Happy Friday! Ready for some global health security news? Down the rabbit hole we go….the FDA has just approved ANTHIM injection, a new treatment for inhalation anthrax in adults and children. Researchers are considering the possibility that the highly virulent E. coli O104:H4 strain that hit Germany in 2011 may have been an intentional act. “The … Continue reading Pandora Report: 3.25.2016
By Alena James It has been one seriously scary and depressing summer with the multitude of cataclysmic events taking place all around the globe. Much like the thousands of immigrant children whose futures are still being debated by the U.S. and Mexico, many of these crises have remained outside of U.S. soil. However, one potential … Continue reading Category A Bioterrorism Agent Lands in the U.S.
If the words CBRN, Deterrence, Terrorism, Tacit Knowledge, Anthrax, Vaccination, Public Health, International Security, The Rajneesh’s Cult, Aum Shinrikyo, Iraqi WMD, Biopreparat, The Pandora Report, Bruce Ivans, Small Pox, Intelligence, Arms Control, Measles, The Biological Weapons Convention, Biosurveillance, BioSense, BioWatch, and Zombie have any meaning to you, you might just FINALLY be one of George … Continue reading Congrats to GMU Biodefense 2014 Graduates!!
By Alena James For the past several months, Russia, it seems, has been unable to avoid the spotlight. In June 2013, we watched Russian President Vladimir Putin pass legislation prohibiting the portrayal of homosexuality—or “propaganda”—in the media. The action sparked a backlash among LGBT Rights protesters. In August, we witnessed Putin serve as a liaison … Continue reading Putin: Spotlight Seeker, Peace Keeper, Russian Defender
As you may have noticed, its been a light week here at the Pandora Report. With Siddha’s departure, we have been working hard on getting our new team up and running. It is my pleasure, for my first post as Managing Editor, to introduce myself–Julia Homstad–and two new writers–Alena James and Chris Healey. Alena Marie … Continue reading Friday Levity
By Alena M. James Three-Dimensional printing has become a major controversial topic in the new age technology sector for the past few years now. Earlier this month, Yoshitomo Imura was arrested in Kawaski, Japan after using his 3-D printer to build five guns; two of which held the capability to fire bullets. This is an … Continue reading Finding Its Niche in Biodefense: Bioprinting
By Alena M. James Just a few years ago, Deborah Harden made the decision to continue her education. After earning her undergraduate degree in engineering and serving in the U.S. Air Force as an Aerospace engineer, Harden began working at Battelle, a nonprofit that plays a major role in managing the world’s leading national laboratories. … Continue reading Deborah Harden Receives GMU Biodefense Departmental Award
By Alena M. James It has been nearly a month since the terrorist organization known as Boko Haram raided a secondary school located in Chibok—a Local Government Area located in Borno State, Nigeria. During the raid, the terrorist group abducted more than 200 girls and loaded them onto trucks. Many of the girls were tricked … Continue reading Game of Goons: Boko Haram & the War on Educated Girls
By Alena M. James Two years ago, Dr. Stephen Arnon and Dr. Jason Barash discovered a new strain of Clostridium botulinum. Typical C. botulinum strains are known to express any of the seven different botulinum neuron toxins, Botulinum Toxin Types A-G. The new strain discovered by Arnon and Barash, after studying infant botulism at the … Continue reading C. botulinium’s Deadliest Toxin: To Share or Not To Share?
By Alena M James Last Wednesday, news sources unveiled an alarming video released by al Qaeda highlighting the largest meeting of the terrorist organization in years. Arriving in white Toyota pickup trucks, nearly 100 members appeared to congregate in a remote location somewhere in Yemen. The group was joined by the head of … Continue reading US Drones: Strategic Freedom Fighters or Human Rights Violators?
The Pandora Report 