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Colonel Randall Larsen, USAF (Ret) -CEO, WMD Center -former Executive Director, Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism -former chairman, Department of Military Strategy and Operations, National War College

LA Times Article on Richard Danzig

Recently, an article appeared in the LA Times mischaracterizing one of the leaders of the efforts against bioterrorism as self-interested and inappropriately masking a conflict of interest. The following two letters, which appeared Sunday in the LA Times, better describe … Continue reading

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The Gatekeepers: The Movie You Must See

When I served as the chairman of the Department of Military Strategy and Operations at the National War College, we used short segments from movies such as Crimson Tide and Dr. Strangelove to stimulate discussions with our students.  Later, the … Continue reading

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New Video Brief: Compensating Victims After a Nuclear Disaster – Ryan Morhard

Center for Biosecurity Associate Ryan Morhard explains the history of public liability insurance in the economics of nuclear power and the role of the Price-Anderson Act in facilitating the unprecedented growth of nuclear power in the US. He then discusses … Continue reading

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Statement of Colonel Randall J. Larsen, USAF (Ret) – House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence – November 15, 2012

Update – 2PM EST: Watch the hearing webcast here. Statement of Colonel Randall J. Larsen, USAF (Ret) Founding Director Bipartisan WMD Terrorism Research Center House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence November 15, 2012 Mr. … Continue reading

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Michael G. Kurilla Describes Key Contributions of NIAID to US Biosecurity: Part II

Michael G. Kurilla, MD, PhD Director Office of BioDefense Research Affairs, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Description Dr. Kurilla describes the key contributions of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to US biosecurity, including early … Continue reading

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Michael G. Kurilla Describes Key Contributions of NIAID to US Biosecurity: Part I

Michael G. Kurilla, MD, PhD Director Office of BioDefense Research Affairs, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Description Dr. Kurilla describes the key contributions of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to US biosecurity, including early … Continue reading

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Robert Kadlec Discusses 3 Key Improvements to US Biodefense Policy

Robert Kadlec, MD Former Special Assistant to the President for Biodefense Policy Description Dr. Kadlec discusses 3 key improvements to US biodefense policy that he believes are achievable within 5 years. Dr. Kadlec has served in both the executive and … Continue reading

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Interview with Luciana Borio

http://youtu.be/M9ha3xHlUpg

Luciana Borio, MD

Assistant Commissioner for Counterterrorism Policy and Director, Office of Counterterrorism and Emerging Threats in the Office of the Chief Scientist, US Food and Drug Administration

Description

In this interview, Dr. Borio outlines the evolving role that the Food Drug Administration (FDA) has assumed in the development of medical countermeasures. Under Dr. Borio’s leadership, the FDA has established the Medical Countermeasure Initiative (MCMi), which is an effort to hasten the development of these products, and to improve their odds of achieving FDA approval. The MCMi has made investments in improving the regulatory science that will be necessary for government’s ability to evaluate a new generation of medical products. Here, Dr. Borio discusses some of the successes that the FDA has achieved in this arena, such as the ability to evaluate and approve multiplex diagnostic assays, as well as the challenges that remain.

Video produced by the Center for Biosecurity of UPMC

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Interview with Phyllis Arthur

http://youtu.be/eFDkRPkn8zY

Phyllis Arthur
Senior Director, Vaccines, Immunotherapeutics and Diagnostics Policy, Biotechnology Industry Organization

Description
The timely availability of medical countermeasures—drugs, vaccines and other medical resources needed for a robust response—is a key component of US biosecurity. Ms. Arthur discusses the role of public-private partnerships in drug and vaccine development and production and broadly outlines the roles that Congress, the Administration, and the private sector play regarding US biodefense policy.

As a senior leader at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), Ms. Arthur has a unique and critical role at the interface between the resources and requirements of the US government and the research, development, manufacturing, and production capabilities of private industry.

Video produced by the Center for Biosecurity of UPMC

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http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/multimedia/2012_behind_the_scenes/01_arthur.html

From the Center for Biosecurity of UPMC

Phyllis Arthur video image   Phyllis Arthur, Senior Director, Vaccines, Immunotherapeutics and Diagnostics Policy, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), discusses the role of public-private partnerships in drug and vaccine development and production and broadly outlines the roles that Congress, the Administration, and the private sector play regarding US biodefense policy. As a senior leader at BIO, Ms. Arthur has a unique and critical role at the interface between the resources and requirements of the US government and the research, development, manufacturing, and production capabilities of private industry. Watch Video

 

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