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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

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Biodiversity meeting calls for more science-based information

(SciDev) An international meeting on biodiversity has called for more science-based information, the closure of knowledge gaps, and increased precaution, in the emerging fields of synthetic biology and geoengineering (climate engineering). Two decisions related to these areas, among a set of 34 decisions adopted at the 11th Conference of Parties (COP Read More »

October 23, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Policy & Initiatives, and Research
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Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Uganda

(WHO) As of 21 October 2012, nine (9) probable and confirmed cases, including 5 deaths have been reported with Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Kitumba sub-county, Kabale district in South-western Uganda. Of these, 3 have been laboratory confirmed by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI). An investigation into the outbreak is ongoing. Read More »

October 23, 2012
| Filed under Africa, North America, Agents & Toxins, International, and Public Health
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HHS Rules Out Funding Approach for Developing Biodefense Medicines

(Global Security Newswire) A blueprint aimed at helping to finance the development of new medicines for use against biological-weapon agents has failed to pass muster within the Obama administration, Bloomberg reported on Sunday. The recommendation — put forward in 2011 by Maryland-based PharmAthene and other biological defense enterprises — calls for Read More »

October 23, 2012
| Filed under North America, Policy & Initiatives, Public Health, and Research
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After Three-Week Delay, FDA Begins Food Facility Registration – Food Safety News

Food Safety NewsAfter Three-Week Delay, FDA Begins Food Facility RegistrationFood Safety NewsAccording to the updated guidance, FDA believes that facility registration will help make for a “quick, accurate, and focused response” to bioterrorism or other food-related emergencies. The agency gives one example of how this registration system can …FSMA Registration Renewals Read More »

October 23, 2012
| Filed under Research
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HHS Rules Out Funding Approach for Developing Biodefense Medicines

A blueprint aimed at helping to finance the development of new medicines for use against biological-weapon agents has failed to pass muster within the Obama administration, Bloomberg reported on Sunday. The recommendation — put forward in 2011 by Maryland-based PharmAthene and other biological defense enterprises — calls for Washington to end Read More »

October 22, 2012
| Filed under Research
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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 »