2014 |
- Filed Under Agents & Toxins, Agriculture, Biocrimes, Biological Weapons, Biosafety, Biotechnology, Bioterrorism, Countermeasures, International, Policy & Initiatives, Public Health, Research
Vaccinations have prevented at least 103 million cases of contagious disease since 1924

(TheVerge) Vaccinations have been credited with some of humanity’s greatest health technological triumphs over disease, including drastically reducing polio around the globe and almost eliminating smallpox entirely. But how many people have been spared life-threatening infections thanks to the introduction of vaccines? At least 103.1 million children in the US alone since 1924, according to a new analysis of historical infection rate data going back to 1888.
- December 2, 2013 |
- Filed Under Policy & Initiatives, Public Health

Browse by region

Browse By Category

Why is ebola deadlier than other viruses?

(iO9) Ebola is the nightmare virus. It kills ninety percent of people infected, and was for some time feared as the second coming of the plagues of the 1400s. Why is this one virus so much more deadly than other viruses? Ask people to pick a virus that might, under the Read More »

August 30, 2013
| Filed under Africa, North America, South America, Agents & Toxins, and Research
Share

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – update

(WHO) WHO has been informed of an additional two laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in Qatar. The patients include a 59-year old man with an underlying medical condition who became ill on 15 August 2013. He is currently hospitalised and is in stable condition. Preliminary epidemiological Read More »

August 30, 2013
| Filed under Middle East, North America, International, and Public Health
Share

The US is building a bioweapons lab in Kazakhstan

(Salon) In 1992, Dr. Kanatjan Alibekov, a biologist from the Soviet Union, boarded a flight in Almaty, then Kazakhstan’s capital, for New York. When Dr. Alibekov—now known as Ken Alibek—sat down with the CIA, he had a terrifying secret to reveal: that bio weapons program the Soviet Union stopped in the Read More »

August 30, 2013
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, Europe, North America, International, and Policy & Initiatives
Share

UT Medical Branch Researchers Develop New Treatment For Tularemia Based On Cystatin-9 Protein

(BioNewsTexas) Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have been successful in developing a new treatment plan that that may prove useful against the potential bioterrorism agent and causative pathogen of pulmonary tularemia. This drug agent cystatin-9 exists in the human body as one of the important proteins Read More »

August 29, 2013
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, and Research
Share

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – update

(WHO) WHO has been informed of an additional eight laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in Saudi Arabia. The cases include two men with underlying medical conditions from Riyadh who died, three women and one man, also from Riyadh, and two men from Asir region. Additionally, a Read More »

August 29, 2013
| Filed under Europe, Middle East, North America, International, and Public Health
Share

« First «...10 20 30...134 135136137 138...150 160 170...»Last »

Upcoming Events More »
There are no upcoming events at this time.
Global Forum on BIORISK

SIGN IN | REGISTER
Recent Blog Posts More »
- Op-Ed – Dual-Use Research: Is it possible to protect the public without encroaching rights?
  
  T. Tosin Fadeyi, Master’s Candidate, Biotechnology (Biodefense and Biosecurity Concentration), University of Maryland Read More »
- Book Review: Bioinsecurity and Vulnerability
  
  Reviewed by T. Tosin Fadeyi Edited by Nancy N. Chen and Lesley A. Read More »
- Op-Ed – Microbial Forensic Attribution: Where Science Meets International Relations
  
  Christopher A. Bidwell, JD, Senior Fellow for Nonproliferation Law and Policy, Federation of American Read More »
- Op-Ed – Science Needs for Microbial Forensics: Developing Initial International Research Priorities
  
  Committee on Science Needs Microbial Forensics: Developing an Initial International Roadmap, Board on Read More »
- Op-Ed – A Necessary Biopreparedness Priority: Strengthening the Medical Countermeasures Enterprise
  
  Christina England, Master’s Candidate, Security Policy, University of Maryland School of Public Policy; Read More »

BAA – Medical Countermeasures for Priority Pathogens

(Global Biodefense) The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has released Read More »
New Antibody Weapons Against Marburg Virus

(Global Biodefense) A new study led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute identifies Read More »
FDA Accepts BLA for Inhalational Anthrax Countermeasure

(Global Biodefense) Anthim (obiltoxaximab) is for the treatment and prevention of inhalational anthrax, Read More »
South Korea MERS death toll rises to 20

(CNN) The World Health Organization said Tuesday that the number of new cases Read More »
What you should know about MERS, the mystery disease that has South Korea on edge

(Washington Post) The spread of MERS, which has infected 126 people since the outbreak began last Read More »