Latest news with #biologicalsamples
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Bail hearing set for Chinese researcher accused of smuggling farm fungus into US
WASHINGTON, June 5 — A Michigan court has scheduled a bail hearing on Thursday for a Chinese researcher accused of smuggling biological samples into the United States. Yunqing Jian, 33, and her boyfriend Zunyong Liu, 34, who conducted biological studies in the same field, were accused of smuggling a fungus into the United States for research. Jian, who according to a federal criminal complaint has worked on research projects in the United States since 2022, made her first court appearance on Tuesday. Liu was denied entry into the United States last July, when the pathogen, a fungus identified by the US Department of Justice as Fusarium graminearum, was found in his luggage. Liu said he wanted to conduct research on the fungus at a University of Michigan laboratory where Jian worked, according to the complaint. Prosecutors described the fungus as a dangerous biological pathogen that had the potential to be used as an agricultural terrorism weapon. The fungus is already widespread on US farms, tested for and tightly controlled in grains, and is not considered dangerous unless consumed in large quantities. Clair Keene, an agronomist at North Dakota State University, said she was puzzled by US authorities' description of the fungus. 'It's a common pathogen. We have it here. The claim that Fusarium graminearum can be used as a biological weapon doesn't strike me as accurate,' she said. The fungus can cause Fusarium head blight, typically known as scab. It is common among wheat, barley and other grains especially during rainy years. The telltale salmon-pink streaks on the grain heads contain a toxic byproduct called vomitoxin, which in high quantities can cause nausea and vomiting when eaten. Keene said farmers often spray fungicide to protect their crop and researchers have developed strains of wheat that are resistant to the fungus. Reuters was unable to contact Jian or her lawyer for comment. The case involving the researchers comes as the University of Michigan and other universities have faced pressure from the Trump administration over allegations they have done too little to combat antisemitism on campus and what the administration depicts as radical ideology in the classroom. Universities' ties to China also have come under scrutiny. The University of Michigan said in a statement it condemned 'any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university's critical public mission.' 'It is important to note that the university has received no funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals,' the university said, adding it will 'continue to cooperate' with federal law enforcement in its ongoing investigation and prosecution. FBI director Kash Patel said in a post on X that the case was a reminder that China's ruling Communist Party 'is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences... putting American lives and our economy at serious risk.' The Chinese Embassy in Washington in response to a Reuters request for comment sent a statement from its spokesperson Liu Pengyu. 'I don't know the specific situation, but I would like to emphasise that the Chinese government has always required overseas Chinese citizens to abide by local laws and regulations and will also resolutely safeguard their legitimate rights and interests,' Liu said. — Reuters
Reuters
2 days ago
- Health
- Reuters
Bail hearing over smuggled fungus scheduled for Chinese researcher
June 4 (Reuters) - A Michigan court has scheduled a bail hearing on Thursday for a Chinese researcher accused of smuggling biological samples into the United States. Yunqing Jian, 33, and her boyfriend Zunyong Liu, 34, who conducted biological studies in the same field, were accused of smuggling a fungus into the United States for research. Jian, who according to a federal criminal complaint has worked on research projects in the United States since 2022, made her first court appearance on Tuesday. Liu was denied entry into the United States last July, when the pathogen, a fungus identified by the U.S. Department of Justice as Fusarium graminearum, was found in his luggage. Liu said he wanted to conduct research on the fungus at a University of Michigan laboratory where Jian worked, according to the complaint. Prosecutors described the fungus as a dangerous biological pathogen that had the potential to be used as an agricultural terrorism weapon. The fungus is already widespread on U.S. farms, tested for and tightly controlled in grains, and is not considered dangerous unless consumed in large quantities. Clair Keene, an agronomist at North Dakota State University, said she was puzzled by U.S. authorities' description of the fungus. "It's a common pathogen. We have it here. The claim that Fusarium graminearum can be used as a biological weapon doesn't strike me as accurate," she said. The fungus can cause Fusarium head blight, typically known as scab. It is common among wheat, barley and other grains especially during rainy years. The telltale salmon-pink streaks on the grain heads contain a toxic byproduct called vomitoxin, which in high quantities can cause nausea and vomiting when eaten. Keene said farmers often spray fungicide to protect their crop and researchers have developed strains of wheat that are resistant to the fungus. Reuters was unable to contact Jian or her lawyer for comment. The case involving the researchers comes as the University of Michigan and other universities have faced pressure from the Trump administration over allegations they have done too little to combat antisemitism on campus and what the administration depicts as radical ideology in the classroom. Universities' ties to China also have come under scrutiny. The University of Michigan said in a statement it condemned "any actions that seek to cause harm, threaten national security or undermine the university's critical public mission." "It is important to note that the university has received no funding from the Chinese government in relation to research conducted by the accused individuals," the university said, adding it will "continue to cooperate" with federal law enforcement in its ongoing investigation and prosecution. FBI director Kash Patel said in a post on X that the case was a reminder that China's ruling Communist Party "is working around the clock to deploy operatives and researchers to infiltrate American institutions and target our food supply, which would have grave consequences... putting American lives and our economy at serious risk." The Chinese Embassy in Washington in response to a Reuters request for comment sent a statement from its spokesperson Liu Pengyu. "I don't know the specific situation, but I would like to emphasize that the Chinese government has always required overseas Chinese citizens to abide by local laws and regulations and will also resolutely safeguard their legitimate rights and interests," Liu said.
National Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
TruTechnologies Secures Significant Growth Investment From LLR Partners
Article content DURHAM, N.C. — LLR Partners today announced a strategic growth investment in TruTechnologies ™, a leading provider of real-time clinical trial oversight. LLR's growth capital and value creation resources will be dedicated to helping TruTechnologies' expansion as it transforms how pharmaceutical companies, together with clinical research organizations and research sites, oversee, monitor and manage biological samples and study workflows throughout the clinical trial lifecycle. Article content Article content TruTechnologies aims to enhance workflow efficiency for research sites while enabling real-time visibility and interventions for pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations. Its flagship solution, TruLab ®, is a first-of-its-kind mobile-enabled offering for protocol-driven clinical trial oversight, biological sample management and tracking and risk-based monitoring. Article content 'TruTechnologies was founded to solve the ongoing pain point in clinical research of managing biological samples with accuracy, efficiency and compliance,' said Scott Ogle, Co-Founder and CEO of TruTechnologies. 'LLR understands our mission, our customers and our industry. We are excited to partner with LLR as we scale to deliver more value to pharmaceutical companies, clinical research organizations and research sites around the world.' Article content Building on TruLab, TruTechnologies has launched two complementary solutions: TruDose ™, which provides dosing compliance and deviation monitoring, and TruScreen ™, which enables real-time visibility to trial participant screening visits and associated outcomes. Article content 'After 25 years in drug development, I've seen firsthand how lack of visibility into study conduct significantly impacts clinical trial outcomes,' said Rick Graham, PhD, Co-Founder and Chairman of TruTechnologies. 'That's why I'm so proud of what we've built – a solution that finally brings transparency, accountability and oversight to one of the most overlooked aspects of clinical trial execution.' Article content LLR's investment in TruTechnologies builds on its history of partnering with companies driving efficiency and innovation across life sciences and healthcare. Article content 'TruTechnologies has pioneered a differentiated solution in a critical but historically underserved area of clinical trials,' said Zack Sigal, Partner at LLR Partners. William Sadock, Vice President at LLR Partners, added, 'The market TruTechnologies serves is driven by the increasing complexity of clinical trials and demand for more precise, real-time oversight and interventions across the research ecosystem. We are excited to partner with TruTechnologies as they continue to support more clinical teams with real-time insights.' Article content BofA Securities, Inc. served as the exclusive financial advisor to TruTechnologies in this transaction. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz served as legal advisor to TruTechnologies. DLA Piper served as legal advisor to LLR Partners. Article content About TruTechnologies Founded in 2018, TruTechnologies is the leading provider of real-time clinical trial oversight, focused on enabling timely, high-quality data and mitigating risks in drug development. The company partners with six top 20 pharmaceutical companies and numerous biotechnology firms to accelerate patient screening and enrollment, drive protocol adherence, and correct deviations. Learn more at and follow on LinkedIn. Article content About LLR Partners LLR Partners is a lower middle market private equity firm investing in technology and healthcare businesses. We collaborate with our portfolio companies to define high-impact growth initiatives, turn them into action and help create long-term value. Founded in 1999 and with more than $7 billion raised across seven funds, LLR is a flexible provider of equity capital for growth, recapitalization and buyouts. Learn more at Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Article content Article content
