Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology 
Thu, July 15, 2010
Universal Detection Technology Responds to Congress' Proposed Cuts in Bioterrorism Funding
LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - July 15, 2010) - Universal Detection Technology ([ www.udetection.com ]) (
The bill, passed by the House on July 1st, would cut funding to Project Bioshield, a program established in 2004 to incentivize private companies to develop clinical countermeasures to a bioterrorism attack.
The White House, which supports the measure, has expressed that Project Bioshield has "demonstrated limited success in providing incentive for private-sector developers and has not provided a robust pipeline of medical countermeasures," according to Nick Shapiro, a White House spokesperson.
According to former senators Bob Graham and Jim Talent, the measure "will drive a stake through the heart of America's fledgling biodefense efforts," as expressed in an open letter to President Obama yesterday. "It will require your intervention to avoid a self-inflicted wound to America's national security," the letter stated.
Graham and Talent also referenced a former bipartisan congressional committee's scathing report card published in January failing the U.S. Government for adequately preparing the country for the threat of a bioterrorism attack, which gave the government an "F" letter grade for failure to "enhance the nation's capabilities for rapid response to prevent biological attacks from inflicting mass casualties."
The report gave 17 letter grades for the government's handling of WMD and terrorism. Out of the three "F" letter grades given, the most vocal from the commission was the failure to address the imminent threat of bioterrorism.
"The threat of bioterrorism continues to be a chief concern to our national security," said Jacques Tizabi, Universal Detection Technology's CEO. "Elevating the level of discourse and concern on Capitol Hill is crucial in our ability to adequately prepare ourselves with the right information, resources and equipment necessary to prevent, detect and counter against potential biothreats," continued Tizabi.
For more information, please visit [ www.udetection.com ] or email [ info@udetection.com ].
About Universal Detection Technology
Universal Detection Technology is a developer of monitoring technologies, including bioterrorism detection devices. The Company on its own and with development partners is positioned to capitalize on opportunities related to Homeland Security. For example, the Company, in cooperation with NASA, has developed a bacterial spore detector that detects certain biohazard substances. The Company is also a reseller of handheld assays used for detection of five bioterrorism agents, radiation detection systems, and antimicrobial products. For more information, please visit [ www.udetection.com ].
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance and achievement in the future to differ materially from forecasted results, performance, and achievement. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes in the Company's plans or expectations.