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Customs and Border Protection faulted for lack of preparation
by Mary J. Lewis on November 4, 2009

The inspector general for the U.S. Homeland Security Department last month faulted one DHS agency for not doing enough to prevent chemical and biological weapons from being smuggled into the country, the Global Security Newswire reported Nov. 3.

NIAID announces research awards to fight emerging infectious diseases
by Mary J. Lewis on November 4, 2009

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded approximately $208 million to two programs that support research to better understand the human immune response to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

NIAID to fund development of Emergent BioSolutions' vaccine candidate
by Mary J. Lewis on November 4, 2009

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Emergent BioSolutions Inc. announced Sept. 30 that it was awarded a cooperative agreement from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to further the development of one of its advanced anthrax vaccine candidates.

XOMA signs antibody discovery collaboration with Kaketsuken
by Mary J. Lewis on November 3, 2009

BERKELEY, Calif. — XOMA Ltd. and Kaketsuken have entered into a collaboration involving multiple proprietary XOMA antibody research and development technologies.

Emergent BioSolutions to webcast presentations
by Mary J. Lewis on November 3, 2009

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Emergent BioSolutions Inc. will webcast its presentation at two investor conferences in November.

Global health organizations urge governments to fight pneumonia
by Mary J. Lewis on November 2, 2009

Nearly 100 leading global health organizations joined forces to recognize the first World Pneumonia Day on Nov. 2 and urge governments to take steps to fight pneumonia, the world’s leading killer of children.

Safety measures could minimize H1N1 transmission at 2009 Hajj
by Mary J. Lewis on November 2, 2009

The 2009 Hajj pilgrimage, expected to draw more than 2.5 million people from more than 160 countries to Muslim holy sites in Saudi Arabia, may present a serious public health challenge.

Ukraine mystery outbreak sparks WHO concern
by Mary J. Lewis on November 2, 2009

The World Health Organization sent a team of experts to Ukraine on Nov. 2 to investigate an outbreak of respiratory disease that’s sickened a quarter of a million people and left pharmacies without masks or flu remedies.

Universal Detection Technology to showcase detection kits at exhibition
by Mary J. Lewis on October 30, 2009

LOS ANGELES — Universal Detection Technology announced Oct. 30 that it would showcase its TS-10-5-agent biodetection kit, at Milipol Paris, a worldwide exhibition of internal state security Nov. 17-21.

Powder scare prompts partial evacuation of state office in Virginia
by Mary J. Lewis on October 30, 2009

The customer service area of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicle's central office in Richmond was evacuated briefly Oct. 28 after a suspicious white powder spilled out of an envelope in the agency's basement mailroom.

British officials demand answers about 1942 'anthrax bomb'
by Mary J. Lewis on October 30, 2009

A member of Parliament is demanding reassurances that nothing remains of an anthrax bomb tested in a south Wales estuary during World War II.

Pending administration input, lawmakers delay vote on biosecurity bill
by Mary J. Lewis on October 29, 2009

WASHINGTON — A key U.S. Senate committee Oct. 28 delayed the vote on legislation aimed at strengthening security at the country's biological research facilities, according to the Global Security Newswire.

Nanotherapeutics receives contract to develop smallpox drug
by Mary J. Lewis on October 29, 2009

ALACHUA, Fla. — Nanotherapeutics Inc. has been awarded a $30.9 million, five-year contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to develop an inhaled version of the injectable antiviral drug, cidofovir, for non-invasive, post-exp

NIAID awards $4.4 million to research potential anthrax attacks
by Mary J. Lewis on October 29, 2009

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute was recently awarded a $4.4 million contract from the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease.

South African correctional center quarantined after measles outbreak
by Mary J. Lewis on October 29, 2009

PRETORIA, South Africa — Dozens of measles cases have led to a 10-day quarantine and massive vaccination program at a correctional center in Johannesburg.

FDA panel wants more data on anthrax drug
by Mary J. Lewis on October 28, 2009

WASHINGTON — Federal advisers said more data is needed to judge the effectiveness of Human Genome Sciences' anthrax treatment compared with existing anti-bacterial drugs, The Associated Press reported Oct. 27.

DHS proposes guidelines for anthrax responders
by Mary J. Lewis on October 28, 2009

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced proposed guidelines Oct. 27 for protecting emergency responders during an anthrax attack on a major U.S. city.

Disease outbreak in wake of floods in the Philippines
by Mary J. Lewis on October 27, 2009

MANILA — Doctors from the World Health Organization began arriving in Manila on Oct. 25 to help local authorities battle an outbreak of leptospirosis, a deadly byproduct of the recent flooding in the Philippine capital and surrounding provinces.

Weather patterns help predict dengue fever outbreaks
by Mary J. Lewis on October 27, 2009

High temperatures, humidity and low wind speed are associated with high occurrence of dengue fever according to a study published in the open access journal BMC Public Health.

Paint in development may thwart chemical attack
by Mary J. Lewis on October 27, 2009

Scientists are planning to develop a paint coating for military vehicles that would soak up a chemical warfare agent and then decontaminate itself.

Tiny sensors can sniff out chemical and biological agents
by Mary J. Lewis on October 27, 2009

Research to develop a new method to detect biological and chemical threats may also lead to new approaches for removing pollutants from the environment.

Michigan Security Network boosts state’s economy
by Mary J. Lewis on October 27, 2009

Fighting Michigan’s well-documented economic struggles, industry leaders are looking for innovation that will help jumpstart the econo

FDA to discuss experimental drug’s effectiveness against anthrax
by Mary J. Lewis on October 27, 2009

A Human Genome Sciences Inc. drug worked better than a placebo but similar to antibiotics for treating anthrax exposure in animal studies, U.S. drug reviewers said in a summary released Oct. 23.

Diagnostic systems company completes equity financing
by Mary J. Lewis on October 19, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO — Biomagnetics Diagnostics Corp., a producer of diagnostic systems and technology, on Oct. 19 announced the completion of its equity financing designed to fund entry into the Integrated Optical Biosensor Systems market.

Kansas' congressional delegation reviews biodefense lab progress
by Mary J. Lewis on October 19, 2009

An agreement on developing a new federal biodefense lab in Kansas indicates that the facility will be built and will be safe, members of the state's congressional delegation said Oct. 8.

New Orleans’ mayor to learn about disaster management in Cuba
by Mary J. Lewis on October 19, 2009

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin arrived in Cuba late Oct. 16 on a mission to learn about how to deal with storms, a spokeswoman said.

Napolitano announces standards for private-sector preparedness
by Mary J. Lewis on October 18, 2009

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has announced new proposed standards for a 9/11 Commission-recommended program for the private sector to improve preparedness for disasters and emergencies.

Albany Medical College to fund biodefense research of tularemia
by Mary J. Lewis on October 18, 2009

ALBANY, N.Y. — Albany Medical College has been awarded a $4.6 million grant to fund its biodefense research against Francisella tularensis, the bacteria that causes tularemia.

UCLA gets $4.8 million for emergency response research center
by Mary J. Lewis on October 18, 2009

UCLA has received a $4.8 million grant to establish a center that will facilitate research to strengthen the ability of federal, state and local public health agencies to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural and human-induced disasters.

South Carolina man pleads guilty to bioweapons plot
by Mary J. Lewis on October 17, 2009

A 25-year-old South Carolina man acknowledged plots to go after government officials with biological weapons and to demolish a U.S. navy site, The Associated Press reported.

Fort Riley Prepares for the Worst
by Mary J. Lewis on October 17, 2009

FORT RILEY, Kan. — Irwin Army Community Hospital prepared for disaster and emergency situations in a “mass casualty” exercise in September.

PanThera Biopharma gets $1.6 million contract for botulism antidote research
by Mary J. Lewis on October 16, 2009

HONOLULU — PanThera Biopharma announced the award of a one-year, $1.6 million contract from the Department of Defense to advance the company's research of antidote for botulism.

UPMC, GE Healthcare create rapid-response manufacturing facility
by Mary J. Lewis on October 16, 2009

PITTSBURGH — The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and GE Healthcare are working together to battle bioterrorism and infectious diseases, in a partnership announced Oct. 12.

Roundtable discusses Europe’s biopreparedness awareness
by Mary J. Lewis on October 16, 2009

BRUSSELS — A roundtable discussion Oct. 14 focused on raising awareness in Europe about the importance of biopreparedness against naturally occurring pandemics and bioterrorism attacks.

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