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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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New antibiotic cures disease by disarming pathogens, not killing them

(EurekAlert) A new type of antibiotic can effectively treat an antibiotic-resistant infection by disarming instead of killing the bacteria that cause it. Researchers report their findings in the October 2 issue of mBio®, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. “Traditionally, people have tried to find antibiotics that Read More »

October 3, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Public Health, and Research
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Researchers Identify Deadly Congo Virus

(All Africa) An international research team has identified a previously unknown virus that caused two deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2009. The unusual characteristics of the virus and its deadly consequences still puzzle the team, however, and research continues to better understand how the virus is transmitted Read More »

October 3, 2012
| Filed under Africa, North America, Agents & Toxins, International, and Public Health
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NATO Pursues Unified Biothreat Alert Mechanism

(Global Security Newswire) NATO could use a French-controlled disease monitoring technology as part of a planned system for detecting potential biological strikes against its military assets, the alliance said on Monday. To date, the “ASTER” equipment has served to warn of spikes in natural infections among French and German armed personnel Read More »

October 3, 2012
| Filed under Europe, North America, International, Public Health, and Research
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Smallpox Virus May Help Treat Deadly Form of Breast Cancer

(ABC News) A new form of breast cancer treatment may be… smallpox? What was once a feared killer of millions of people may someday be used to treat one of the most dangerous forms of breast cancer. So far it’s worked in mice, and researchers are encouraged. The researchers, from Memorial Read More »

October 2, 2012
| Filed under North America, Agents & Toxins, Public Health, and Research
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India takes the chair, to guide world on biosafety

(Deccan Chronicle) ndia formally took over the reins of conserving the world’s biological diversity on Monday, with a call to nations to speed up the process of ratifying the Cartagena Protocol on bio-safety and sustainable use of biological resources. The change in guard took place at the start of the three-week Read More »

October 2, 2012
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, North America, Biosafety, International, and Policy & Initiatives
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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 »