Search Results for keywords:"public health"

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given approval, with specific conditions, for a small-scale road pilot project using phosphogypsum, which is a byproduct of phosphate production, on private land in Florida. This approval was given after a thorough risk assessment to ensure the project is as protective of public health as keeping phosphogypsum in a safe storage stack. The project, proposed by Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC, involves building a test road to study the potential use of phosphogypsum in road construction. Public comments raised several concerns, but the EPA maintained its decision based on the risk assessments, confirming it meets current health safety standards.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the revocation of Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for three COVID-19 tests developed by Beckman Coulter, Inc., including the Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG, IgM, and IgG II tests. This action was taken upon the request of Beckman Coulter, who also decided to stop the distribution of these tests as of January 1, 2025. The FDA concluded that revoking these authorizations is necessary to protect public health and safety. The revocation became effective on January 8, 2025, with detailed explanations provided for each decision.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reorganized its Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), specifically within the Office of Medical Policy (OMP), which was approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on November 19, 2024. This reorganization aims to improve the FDA's ability to conduct its public health mission by enhancing its capacity to innovate in clinical trials, using tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Health Technologies (DHTs). The Division of Clinical Trial Quality has been renamed to the Division of Clinical Innovations to support this focus. This restructuring is intended to foster collaboration, attract a diverse workforce, and modernize policy development to guide innovative drug development practices.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the renewal of its Science Board, extending its charter until June 26, 2026. This board provides expert advice to the FDA on various complex scientific and technical issues crucial to the agency's mission, including areas like food safety, pharmacology, and public health. The board consists of 21 voting members, with additional members or consultants temporarily added as necessary for specific expertise. The renewal confirms that it is in the public interest to maintain this advisory board for at least two more years.

The National Institutes of Health announced a series of closed meetings for reviewing grant applications. These meetings will take place virtually from February 11 to February 19, 2021, and cover various topics such as neuroscience, immunology, bioengineering, and public health. The meetings are closed to the public to protect confidential information and personal privacy associated with the grant applications. They were announced in compliance with federal regulations to maintain transparency in governmental advisory activities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has renewed the charter for the CDC/Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Advisory Committee on HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and STD Prevention and Treatment (CHAC). This renewal extends the committee's charter until November 25, 2026. The committee focuses on providing guidance and recommendations related to the prevention and treatment of these diseases. Jonathan Mermin, M.D., M.P.H., is the designated federal officer for this committee.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released new guidance aimed at reducing the risk of disease transmission caused by sepsis in human cell and tissue products. This guidance is designed to help organizations that make donor eligibility decisions by recommending practices to lower infection risks. The FDA issued this guidance immediately due to urgent health concerns, updating previous recommendations from 2007. The guidance reflects the FDA's current viewpoints but does not impose any legal obligations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received approval to proceed with the sixth round of its Rapid Surveys System (RSS), designed to collect data on new public health concerns from a representative sample of the U.S. population. This survey aims to provide timely, quality data on emerging health issues, and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) will publish notices to gather public feedback on survey content. People can comment on various aspects of this data collection, including its necessity, accuracy, and how it can be improved, and they are invited to do so within 30 days of this announcement.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing changes to the regulations for emissions standards from Refractory Products Manufacturing under the Clean Air Act. The proposed revisions include adding new emission standards for certain hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and updating standards to address the startup, shutdown, and malfunction of equipment. The proposal also suggests amending electronic reporting requirements to improve the tracking of emissions data. These amendments aim to enhance environmental protection by ensuring that emissions standards are met at all times and by enabling better monitoring and compliance.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced the availability of a government-owned invention for licensing, aimed at speeding up the commercialization of research funded by the government to benefit public health. This invention involves analogues of N-Lactoyl-Phenylalanine (Lac-Phe), which could serve as appetite suppressants and help treat obesity and related diseases. It is currently in the preclinical development stage and is open for licensing under U.S. patent law. Interested parties can contact Malabika Ghosh at the NIH for licensing details.