June marks the official launch of the Rutgers Institute for Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security. The institute aims to protect people and property in the event of disasters and emergencies. It will coordinate the universitys research, education and readiness initiatives and serve as a single point of access for government agencies, businesses and other groups.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first US facility that can make cell-culture influenza vaccines, a Novartis plant in Holly Springs, N.C., that has been part of federal government efforts to prepare for a pandemic and to sidestep some limits of egg-based flu vaccine technology.
DuPont Protection Technologies recently announced that over one million bullet-resistant vests made with DuPont Kevlar® XP has been sold globally since the advanced material was launched at Eurosatory in 2008. The milestone was marked with an award to the Republic of Korea Army, the recipient of the millionth vest.
Gov. Nathan Deal and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) recently introduced an upgraded version of the states emergency mobile app, Ready Georgia, which was designed to help Georgians stay safe and informed during emergencies. New features include geo-targeted severe weather and emergency alerts, traffic information, and enhanced shelters maps.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing safer alternatives to the flame retardants now used in consumer and commercial products, including building insulation and products with flexible polyurethane foam.
Tetra Tech Inc. recently announced a $76 million contract with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Office of Security and Hazardous Materials Safety Information Technology Support Services to provide expanded programmatic and operational support services for FAA's information technology and security programs.
A Purdue University-led research team has figured out how to disable a part of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus responsible for hiding it from the immune system. This is a critical step in developing a vaccine against this deadly disease. The findings also have potential applications in the creation of vaccines against other coronaviruses.
"This evaluation is a milestone for M908 that further validates performance in the challenging circumstances our customers face every day", said Kevin Knopp, cofounder and chief executive officer, 908Devices. "As expected, the M908 demonstrated solid performance through a series of difficult tests providing rapid results and actionable answers."
PositiveID Corporation, developer of biological detection and diagnostics solutions, announced that it has submitted bids and proposals in conjunction with several large commercial partners as new U.S. government procurements for biothreat detection increase. As a result, PositiveID is issuing its first-ever revenue guidance of $4-10 million over the next 18 months.
Starting this summer, the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, Office of Executive Programs, will direct the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Leadership Institute. Under the $7.2 million, five-year agreement, Smith will educate up to 120 top-level managers each year for a total enrollment of 600.
