BIRMINGHAM, Ala. and PENNINGTON, NJ – Southern Research Institute today announced that it has signed an agreement with New Jersey-based BioLeap to apply its computational fragment-based design technology to the discovery of new disease therapeutics. Terms of the agreement will not be disclosed.

“Given our focus and expertise in drug discovery and development, we are always interested in assessing new approaches to possibly advance research,” said Mark J. Suto, Ph.D., vice president for Drug Discovery at Southern Research. “This investment allows us to properly evaluate a technology that could prove useful in leading to new drug candidates.”

Southern Research has discovered or contributed directly to the discovery of seven FDA-approved anti-cancer drugs. Altogether, Southern Research has discovered more than 20 compounds which entered into clinical trials. Its current pipeline includes seven additional drugs that are in late-stage preclinical/early clinical trials. The not-for-profit research organization also plays a significant role in infectious disease research, helping to evaluate vaccines used to protect the public against the threat of H1N1 and Avian influenzas. More recently, Southern Research launched a drug discovery program for new therapies to treat a range of neurodegenerative diseases.

According to BioLeap, its technology expedites the drug discovery process by allowing chemists to create completely new molecules-using the building blocks most likely to result in effective drug candidates-in a shorter amount of time.

“We are pleased to be working with Southern Research to produce novel medicines,” said David Pompliano, Ph.D., BioLeap CEO. “Our molecular design technology and Southern Research’s drug discovery experience and know-how are a powerful combination.”

BioLeap is a pioneer in computational fragment-based molecular design. In pharmaceutical applications, the company uses its proprietary software to design drug candidates both through its internal programs and in collaboration with partners. BioLeap thus addresses one of the biggest problems in drug discovery: the limitation of drug-like and patentable leads for important but often difficult biological targets. This in silico design capability also finds application in product development for the consumer-product and agriculture industries, promising to achieve greater speed, economy, and odds of success than traditional compound screening. In 2011, BioLeap has entered research agreements with DuPont, Syngenta, and Unilever. More information is available at www.bioleap.com. On the home page, a video offers an overview of the company by CEO David Pompliano.

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization founded in 1941 that conducts preclinical drug discovery and development, advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, and environment and energy research. More than 550 scientific and engineering team members support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Southern Research is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., with facilities in Wilsonville, Ala., Frederick, Md., and Durham, NC and offices in Huntsville, Ala., New Orleans, La., and Washington, DC.

Independent SCR catalyst testing facility to open mid-2012

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Southern Research Institute, an independent, not-for-profit scientific research organization headquartered in Birmingham, today announced plans to construct and operate a new facility designed to test selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts used by the utility industry to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO_x).

Construction of this SCR Catalyst Test Facility is expected to be complete by mid-2012. Southern Research will then be able to offer services to utility companies that use catalysts for emissions reduction, as well as other organizations that regenerate the catalysts and provide catalyst management services for utilities. All testing will be done in accordance with industry-accepted standard protocols for the tests. The testing services offered will include:

• Measurement of SCR catalyst de-NO_x activity under conditions that match industrial use,
• Measurement of SO₂-to-SO₃ conversion under the same conditions,
• Inspection of catalyst materials to detect any warping or other changes in dimensions,
• Analysis of the catalyst surface for contamination using x-ray fluorescence; and,
• Measurement of catalyst specific surface area and pore-size distribution.

“By providing these measurements to utilities and others, we will function as an independent evaluator of catalyst performance, so catalyst users do not have to depend on the manufacturer to assess catalyst performance,” said Robert Dahlin, Director of Power Systems and Environmental Research-Alabama Operations. “It is important for utilities and other users to maintain good catalyst performance in order to continuously meet strict regulations on the emissions of NO_x.”

NO_x is a byproduct of the combustion of coal and other fossil fuels. When emitted into the atmosphere from power plants, automobiles, and other sources, NOx is converted to nitric acid, a primary ingredient of acid rain. NO_x also participates in atmospheric photochemical reactions that produce smog and ozone. Acid rain, smog, and ozone, along with NO_x itself, have adverse health and environmental impacts that have led the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to regulate the emissions of NO_x.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization that conducts advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, environment and energy, and preclinical drug discovery and development. Southern Research has more than 550 scientific and engineering staff that support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Southern Research operates facilities in Wilsonville, Ala., Frederick, Md., and Durham, NC and offices in New Orleans, La., and Washington, DC.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Southern Research Institute today announced that it has been awarded a sub-contract from Black & Veatch to help support the U.S. Department of Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) in Armenia. Southern Research will assist Black & Veatch in designing a sustainable program that strengthens the Republic of Armenia’s human and veterinary biological threat reduction capabilities and public health system.

The award is expected to generate up to $580,000 for Southern Research over the next year.

“We are honored that Black & Veatch has again selected our Southern Research team to provide support for such an important global program,” said John A. “Jack” Secrist III, Ph.D., president and CEO of Southern Research. “Working with Black & Veatch allows Southern Research to use our unique knowledge and expertise in helping to provide global safety and advancing critical research.”

“Southern Research will provide a wide range of scientific consulting in the design of operational strategies to enhance disease surveillance and response,” said Mary Guttieri, Ph.D., Program Manager for Southern Research. “Additionally, Southern Research will facilitate collaborative research between U.S.-Armenian interdisciplinary teams and will administer biosafety training.”

As a member of a dedicated and integrated management team, Southern Research also continues to work with Black & Veatch on enhancement of disease detection and reporting in the Ukraine, where achievements include construction of a high-containment laboratory and development of a biosafety level-3 training program. This experience will contribute to the success of program objectives in Armenia.

About DTRA

DTRA safeguards the United States and its allies from weapons of mass destruction (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high explosives) by providing capabilities to reduce, eliminate and counter the threat and mitigate its effects. This combat support agency serves as the intellectual, technical, and operational leader for the Department of Defense in the national effort to combat weapons of mass destruction.

About Black & Veatch

Black & Veatch (www.bv.com) is a global leader in the consulting, engineering, construction and operation of what the world needs now and in the future in the crucial areas of energy, water and telecommunications and in providing up-to-the-minute services in the fast changing federal and environmental markets. Founded in 1915, the employee-owned, $2.3 billion company operates out of over 110 offices worldwide and has completed projects in more than 100 countries.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute, founded in 1941, is an independent non-profit organization conducting basic and applied research and development. The scientific and technical staffs support commercial and government clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy sectors through technology out-licensing, sponsored research, and strategic collaborations. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Southern Research has facilities in Wilsonville, Ala., Frederick, Md., and Durham, NC and offices in Huntsville, Ala., New Orleans, La., and Washington, DC. For more information about our capabilities, contact us by email at BusDev@SouthernResearch.org or call 1-888-322-1166 (U.S.) or 1-205-581-2830 (International.)

Southern Research begins year-long, in-field demonstration of new technology developed by FlexEnergy Inc.

DURHAM, N. C. – Southern Research Institute today announced they have completed the installation of the Flex Powerstation^TM FP250 at the Fort Benning First Division Road Landfill in Georgia and will begin evaluating a technology that generates electricity using low-quality landfill gas.

Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), this novel technology implementation at Fort Benning is part of DoD’s ongoing effort to provide solutions that meet its high-priority environmental and energy goals. The successful installation of the Flex Powerstation™ marks a pivotal point in the program’s goal of validating innovative technologies and encouraging their adoption throughout DoD.

When fully operational, the Flex Powerstation^TM-developed by FlexEnergy Inc.-will convert landfill gas into enough renewable electricity to power the equivalent of 250 homes, reducing both the Army’s carbon footprint and bottom line. This waste-to-energy solution delivers on the growing promise of renewable energy’s integration into the power grid. The system incorporates a proven microturbine generator technology with a pressurized thermal oxidizer to produce electricity from fuels as low as five percent methane.

“We support more than 130,000 soldiers and civilians living, working and training in this community,” said Vernon Duck, Fort Benning’s Energy Manager. “We will use the clean electricity generated onsite to power our internal operations and help reach the DoD’s energy independence, renewable energy, and sustainability goals.”

The Flex Powerstation^TM finished initial operational tests on Aug. 19, producing more than 11,000 kWh of renewable energy during the test. After completing a final set of operational and landfill integration tests over the next two weeks, the system will generate renewable electricity full time. Southern Research will then independently collect and analyze cost and performance data of the system over a one-year demonstration period. This independent validation will help overcome barriers typically associated with deployment of innovative technologies, allowing potential DoD and other users clear information on the impacts of the technology.

“Our work with ESTCP will provide the military with another validated tool in their toolbox for meeting DoD’s aggressive renewable energy, energy security, and environmental goals,” said Tim Hansen, Program Manager for Southern Research. “By using FlexEnergy’s unique technology to generate electricity from previously unusable methane gas, a new potential renewable energy source is made available, and an environmental headache-venting and flaring of gas-is potentially eliminated.”

About Southern Research

Southern Research is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization that conducts advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, environment and energy, and preclinical drug discovery and development. Southern Research has more than 550 scientific and engineering staff that support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Southern Research has facilities in Wilsonville, Ala., Frederick, Md., and Durham, NC and offices in Huntsville, Ala., New Orleans, La., and Washington, DC.

About ESTCP

ESTCP is the U.S. Dept. of Defense’s environmental technology demonstration and validation program. The Program was established in 1995 to promote the transfer of innovative technologies that have successfully established proof of concept to field or production use. ESTCP demonstrations collect cost and performance data to overcome the barriers to employ an innovative technology because of concerns regarding technical or programmatic risk, the so-called “Valley of Death.” The Program’s goal is to identify and demonstrate the most promising innovative and cost-effective technologies and methods that address DoD’s high-priority environmental requirements. For more information, visit www.estcp.org.

Could Reduce the Cost of Greenhouse Gas Emission Control on New Coal-Fired Power Plants

DURHAM, N.C. -Southern Research Institute today announced that its Clean Energy Technology Development Center in Durham, North Carolina has achieved an important milestone in the effort to find low-cost technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The technology development, a collaboration between Southern Research and TK Energi A/S of Denmark, successfully combined both coal and biomass feedstocks for use in coal-fired power stations of the future called Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) systems. Use of biomass-as a supplement to coal-would allow power stations to take credit for the carbon dioxide that plants and trees take out of the atmosphere as they grow and mature. The program was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), with additional financial support from Southern Research and TK Energi.

In contrast to bulky and expensive lockhoppers, the prototype feeder creates a highly-compressed “plug” of coal and biomass, so dense that the high pressure inside commercial-scale gasifiers is held back as the material is pushed into the gasifier. The primary challenge related to biomass utilization in IGCC power plants has been the inability to reliably feed a variety of biomass feedstocks to the gasifier as biomass-coal mixtures. Southern Research and TK Energi have shown this challenge can be overcome.

“When we reached 450 pounds per square inch of pressure, and the feeder was still holding back pressure and increasing in feed rate, we knew we had a winner. There was a lot of high-fiving going on,” said Santosh Gangwal, Ph.D. project leader for Southern Research.

The prototype piston-driven plug feed system was demonstrated using a blend of two coal types (bituminous and lignite) and three biomass feedstocks (woody biomass, prairie grass, and corn stover) fed into a pressurized simulated gasifier environment up to 450 pounds per square inch.

“The key innovation in this project is the integration of existing technologies that complement one another very well,” said Dr. Gangwal.

About the Clean Energy Development Center

Southern Research has considerable experience in developing and evaluating technologies for the power industry. Southern Research’s Clean Energy Development Center is located on a 28-acre site in Durham, NC and includes 30,000 square feet of industrial high-bay space for development of pilot and prototype energy and advanced fuels production technologies.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization that conducts advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, environment and energy, and preclinical drug discovery and development. Southern Research has more than 550 scientific and engineering staff that support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Southern Research has facilities in Wilsonville, Ala., Frederick, Md., and Durham, NC and offices in New Orleans, La., Washington, DC and Kiev, Ukraine.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Southern Research Institute today announced that Arif Peshimam has been named Corporate Biological Safety Officer. Peshimam will be responsible for managing the select agent program and all aspects of biological safety at Southern Research facilities in Birmingham, Ala. and Frederick, Md.

“We are pleased to have someone with Arif’s proven biosafety experience join us in such a key position within the Environmental Health and Safety Department,” said Mitchell Pate, Ph.D., Manager of Safety and Compliance. “Our team looks forward to working with Arif, and putting his knowledge and proven skills to work at Southern Research.”

Prior to joining Southern Research, Peshimam served as a Health Specialist/Industrial Hygienist in Health Safety & Environment at King Abdullah University of Science & Technology in Saudi Arabia, and was the Biosafety Officer and EHS Specialist in the Dept. of Environmental Health & Safety at the University of California-Riverside (UC Riverside). While at Case Western Reserve University, he implemented the Biological Safety and the Industrial Hygiene Programs from 2003 to 2008.

Peshimam is a Registered Biosafety Professional (RBP) with the American Biological Safety Association and is trained in OSHA 24-hour HAZWOPER and the National Incident Management System.

Peshimam holds an MD equivalent/Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from Grant Medical College in Bombay, India. He received a Master of Public Health in Environmental & Occupational Health through the Northwest Ohio Consortium for Public Health which includes Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo.

He also received a Master of Science in Occupational Health, with a major in Industrial Hygiene from the University of Toledo. He earned a Master’s degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Case Western Reserve University in 2007.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization founded in 1941 that conducts preclincal drug discovery and development, advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, and environment and energy research. More than 550 scientific and engineering team members support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Southern Research is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., with facilities in Wilsonville, Ala., Frederick, Md., and Durham, NC and offices in Huntsville, Ala., New Orleans, La., Washington, DC and Kiev, Ukraine.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Southern Research Institute today announced that pharmaceutical executive Mark J. Suto, Ph.D. has been named Vice President of the Drug Discovery Division. Dr. Suto and his team will focus on basic research and target identification and lead discovery and optimization of new therapies for cancer, infectious diseases and neurological diseases and disorders.

“Mark Suto has demonstrated outstanding scientific and management skills in his career, and adds tremendous strength to our Drug Discovery program,” said Jack Secrist, President and CEO. “He will bring new energy to Southern Research at a time when our clients need help in expanding their drug candidate pipelines, and when we are investing internal research dollars into developing our own proprietary technologies.”

Dr. Suto comes to Southern Research from Icagen Inc., where he served as Vice President of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences since April, 2004. From 2003 until 2004, Dr. Suto was Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Neurion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a California biotech company and from 1999 to 2002, Dr. Suto held senior management roles at DuPont Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company) and Deltagen Research Laboratories, a subsidiary of Deltagen, Inc.

Prior to DuPont Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Suto held management positions at CombiChem, Inc. and Signal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and from 1982-1993, held positions of increasing responsibility in the Chemistry Department at Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Suto received his Ph.D. and his Bachelor’s degree in Medicinal Chemistry from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

He is a member of the American Chemical Society and has served on the Editorial Boards for several scientific journals, including Combinatorial Chemistry and High Throughput Screening, Investigational Drugs Section Editor, Expert Opinion in Drug Discovery, and Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents. He currently holds 35 U.S. Patents, and has five additional U.S. Patents pending.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization founded in 1941 that conducts preclinical drug discovery and development, advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, and environment and energy research. More than 550 scientific and engineering team members support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Southern Research is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., with facilities in Wilsonville, Ala., Frederick, Md., and Durham, NC and offices in Huntsville, Ala., New Orleans, La., Washington, DC and Kiev, Ukraine.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. and SHREVEPORT, La.—Southern Research Institute today announced that it has signed a services agreement with the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana that will provide commercial non-invasive preclinical imaging services exclusively for the Birmingham-based not-for-profit scientific research center. The Biomedical Research Foundation will provide radiopharmaceuticals, radiochemistry and radiopharmacy expertise, and other supporting services. In addition it will provide small animal imaging services and animal care services through a sub-contract with the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport (LSUHSC-S). The Foundation and its partner, LSUHSC-S, have more than 10 years experience in working with industry on preclinical and clinical trials using molecular imaging advancing research to support new diagnostics and treatments in diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

“We were very impressed with LSU Health Sciences Center’s imaging facilities, the team there, and their entrepreneurial spirit,” said Andrew D. Penman, Ph.D., Vice President of Drug Development at Southern Research. “This agreement provides us with access to state-of-the-art preclinical imaging facilities, a dynamic research staff at LSUHSC-S, and the opportunity to provide an increasingly important service to our bio-pharmaceutical clients.”

The Biomedical Research Foundation owns and operates the clinical PET Imaging Center at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport as well as radioisotope production, radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, and research laboratories in Shreveport and Baton Rouge. The agreement between Southern Research and the Biomedical Research Foundation will enable Southern Research to conduct comprehensive non-invasive preclinical imaging services for its commercial clients using the equipment and staff at LSUHSC-S, as well as radiopharmaceutical research products and molecular imaging expertise of the Biomedical Research Foundation’s Shreveport-based Southern Isotopes and PET Imaging Center. The PET Imaging Center at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport has provided more than 36,000 clinical scans since opening in 1995. New non-invasive preclinical imaging services available through this contract with the Biomedical Research Foundation and LSUHSC-S will provide Southern Research with such technology as positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), computed tomography (CT), and in vivo bioluminescence and fluorescence optical imaging.

“This is a great opportunity for us to build new scientific relationships and to work with one of the most renowned preclinical Contract Research Organizations in the industry, helping in the search for new drug therapies,” said J. Michael Mathis, Ph.D., Director of the Small Animal Imaging Facility of LSUHSC-S. “Non-invasive imaging is a powerful approach in assessing drug biodistribution and interactions, as well as potential therapeutic mechanisms. We look forward to providing a wide range of these imaging modalities to Southern Research and its clients.”

“Southern Research’s expertise and research successes are well known in our academic community and in industry. We look forward to working with Southern Research as part of its successful drug discovery and development program,” said Jack Sharp, President of the Biomedical Research Foundation. “This type of arrangement allows us to contribute meaningfully to drug discovery efforts that could save the lives of patients all over the world.”

There is increasing demand in the biopharma industry for new methods that can accurately predict, as early as possible, whether potential new drugs will be effective and safe. More and more, pharmaceutical and biopharma companies are relying on imaging at critical stages of their preclinical drug development cycles to determine whether a novel therapeutic agent is go/no go for further development.

Southern Research has discovered or contributed directly to the discovery of seven FDA-approved anti-cancer drugs for a range of different disease states and has worked with global pharmaceutical companies to help develop many other drugs currently on the market. Southern Research also plays a significant role in infectious disease research, most recently helping to evaluate vaccines used to protect the public against the threat of H1N1 and Avian influenzas. Additionally, Southern Research is focusing on drug research that affects a range of neurodegenerative diseases.

Look for the Southern Research team at Booth #543 at the American Association of Cancer Research 102nd Annual Meeting in Orlando, April 3-6.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization founded in 1941 that conducts preclincal drug discovery and development, advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, and environment and energy research. More than 550 scientific and engineering team members support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Southern Research is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., with facilities in Wilsonville, Ala., Frederick, Md., and Durham, NC and offices in Huntsville, Ala., New Orleans, La., Washington, DC and Kiev, Ukraine.

About the Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana

The Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana (BRF) is an independent, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization established in 1986. The Foundation was founded through a recommendation from the Mt. Auburn Study, an economic development report that identified new initiatives to diversify the Shreveport-Bossier economy. Seed funding for the creation of the Foundation was provided by the Caddo Parish Commission and the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce. With 41 employees and a volunteer board of directors, the Foundation manages a $16 million operating budget and $93 million in assets. In fulfilling its mission, the Foundation supports initiatives at InterTech Science Park for life science and related technologies, the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging Center and Southern Isotopes, Education and Workforce Development programs, and supports the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport (LSUHSC-S.)

DURHAM, N.C. – Durham residents can now breathe a little easier due to the recent installation of new emissions-reducing technology on some of the City of Durham’s fleet of vehicles and equipment.

Southern Research Institute and the Durham City Fleet Management Department-as part of their continued efforts to improve air quality-partnered in the installation of emission-reducing technologies on multiple vehicles and equipment in the City’s fleet. Earlier today the department and Southern Research, along with project participants-the Triangle Clean Cities Coalition, Engine Control Systems, and NETT Technologies, Inc.-debuted the use of these new systems, which were installed on 16 heavy-duty diesel vehicles and equipment now in use by the City’s Solid Waste Management, Public Works, and Water Management Departments.

These new systems reduce significant amounts of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from the exhaust of diesel-powered vehicles and equipment, resulting in positive impacts on Durham’s air quality. NOx emissions contribute to the formation of harmful particulate matter, ground-level ozone, and acid rain. NOx emissions form when fuels are burned at high temperatures, with typical major sources being fuel combustion in vehicles and engines.

Southern Research Institute, a not-for-profit organization with transportation and energy research facilities located at the northern edge of Durham. Researchers at the Durham operation bid and won a $1 million grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to identify, test, and demonstrate advanced emissions-reduction technologies installed on Durham City fleet diesel vehicles. The fleet will maintain and use these technologies through the life of the equipment on which they are installed.

According to Tim Hansen, Senior Program Leader for Southern Research Institute’s Advanced Energy and Transportation Technology Group in Durham, the testing of the new systems shows promising results in reducing NOx emissions from these 16 heavy-duty vehicles.

“Right now, we’re seeing NOx emissions reduced by up to 78 percent and hydrocarbon emissions reduced over 90 percent,” Hansen said. “Since the city will keep the technologies and equipment operational for several years, they will provide long-term environmental and health benefits for the Durham community. We are happy to have been able to help Durham in this way – it’s where we live and work.”

Hansen and his team chose selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technologies from the EPA’s Emerging Technology List, which included NETT Technologies, Inc.’s BlueMAX and BlueMAX 200 urea-based SCR systems for on- and off-road applications as well as Engine Control Systems’ TermiNOx D urea-based SCR system for on-road applications. Technologies from these two vendors are now installed on the following City fleet diesel vehicles and equipment:

• three Autocar WX 64 garbage trucks
• four Crane Carrier LET2 garbage trucks
• five Volvo WXLL64 garbage trucks
• two Case 621D loaders
• two Case 590 backhoes

According to Kent Cash, director of the City’s Fleet Management Department, this project is just one of the many ways his department is working to improve Durham’s air quality.

“We have a responsibility to help protect Durham’s environment, and thus, are constantly looking for ways to get ahead of the curve on the use of new technology for our vehicles and equipment,” Cash said. “When we were approached by Southern Research Institute to become a partner on their project proposal to EPA’s Emerging Technology Program, we were excited about the potential to have them select and test advanced new vehicle emission controls on Durham city vehicles. Based on the initial testing results we’re seeing, that potential has become a reality and our air quality is a little better because of it.”

According to Cash, this project is one of several the City is committed to with the hope of reducing air quality impacts from Durham’s fleet.

“Ultimately, the efforts of this department will help ensure that Durham is a place with thriving, livable neighborhoods, which is a major goal of the City’s new Strategic Plan,” Cash said. “This project is one of many that we are working on to improve our environment and we are continuing with our journey for better air for all. We are staying the course using a mix of new technologies and best fleet management practices.”

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 scientific research organization that conducts advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, environment and energy, and preclinical drug discovery and development. Our more than 550 scientific and engineering team members support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Southern Research is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., with facilities in Wilsonville, Ala., Frederick, Md., and Durham, NC and offices in New Orleans, La., Washington, DC and Kiev, Ukraine. Southern Research has considerable experience in developing and evaluating technologies for the power industry. For more information about Southern Research Institute in Durham, visit Southern Research North Carolina.