November 14, 2017
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The Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity (ELBI) Fellowship inspires and connects the next generation of leaders and innovators in the biosecurity community. This highly-competitive, part-time program is an opportunity for talented career professionals to deepen their expertise, expand their network, and build their leadership skills through a series of sponsored events coordinated by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. This fellowship boasts more than 100 alumni who represent government, defense, private industry, science, law, public health, medicine, global health, journalism, the social sciences, and academia.
Applications for the ELBI Fellowship are open now through
December 22.
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Public Health & Healthcare Preparedness
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REPORT
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Often called "the voice of CDC," the MMWR series is the agency's primary vehicle for scientific publication of timely, reliable, authoritative, accurate, objective, and useful public health information and recommendations.
(CDC, 11/10/17)
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FDA Chief: Keep Defense Medical Approvals in Our Sphere. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the agency should retain control over medical device and drug approvals after a provision in the defense policy bill would give this power to the Defense Department for soldiers. (The Hill, 11/7/17) See also:
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Homeland Security & Disaster Preparedness
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Global Biosecurity Engagement Activities. I
SN/CTR administers the Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP) program as part of the Global Threat Reduction portfolio. BEP's mission involves institutionalizing biorisk management best practices, securing life science institutions and dangerous pathogens, decreasing the risk that scientists with dual-use expertise will misuse pathogens, and promoting adoption of and compliance with comprehensive international frameworks that advance US biological nonproliferation objectives.
(Grants.gov, 11/11/17)
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Iraq CBW Threat Reduction Activities.
Iraq CTR secures chemical and biological weapons-related assets (such as chemical and biological materials, equipment, technologies, expertise, and infrastructure) against terrorist networks intent on conducting chemical and biological weapons (CBW) attacks. To accomplish this mission, Iraq CTR sponsors efforts to identify and address chemical and biological security vulnerabilities and to detect and investigate early warning signs of CBW attacks.
(Grants.gov, 11/11/17)
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Global Chemical Security Engagement Activities.
The Chemical Security Program (CSP) secures chemical weapons-related assets (such as chemicals, equipment, technologies, expertise, and infrastructure) against terrorist networks and proliferant states intent on conducting chemical attacks. To accomplish this mission, CSP sponsors efforts to identify and address chemical security vulnerabilities and to detect and investigate early warning signs of chemical attacks.
(Grants.gov, 11/11/17)
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NEWS
North Korea's Nukes May Not Be Its Biggest Threat.
In May 2015, the Pentagon publicly acknowledged that it had accidentally sent live anthrax to several labs across the United States - and to Osan Air Base in South Korea. North Korea reacted harshly. This was evidence of America's plan to use weapons of mass destruction against their people, Pyongyang claimed in its demand for an emergency United Nations meeting.
(FiveThirtyEight, 11/9/17)
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NEWS
Homeland Security to Simulate Effects of Biological Weapons Outside Newkirk.
Residents in Newkirk are concerned as the Department of Homeland Security plans to simulate the effects of biological weapons on buildings just outside of the city. In a statement, the agency said they will be releasing non-hazardous, non-toxic chemicals and biological materials at the Chilocco Indian School. The study is part of the department's ongoing commitment to preparedness, officials say.
(KOCO News 5, 11/9/17)
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NEWS
Trump Ignores Climate Change. That's Very Bad for Disaster Planners.
In Washington, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is leading recovery efforts that could cost taxpayers more than $50 billion after devastating storms hit Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands. At the same time, the agency is wrestling with an even harder problem: how to help communities prepare for future flooding disasters that could be far more severe than anything seen this year. Complicating that task is the fact that the Trump administration has largely been hostile to discussions of global warming.
(New York Times, 11/9/17)
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WEBINAR
National Incident Management System Stakeholder Webinar.
FEMA is hosting a series of 60-minute informational webinars with interested stakeholders to discuss the updates to the refreshed NIMS and answer participant questions related to the NIMS. All webinars are open to the whole community. The webinar will take place from 10-11 AM EST on November 21, 2017. Registration is required.
(FEMA, 11/17)
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Science & Technology Policy
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Biotechnology Risk Assessment Grants Program.
The purpose of the BRAG Program is to support the generation of new information that will assist Federal regulatory agencies in making science-based decisions about the environmental effects of introducing organisms genetically engineered by recombinant nucleic acid techniques.
(Grants.gov, 11/8/17)
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PRESS RELEASE
USDA to Re-engage Stakeholders on Revisions to Biotechnology Regulations.
The US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service today announced it is withdrawing a proposed rule to revise the Agency's biotechnology regulations and will re-engage with stakeholders to determine the most effective, science-based approach for regulating the products of modern biotechnology while protecting plant health.
(USDA, 11/6/17)
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Hearing on Hurricane Recovery Efforts in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. US Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources. 11/14/17, 9:30 AM. Dirksen 366.
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Gene Editing Technology: Innovation and Impact. US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions. 11/14/17, 10 AM. Dirksen 430.
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