In the NewsLinks appear for content that is available online indefinitely. October 14, 2008
BU outlines biolab safety steps: Scientists face in-depth screenings, by Stephen Smith. Boston Globe.
With regard to security screenings of lab workers, Dr. Gigi Kwik Gronvall notes “It’s very hard to protect against an insider who’s one of the experts.” October 5, 2008
After big win, PharmAthene focuses on bigger deal: Bidding on $500 million government contract for anthrax vaccine, by Katie Arcieri. Annapolis Capital.
Dr. Gigi Kwik Gronvall weighs in on government efforts to fund recombinant protective antigen vaccines: “It’s a public health need in the event of an attack.” August 22, 2008
Senators seek to boost U.S. biosafety, by Chris Schneidmiller. Global Security Newswire.
Dr. Gigi Kwik Gronvall comments about the increasing numbers of scientists working in high containment biosafety labs and the need for standardized biosafety training: “When you had only a few people working in these areas, then they would train their people so that they could work safely in BSL-4,” . . . “Now that there are so many more scientists that are going to be working in these conditions, there needs to be a way to standardize that training so that you can conserve these mentors’ time and energy and bring everybody up to a certain level.” August 18, 2008
FBI agrees to release more details from anthrax probe, backpeddles on key elements, by Andrew Tilghman. Talking Points Memo.
Regarding the scientific evidence the FBI used to close case on the anthrax attacks of 2001, Dr. Gronvall comments “I expect people to be dazzled by the science. I am worried that people will confuse solid science (and I expect the science to be very good) with a solid case”… “The science will only take you so far.” August 16, 2008
Labs that perform bioterrorism research proliferating, by Dave Altimari. Hartford Courant.
Expressing concern about the thoroughness of background checks for lab workers, Dr. Gronvall notes that "Nobody is checking to see if people being approved to work with anthrax or other biological agents actually have the scientific skills to work with it." August 12, 2008
Bioterrorism: Are we safe? Host: John Dankosky. Where We Live, WNPR (Connecticut).
Dr. Gronvall comments on the FBI's conclusion of the investigation of the anthrax attacks of 2001 and the implications that has for the threat of anthrax: "Anthrax and bacteria that behave like anthrax are found all over the world, and people work on them for largely legitimate purposes. If weaponization of that bacteria is as easy as the FBI alleges that it was, then this is a big problem." August 11, 2008
Scientists continue to question anthrax investigation and case against Bruce Ivins, by Andrew Tilghman. Talking Points Memo.
Dr. Gronvall comments on the closing of the case against Dr. Bruce Ivins: "[federal officials] came out and said they'd made the case, but they didn't actually present that science. So it really can't be evaluated." August 9, 2008
Anthrax case spurred field of germ-gene sleuthing, by Lauran Neergaard. Associated Press.
Dr. Gronvall comments about using scientific data in criminal investigations: "Science is a wonderful thing but it is, at the end of the day, a tool"…"the question is how that [tool] was used." August 8, 2008
Two experts—one in bioweapons and one in journalism—explore the numerous, still unanswered questions in the anthrax case, by Glenn Greenwald. Salon Radio: Anthrax Edition.
Dr. Gronvall comments about the evidence in the Ivins case: “They [the FBI] didn't present anything so it's really hard to comment on it. You can develop a list of questions about it, but broadly, it's hard to poke holes at something that hasn't been offered.” August 8, 2008
Gaps in system kept Ivins at high-security lab, by Matt Apuzzo and Lara Jakes Jordan. Associated Press.
Dr. Gronvall comments about the security at the Fort Detrick research facility: “USAMRIID is not like being in a shack in the wilderness. It's interacting with people in a pretty secure place.” August 7, 2008
Dark portrait of Ivins, reported by Jeanne Meserve. The Situation Room, CNN.
Dr. Gronvall noted that requiring more stringent rules for scientific research could make scientific research tougher: “There are lots of things that we need these scientists to do. We need them to do their job.” June 23, 2008
Kennedy-Burr bill targets potential threats from within bio-research, by Matt Korade. Congressional Quarterly.
Regarding the Kennedy-Burr legislation which promotes voluntary incident reporting, Dr. Gronvall commented, "This is a way to call attention to potential problems, so other researchers can learn for them and hopefully make the labs safer and more productive." June 20, 2008
Biodefense: Senate bill would alter biosafety, select agent rules, by Jocelyn Kaiser. Science.
Dr. Gronvall weighs in on the Select Agent Program and Biosafety Improvement Act of 2008: "It's very exciting. It has a lot of things that I completely agree with." June 5, 2008
Boston University angers neighbors with Ebola, SARs germ lab, by Brian Sullivan. Bloomberg News.
Dr. was interviewed about the rise in the number of biosafety laboratories in the U.S. May 13, 2008
Homeland Security: Inside and Out. Host: Randy Larsen. KAMU 90.9 FM.
Dr. Gronvall discussed vaccine research and biosecurity: "There [has] been a lot of concern about whether or not we can control legitimate research and [keep] it from getting into the hands of people who wish to do harm." May 11, 2008
The profit of protection; Annapolis biodefense firm PharmAthene buys development rights for anthrax vaccine as part of $40 million deal, by Katie Arcieri. Annapolis (MD) Capital.
With regard to anthrax, Dr. Gronvall notes that "It's as much of a threat as it ever was. It's important to continue preparing for it." May 3, 2008
Scientists call for biolab safety study, by Stephen Smith. Boston Globe.
Dr. Gronvall comments about her participation on a National Research Council blue ribbon panel charged with reviewing the process for identifying suiable sites for building BSL4 research facilities: "the panel did not consider how long it would take to conduct the expanded review...and it was not part of our charge to do that." May 1, 2008
Big bucks for biosecurity research - but who's doing what?, by Holly Menninger. States News Service.
Regarding biosafety standards and federal oversight, Dr. Gronvall noted that "The time is ripe for something to be done . . . Biosafety failures have been more evident in the media, and this area has lots of eyes on it. If recommendations from the task force are reasonable, nothing should block action from being taken."
March 4, 2008
Homeland Security: Inside and Out. Host: Randy Larsen. KAMU 90.9 FM.
Radio interview with Dr. Gigi Gronvall. Dr. Gronvall notes that if she had a few minutes with the presidential candidates, the issues she would raise are (1) eliminating the threat of anthrax as a weapon of mass destruction, (2) continuing U.S. dominance in science, and (3) making a serious effort to combat infectious disease. February 15, 2008
Biosafety: biodefense watchdog project folds, leaving a void, by Jocelyn Kaiser. Science.
Dr. Gronvall is quoted regarding the end of the biosafety watchdog group, the Sunshine Project: "[Hammond] called attention to very real problems in the way that biosecurity has been funded and research reviewed . . . There's no one else I know of that will look over at that level of detail and keep things transparent." November 30, 2007
Experts ’fail’ risk analysis for Boston bioterror lab, by Rick Weiss. Washington Post.
Noting the lack of scientific rigor of an NIH report about the risks associated with a proposed high-containment lab in Boston, expert panel member Dr. Gronvall remarks, “If the report were an article submitted to a scientific journal, we would have rejected this.” November 29, 2007
NIH criticized for flawed review of Biosafety lab, by Jocelyn Kaiser. ScienceNow Daily News.
Noting the lack of scientific rigor of an NIH report about the risks associated with a proposed high-containment lab in Boston, expert panel member Dr. Gronvall comments that were this study submitted to a scientific journal, “we would have rejected this.” November 21, 2007
Biosafety expert urges lawmakers to reform laboratory accident reporting guidelines. States News Service.
Dr. Gronvall is quoted: “The best way to create a safe research environment is to allow other scientists to learn about their colleagues’ mistakes before they repeat them.” October 19, 2007
After accidents, laboratory safety is questioned, by Kelly Field. The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Dr. Gronvall notes with regard to reporting lab accidents: "You want to encourage reporting, not punish people for reporting." October 5, 2007
How safe are our bio-labs?, by Ken Stier. TIME.
Report regarding Congressional hearing on high containment biological research labs mentions Dr. Gronvall. October 5, 2007
Growth of biosafety labs not fully known, by Ruth Mantell. MarketWatch.
Dr. Gronvall is quoted in a report about a Congressional briefing on biosafety labs: "Infections lead to negative publicity and scrutiny . . . adversely affecting future research funding." August 31, 2007
Lack of training in biodefense research leading to dangerous leaks, most incidents go unreported, experts caution, by Cassandra Willyard. Nature.
With regard to lab safety, Dr. Gronvall comments "I'm concerned that they're [lab workers] not being given the tools to protect themselves." August 23, 2007
As biodefense research booms, reward is weighted against risk, by Pete Alfano. Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Dr. Gronvall is referenced in the article. April 4, 2007
Biosafety labs urged to report accidents and near misses: U.S. think tank proposed mandatory but anonymous reporting, by John Miller. Nature.
Dr. Gronvall is quoted: "The problem is that accidents aren't reported . . . People recognize the need, so let's do it." February 5, 2007
UK pandemic test shows limits of off-site alternatives: Working from home doesn't replicate market activity, by John Sandman. Securities Industry News.
Dr. Gronvall is quoted: "It is realistic to expect an avian flu vaccine, but not very soon." | 
