See what we’re reading this week at Global Biodefense on topics including GAO’s report on BioWatch, approval of post-exposure anthrax vaccine, gene-editing and biosecurity and more…
BIODEFENSE POLICY & PRACTICES
- Bioterror alert boxes ‘trigger false alarms’ (Sky News)
- GAO: DHS needs to prove BioWatch pathogen-detection capabilities (CIDRAP)
- The bioweapons convention: A new approach (BOTAS)
- Global health experts accuse WHO of ‘egregious failure’ on Ebola (Reuters)
- What it will take to fight the next epidemic (NY Times)
- Biosecurity in the age of Big Data: a conversation with the FBI (MBoC)
- This could be the next weapon of mass destruction (Quartz)
- Panels advise bolstering W.H.O. for crises like Ebola (NY Times)
- Ebola review calls for reforms to boost global outbreak response (CIDRAP)
- DHS’ bioterror detection program unreliable, GAO says (HS Today)
- Why cutting spending on public health is a false economy (The Conversation)
- Precision Medicine Initiative and security concerns (NextGov)
- Post-Ebola: how can the WHO get back its teeth? (MNT)
- Top biologists debate ban on gene-editing (The Guardian)
CHEMICAL WEAPONS
- What if Isis launches a chemical attack in Europe? (The Guardian)
- Progress in the elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons program .pdf (OPCW)
- Officials: ISIS determined to produce chemical weapons (Seattle Times)
SELECT AGENTS
- This vaccine can protect you from anthrax—after exposure (Wired)
- Amid failure and chaos, an Ebola vaccine (NY Times)
- Puzzling Ebola death shows how little we know about the virus (NPR)
- First-ever vaccine approved via FDA’s bioterror pathway (STAT)
- Belgian officials say potential anthrax at Brussels mosque is false alarm (IBT)
- FDA approves expanded use of Emergent BioSolution’s anthrax vaccine (Reuters)
- Ebola crisis: Liberia boy dies after fresh cases (BBC News)
INFECTIOUS DISEASE COUNTERMEASURES
- Upstate Medical gets 12M grant to develop dengue fever vaccine (Syracuse.com)
- How do you keep vaccines cool? Try spacecraft insulation (NPR)
- A step closer to the defeat of polio (NY Times)
OUTBREAK NEWS & THREAT SURVEILLANCE
- Rising temperatures mean insects can carry viruses to wider areas (WP)
- Potentially deadly virus hits Hawaii— everything you need to know (Yahoo!)
- We’re still not ready if major outbreak happens again (Washington Post)
- Chikungunya outbreak grows by 2,500 cases as CDC issues alerts (CIDRAP)
- Scientists learn how to detect animal diseases threatening livestock (IAEA)
- France detects first bird flu outbreak in eight years (Reuters)
- America’s war on the kissing bug (The New Yorker)
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
- Inside the Pentagon’s biotech strike force (STAT)
- ECBC scientists gain insight directly from warfighters (ECBC)
- Grant: Emerging epidemic virus research training for West Africa (Grants.gov)
- Mutant mosquitoes ‘resist malaria’ (BBC News)
- CRISPR-powered malaria mosquito gene drive (The Scientist)
INDUSTRY NEWS
- Roche pulls out of ‘superbug’ antibiotic project (Reuters)
- The Top 100 manufacturers of point-of-care instruments and tests (MDT)
- UK CDE hosting face-to-face meetings: 19 January 2016 (UK.gov)
- 908 Devices recognized with industry awards handheld mass spec (BusinessWire)
- Dx firms trickle onto stock markets (European Biotech)
- R&D 100 CBRN Award winners (CBRNe World)
DETECTION & PROTECTION
- PPE: Protecting health care providers in an Ebola outbreak (Clinical Therapeutics)
- DQE releases SafePaq® Plus blood & virus protection PPE kit (GSN)
- Bringing the gold standard to the front line (Domestic Preparedness)
EDUCATION & TRAINING
- GMU Biodefense: Bridging the gap between science and policy (George Mason University)
- Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity fellowship (UPMC Center for Health Security)
- DHS Agricultural Defense Branch internship opportunity (IIAD)
RADIOLOGICAL & NUCLEAR THREATS
- Perry warns against the dangers of a nuclear ISIS (CISAC)
- New IAEA Safety Standards Reinforce Emergency Preparedness (IAEA)
- Mass casualty decon in a chemical or radiological/nuclear incident (PLOS)
- New technologies and the nuclear threat (Carnegie)
HISTORICAL REFLECTIONS
- A history of influenza pandemics (Texas A&M)
- I am thankful for Jonas Salk (Tracking Zebra)
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