Tested by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, NukAlert's Automated Radiation Measurement Station (ARMS) by Apogee is now sending real-time radiation reports from the Virginia Department of Health's building in Richmond to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's RadReponder Network, which in turn reports live data needed to characterize the incident and support lifesaving decisions.
Developed in collaboration with the Naval Postgraduate School, Penn State's online curriculum for its graduate certificate in homeland security provides an understanding of major legislation shaping homeland security policies, key actors and their interactions, planning and organizational imperatives, and impact of catastrophic events on society and on domestic and global economies.
Inhalational anthrax is a rare disease that can occur after exposure to infected animals or contaminated animal products, or as a result of an intentional release of anthrax spores. When spores of the bacterium Bacillus anthracis are inhaled, the anthrax bacteria replicate in the body and produce toxins that can cause massive and irreversible tissue injury and death.
Northwestern University scientists have developed a robust new material, inspired by biological catalysts, that is extraordinarily effective at destroying toxic nerve agents that are a threat around the globe. The material, a zirconium-based metal-organic framework, degrades in minutes one of the most toxic chemical agents known to mankind: Soman (GD), a more toxic relative of sarin.
Mass-casualty incidents have happened throughout the country in places as large as Boston, Massachusetts, and as small as Newtown, Connecticut. Hospitals need to be ready to respond with rapid treatment, effective triage, and coordinated communications to help them respond effectively when every second counts.
Firefly Dx is designed to provide real-time, accurate diagnostic results using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) chemistry in a handheld device, thereby leading to treatment scenarios at the point of need that are not possible with existing systems. This new patent application covers a PCR device to provide test results in less than 20 minutes.
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. has manufactured a modified vaccinia Ankara Ebola Zaire vaccine candidate (MVA EBOZ) at a 200L scale in an avian cell line. With its scalable process having the potential to meet the demand for multi-million doses in a few months, this MVA EBOZ is anticipated for use in a Phase 1 clinical study to be conducted by Professor Adrian Hill of the Jenner Institute.
"Anthrax remains a national health security threat, and we're striving to develop an anthrax vaccine that affords immunity sooner and with fewer doses," explained Robin Robinson, Ph.D., director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). "If it works, this vaccine may help achieve better preparedness at a lower cost."
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently announced new actions to enhance the safety of reusable medical devices and address the possible spread of infectious agents between uses. The new recommendations are outlined in a final industry guidance aimed at helping device manufacturers develop safer reusable devices, especially those devices that pose a greater risk of infection.
What can we do to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases from becoming epidemics or pandemic? In this course, offered by the University of Pittsburgh, you'll learn the facts about infectious diseases and medical responses. We'll focus on the public health laws and policies that provide the framework for effective prevention, like quarantine laws, drug development policies, and bioterrorism and biodefense.
