Major infectious diseases, like COVID-19, often go undetected until they spread.

Spotting the problem in a community isn’t easy, in part because infectious disease detection, which is the foundation for surveillance and contact tracing, can take hours, if not days.

Compounding the problem is that traditional detection assays are designed a priori while newer bio detection technologies have been slow to move from the lab into general use.   

Now scientists are developing a portable device that is easily configurable for screening thousands of pathogens in minutes, not hours.

The device will incorporate recent advances in biotechnology, imaging analysis and microfluidics, with the goal of improving the speed of treatment and enhance the standard of care for the public and to equip the military with new biosurveillance technology.

John Julias, Biosecurity Program Manager at Draper exclusively outlines for American Security Today (AST), the growing importance of biothreat detection for professionals who work in port security, law enforcement and military security.

Julias is a biosecurity program manager at Draper where he leads Draper’s contributions to DARPA’s Detect It with Gene Editing Technologies (DIGET), a program that is developing a fieldable, portable biothreats detection system for screening thousands of pathogens in minutes.

1. What would it take for the security sector—port security, law enforcement, military security—to have a clear view of emerging biothreats?

• Having a clear view of emerging biothreats requires an understanding of how broad and complex the problem is.

• Many factors influence the emergence and spread of biothreats, and some are derived from human influences such as trade, deforestation, construction, travel and so on.

• Right now a lot of people are focused on direct threats to human health, but we should also recognize that the vulnerabilities extend into agriculture as well.

• As new threats emerge, we have to work together to understand what needs to be monitored and controlled to contain biothreats.

• This could entail approaches like cargo screening and environmental monitoring for disease vectors, or employing forms of vector control to reduce the populations of insects or arthropods that can transmit diseases.

• Sharing information would also improve our view of where threats are and the way they are spreading.

• The widespread use of molecular diagnostics is critically important in this area.

2. What would the next biosecurity threat look like if rapid diagnostic tools were widely available?

• The next biosecurity threat will look different because of our ability to respond quickly and more accurately.

• We will have better diagnostic tools and assays, and broader distribution, and these tools will be portable and field-ready.

• We will be able to get diagnostic devices into areas that aren’t as extensively resourced, like rural communities.

• Speed of distribution and rapid diagnosis will help efforts to isolate people faster if they are positive, and to direct resources to the appropriate areas.

3. Is biosecurity fundamentally changing how society protects itself?

• What we are seeing with biosecurity today is a convergence of technologies that have been in development for a decade or more from various areas.

• Biotechnology leverages advances from many areas such as optics for imaging analysis, microfluidics to enable sample-to-answer assays, as well as new molecular tools like CRISPR.

• Over the past decade we have seen great examples of how society benefits from biotechnology and its applications.

• We have seen instances where they have used molecular testing to look for flu at fairs.

• As technologies that allow detection of different biothreats become less expensive and broadly distributed—and the data is shared and accessible—security teams will have a powerful way to minimize the impact of threats.

(See a brief overview of how CRISPR can transform disease detection. Courtesy of Mammoth Biosciences and YouTube.)

4. How soon are we likely to see portable devices for screening pathogens?

• We are starting to see fieldable, portable biothreats detection systems. During the pandemic, retailers carried Covid test kits, which are one form of biothreat detection.

• What’s different is that the Covid tests were designed to measure one thing. The idea of detecting many pathogens at once is only now coming into focus.

• It may take several years before we see a portable device that is easily configurable for screening thousands of pathogens in minutes, not hours.

• But that day is coming, and it will improve the speed of treatment and enhance the standard of care for the public and equip the military and those of us in security with new biosurveillance technology.

Biochemist and molecular biologist Rachel Fezzie at Draper, says infectious disease detection needs to be faster, lower in cost and field-ready.

“The development of a rapid, low-cost diagnostic device that is capable of detecting 1,000 biomarkers in one processing cycle is an important step forward in improving infectious disease detection.” 

“A device with the ability to detect pathogens sooner and in a greater variety would improve public health, add protections for military units and provide critical information to medical decision-makers within minutes.”

Fezzie and her Draper colleagues are developing just such a technology as part of a team recently selected by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

Led by MRIGlobal, a world leader in technological and scientific research, the team is developing a massively multiplexed device (MMD) for DARPA’s “Detect It with Gene Editing Technologies” (DIGET) program.

The aim, says DARPA, is to incorporate gene editors into detectors for distributed health biosurveillance and rapid, point-of-need diagnostics for endemic, emerging and engineered pathogenic threats.

The foundation for the MMD is DETECTR™, a CRISPR-based detection platform developed by Mammoth Biosciences, a member of the MRIGlobal team.

The platform has been proven as a rapid detection diagnosis technology that uses a gene editing molecular tool to find a specific genetic sequence within a sample.

(Learn More, from Dr. Renee Wegrzyn who oversees a variety of programs within DARPA’s Biological Technology Office, but her “Detect It with Gene Editing Technologies,” or DIGET, program has captured recent attention for its potential in tracking COVID-19 and other pathogenic threats. In this episode, Wegrzyn explains the background and science behind the program, how it can aid in the national response to COVID-19 and other future threats, as well as how programs like this can succeed while safeguarding people’s privacy and information. Courtesy of GovernmentCIO Media & Research and YouTube. Posted on Jun 30, 2020.)

The MMD will incorporate several innovative technologies developed by Draper.

Fluid routing throughout the disposable cartridge will be controlled by Draper’s proprietary electromagnetic pump and valve technology, ideal for applications with low size, weight and power requirements.

Draper’s demonstrated experience in functionalizing glass substrates and printing compact, high-density DNA arrays will directly inform the development path to scale Mammoth’s DETECTR^TM chemistry to 1,000-plex via a microarray of Cas/gRNA complexes.

Each Cas/gRNA complex is designed to detect a unique pathogen.

The MMD will also use a new approach to optical detection through development of a miniaturized, simple, lens-free system that has no moving parts, making it attractive for field deployment.

Reconfiguration of the microarray will be enabled by printing array chips with new Cas/gRNA complexes, a process expected to take 24 hours or less.

To Learn More about these exciting new technology advancements, go to www.draper.com and www.darpa.mil/news-events/2019-11-15.

Introducing the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program Finalists

Special Early Luncheon Registration Discount Ends November 1

American Security Today’s ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards program is today in its Sixth Year and continues to recognize the Outstanding Innovations of top firms and agencies in the Homeland Security and Public Safety fields.

The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.

American Security Today is pleased to announce TSA Administrator  David Pekoske, will join the organization as a featured speaker at the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Presentation Luncheon, on November 17, 2021 at ISC East in New York City.

“On the heels of an unprecedented global pandemic, continued unrest in our cities and potentially catastrophic cyberattacks on our nations critical infrastructure, the focus of the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon will be on the latest, state-of-the-art innovations that are driving investments in new public security and safety technologies and systems,” said AST Editorial and Managing Director Tammy Waitt.

“As a recognized expert in crisis management, strategic planning, innovation and aviation, surface transportation and maritime security, David Pekoske’s message highlighting his top priorities and challenges for the TSA based on his years of wide-ranging experience will be critical to our attendees internalizing the critical nature of these escalating challenges, and realizing innovative new approaches to meet them.”

The 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is Proudly Sponsored by AMAROK, Fortior Solutions  and SIMS Software, along with Returning Premier Sponsors ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, and Reed Exhibitions.

Additionally, the First 100 Registered Attendees to receive autographed copies of the Latest Book by Legendary Police Commissioner, Bill Bratton, who will be Live at the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon.

‘The Profession: A Memoir of Community, Race, and the Arc of Policing in America’

The epic, transformative career of Bill Bratton, legendary police commissioner and police reformer, in Boston, Los Angeles, and New York When Bill Bratton became a Boston street cop after returning from serving in Vietnam, he was dismayed by the corrupt old guard, and it is fair to say the old guard was dismayed by him too.

The Profession presents not only a fascinating and colorful life at the heights of law enforcement leadership, but the vision for the future of American policing that we sorely need.

At ISC East 2021 you with the opportunity to interact with a broad array of security industry professionals.

ISC East works closely with other businesses in the security and public safety space to help bring together the Northeast’s largest security trade show each year.

Therefore, the ISC audience of security dealers, installers, integrators, consultants, corporate, government and law enforcement/first responder practitioners will be joined by the ASIS NYC audience of major corporate managerial-through-director-level national and global security executives.

The combination of one-on-one conversations with the industry’s top innovators,  integrators and security executives, special events, high-quality education and training, and strong support from industry associations, will allow attendees to learn and evaluate solutions from leading security exhibitors and brands. 

With the integration of the Natural Disaster and Emergency Management (NDEM) Expo, the show is moving even further into our reader’s wheelhouse!

Your ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon registration includes complimentary attendee access to ISC East, NDEM and the ASIS NYC Security Conference and Expo!

Thank take advantage of this exclusive luncheon opportunity to take a break from the show – Invite your team, guests, clients and show visitors to a lovely and affordable plated meal event in the heart of New York City, for a fabulous networking opportunity!

Special Early Luncheon Registration Discount Ends November 1

Go to https://americansecuritytoday.com/product/awards-luncheon/ to secure your seat or reserve a table.

***Early Registration Discount Ends November 1. Limited space available so Register Today. There will be no on-site registrations.

Why American Security Today?

The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.

The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.

American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State and local levels of government as well as firms allied to government.

American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers eyes throughout the story with cutting edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.

Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications

The AST Digital Publications is distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals in federal, state and local levels.

‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’

AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.

Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.

These experts are from Government at the federal, state and local level as well as from private firms allied to government.

AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.

AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.

Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.

To learn more about the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, Check Out the New 2020 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2020 ‘A Year in Review’.

The Annual CHAMPIONS edition includes a review of the ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firms products and services, includes video interviews and more.

It is your Go-To source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2020 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.

From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION has what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.

It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.

• For a complete list of 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners, click here.

AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:

• Provides named sources
• Reported by more than one notable outlet
• Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos

Subscribe to the AST Daily News Alert Here.