Build a new biosafety lab, but possibly build it smaller, says report

Build a new biosafety lab, but possibly build it smaller, says report

Less than one month after a US National Resource Council (NRC) panel criticized the government for underestimating the risks of a proposed new biosecurity lab, a new ten-person committee issued a second report today advising that construction should go ahead, although possibly on a reduced scale from the original design.  Read more

Vaccine stabilization technique proves as smooth as silk

Vaccine stabilization technique proves as smooth as silk

Vaccines and other biologic drugs quickly degenerate and lose their effectiveness if left out of the fridge for very long, creating a huge problem for healthcare delivery in less developed parts of the world. Fortunately, a new preservation technique could offer longer shelf lives. Reporting today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers have discovered a silk protein capable of stabilizing heat-sensitive biologics for months at a time at room temperatures or even hotter.  Read more

NIH working group changes tune, recommends more training grants

NIH working group changes tune, recommends more training grants

Graduate students and post-docs in the biomedical field compete for limited research money from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and, after spending years in training, face uncertain career paths. A working group charged with studying these problems presented a report to NIH Director Francis Collinsand his advisory committee yesterday— and offered some new solutions.  Read more