Booth #1312, South Hall, Von Braun Center, Huntsville, Alabama

Birmingham, AL – Southern Research Institute announced today that representatives of the Engineering Division will be exhibiting at the 2014 Space & Missile Defense Symposium, to be held August 11-14, 2014 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Space & Missile Defense Symposium attendees can learn more about Southern Research Institute’s Engineering Division advances. The Institute is involved in the fields of aerospace engineering, composite structures development and design, fabrication, integration, and field support for electro-mechanical systems for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, test, and tracking. Visit Southern Research’s booth, #1312 in the south hall of the Von Braun Center, to learn about these capabilities.

About the 2014 Space & Missile Defense Symposium

The Space & Missile Defense Symposium is the leading educational, professional development and networking event in the space and missile defense community. The symposium is widely attended by leaders and professionals from the United States and our allies around the world. For more information visit: http://smdsymposium.org.

About Southern Research Institute’s Aerospace Solutions

Southern Research Institute’s Engineering Division provides research and development in the areas of aerospace engineering, thermal and structural behaviors of advanced composite materials, composite structures development and production, computational sciences and data processing as well as design, fabrication, integration, and field support for electro-mechanical systems for ISR, test, and tracking. The Engineering Division’s labs include resources for extreme environment & structural testing and fabrication for quick reaction capabilities (QRC) and low rate initial production (LRIP) efforts.

About Southern Research Institute

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. Approximately 500 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, AL, with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, AL, Frederick, MD, Durham, NC, Houston, TX, and Cartersville, GA.

Southern Research Institute today announced that Arthur J. Tipton, Ph.D., President and CEO of Southern Research Institute, has been named president of the Controlled Release Society (CRS) for the 2014-2015 term. The inauguration took place at the Society’s annual meeting on July 12 in Chicago with attendees from more than 40 countries.

The Controlled Release Society is an international, interdisciplinary, not-for-profit organization whose guiding purpose is the advancement of delivery science and technology. CRS is the home for experts dedicated to the science of delivery, including delivery scientists, engineers, clinicians, and technical professionals. The primary interest of about 70% of the CRS membership is in the pharmaceutical area (including ~18% animal health) and 30% in the non-pharmaceutical areas (called consumer and diversified products).

Dr. Tipton has worked in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries for more than 25 years. During that time, he has pioneered the use of controlled release technologies through his work in polymer science and engineering.

“It is an honor to be named president of the Controlled Release Society,” said Dr. Tipton. “Over the past several decades, controlled release formulations have changed the treatment paradigm for a number of serious health conditions, including cancer, pain management, cardiovascular and central nervous system disorders, and have been involved in many industrial applications such as food flavorings and long acting fertilizers. As controlled release technologies continue to mature, industry and academia are meeting the challenges of developing the next generation of faster, safer, more accessible formulations, and CRS represents the world’s leaders in advancing these novel techniques. I look forward to leading this distinguished and important group.”

Previously Dr. Tipton held senior positions at Durect Corporation, its wholly-owned subsidiary Southern BioSystems, Birmingham Polymers, and Atrix Laboratories. In 2005, he founded Brookwood Pharmaceuticals, which was subsequently acquired by SurModics and later by Evonik. At Evonik, he served as senior vice president of the Birmingham Division and also led the company’s global drug delivery program. Dr Tipton has 31 issued U.S. patents, 22 published U.S. patent applications, and numerous foreign equivalents, with more than 70 presentations and publications.

He is a fellow of AIMBE and CRS and was awarded the CRS Distinguished Service Award in 2012. He serves as an external advisor to the Biomedical Engineering Department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteers as a mentor and judge in business plan competitions. His election as president of CRS marks the first time in the organization’s 36 year history that it has been led by two individuals of the same organization. Danny H. Lewis, Ph.D., former Head, Biosystems Division for Southern Research Institute, served as president of CRS for the 1982-1983 term.

In his role as president of the Controlled Release Society, Dr. Tipton will continue to serve on the CRS Board of Directors as well as the boards of the Birmingham Venture Club, the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama Foundation, the Biotech Association of Alabama, and as a member of the Alabama Workforce Council spearheaded by Governor Robert Bentley.

Dr. Tipton earned a Ph.D. in Polymer Science and Engineering from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, and a B.S. in Chemistry from Spring Hill College.

About Southern Research Institute

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. Approximately 500 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, AL, with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, AL, Frederick, MD, Durham, NC, Houston, TX, and Cartersville, GA.

Southern Research Institute today announced that Corinne E. Augelli-Szafran, Ph.D., has been named Director of Chemistry. In this role, Dr. Augelli-Szafran is responsible for managing the Institute’s chemical research initiatives for the identification of new therapies in oncology, infectious diseases, and neuroscience.

Dr. Augelli-Szafran brings more than 25 years of practical and managerial experience in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery gained from leading research programs at institutions and pharmaceutical companies. Most recently, Dr. Augelli-Szafran was the Director of the Laboratory for Experimental Alzheimer Drugs at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. In that position, she built a fully functional medicinal chemistry and drug discovery laboratory from the ground up which focused on the development of gamma-secretase Notch-sparing inhibitors for the therapeutic indication of Alzheimer’s disease.

Prior to Harvard, Dr. Augelli-Szafran held a number of leadership roles at Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research and Pfizer Global Research and Development, as co-chair and project leader investigating central nervous system therapeutics with a major emphasis in neurodegeneration mainly in Alzheimer disease therapeutics, but also in the areas of cardiovascular, atherosclerosis, psychotherapeutics and inflammation/pain. Her scientific record includes more than 140 publications, presentations and patents.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Augelli-Szafran to our team,” stated Mark J. Suto, Ph.D., Vice President, Drug Discovery of Southern Research Institute. “Her expertise brings additional value to our knowledge base and skill, strengthening our capability to provide innovative, problem-solving chemistry services. Additionally, Dr. Augelli-Szafran’s valuable experience in leadership and project management will be vital in accelerating growth in our drug discovery programs.”

“Over the past two years Mark has articulated and executed on a vision of adding world-class talent to Southern Research’s drug discovery efforts and on continuing to expand our capabilities beyond cancer to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other critical diseases,” stated Arthur J. Tipton, Ph.D., President and CEO of Southern Research Institute. “I am thrilled he recruited Corinne as the most recent member of our senior team; she is an excellent fit for the Institute’s mission to bridge the gap between early stage discovery and the market.”

Dr. Augelli-Szafran completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania where she earned a B.A. in Biology, then earned a M.S. and her Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from New York University.

About Southern Research Institute

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. Approximately 500 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, AL, with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, AL, Frederick, MD, Durham, NC, Houston, TX, and Cartersville, GA.

Southeastern Solar Research Center Will Study Performance of Photovoltaic Systems 

Southern Research Institute today announced the completion of a facility to study solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The facility, the Southeastern Solar Research Center (SSRC), will house numerous research efforts beginning with an Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) project focused on solar PV system orientation, tracking and aging.

“This new facility will accelerate our solar photovoltaic research and provide unique data that may aid utilities in the optimal design of solar PV systems,” stated Michael D. Johns, Vice President, Engineering at Southern Research Institute. “A number of utilities, including Southern Company and its subsidiary Alabama Power are interested in evaluating the performance and operating characteristics of different configurations for solar PV systems. The SSRC may provide key insights into their performance in the high heat, high humidity, high precipitation and high pollen environment typical of this area of the country. We are excited to host this research site, and pleased to be working with EPRI to advance this important technology.”

The Southeastern Solar Research Center includes multiple configurations of photovoltaic solar panel arrays, microinverters and an advanced energy-monitoring system, including trackers that follow the sun throughout the day, as well as southwest-facing solar PV systems to evaluate the utilization of afternoon sun, when electricity use is generally higher. The SSRC will be located on the campus of Southern Research Institute in Birmingham, Ala. The center is looking for participants to evaluate technologies in this climatic region.

About Southern Research Institute

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. Approximately 500 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, AL, with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, AL, Frederick, MD, Durham, NC, Houston, TX, and Cartersville, GA.

Birmingham, Ala. – Southern Research Institute today announced that it has signed a jointly funded cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the DOE’s new Concentrating Solar Power: Efficiently Leveraging Equilibrium Mechanisms for Engineering New Thermochemical Storage (CSP: ELEMENTS) funding program, part of the SunShot Initiative. CSP: ELEMENTS supports the development of high-temperature thermochemical energy storage (TCES) systems that enable concentrating solar power plants to produce electricity in the evenings and even overnight when the sun is no longer shining.

CSP technology employs mirrors that concentrate reflected sunlight onto receivers containing heat transfer fluids. From there, the fluids are used to heat water, which in turn generates steam that is used to power turbines and produce electricity. By adding thermal storage to these facilities they are able to operate at significantly higher capacity factors and produce approximately double the energy for the same size power facility. Furthermore, the production of electricity can be shifted to occur at the same time as peak power demand, making the electricity much more valuable.

The Southern Research Institute project will develop a TCES system that uses a low-cost calcium-based sorbent in a reversible closed-loop endothermic-exothermic chemical reaction cycle. The system stores energy during mid-day when sunlight is plentiful in the endothermic step, and then releases energy when the sun is no longer shining during the exothermic step, allowing for electricity to be produced in a more stable and consistent fashion. This TCES system is projected to cost about one-quarter as much as current state-of-the-art molten salt storage systems, and will be able to store the same amount of energy in a system about one-sixth the size.

“Utilizing these low-cost regenerative calcium-based sorbents, researched for carbon dioxide capture in coal-based power generation facilities, leverages existing knowledge bases and is an innovative transfer of technology,” said Dr. Santosh Gangwal, project Principal Investigator. “Through rigorous material development we can refine these sorbents to perform successfully in this environment throughout the entire 30 year life of a CSP plant.”

Furthermore, while molten salt storage systems can only operate up to about 550 degrees Celsius, the Southern Research Institute TCES system can operate sustainably up to 900 degrees. “As the next generation of CSP plants moves towards higher operating temperatures to achieve higher conversion efficiencies, a new generation of high-temperature storage needs to be developed to allow these facilities to continue to provide power in a cost-effective and dispatchable manner,” said Ryan Melsert, co-Principal Investigator of the project.

“Southern Research Institute is excited and honored to be selected by DOE for this project,” said Michael D. Johns, Vice President Engineering at Southern Research Institute. “We are proud to be recognized for our leadership in alternative energy, and the development of this innovative thermochemical storage system is in great alignment with the work at our recently established Southeast Solar Research Center, where we design, test, and validate technologies throughout the solar energy spectrum.”

About the SunShot Initiative

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) SunShot Initiative is a collaborative national effort that aggressively drives innovation to make solar energy fully cost-competitive with traditional energy sources before the end of the decade. Through SunShot, DOE supports efforts by private companies, academia, and national laboratories to drive down the cost of solar electricity to $0.06 per kilowatt-hour. Learn more about SunShot at www.energy.gov/sunshot. For more details on the CSP: ELEMENTS initiative, visit: http://energy.gov/eere/sunshot/concentrating-solar–power-efficiently-leveraging-equilibrium-mechanisms-engineering-new.

About Southern Research Institute

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. Approximately 500 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, AL, with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, AL, Frederick, MD, Durham, NC, Houston, TX, and Cartersville, GA. For more information visit: http://52.55.231.133.

DOE Announcement available at: http://energy.gov/articles/energy-department-announces-projects-advance-cost-effective-concentrating-solar-power.

Cost Effective In Vitro Model Enables Earlier Testing of More Compounds

Birmingham, Ala. – Southern Research Institute today announced a new service offering – a novel in vitro 12-cell line panel assay designed to predict drug activity and improve the success rate of drugs tested in xenograft models. The assay was recently presented in a poster entitled, “A Quick and Cost Effective 12-Cell Line Panel Assay to Predict Drug Activity in Human Tumor Xenograft Models,” at the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in San Diego, California.

The presentation shows that Southern Research Institute has developed a cost effective in vitro model which will enable more compounds to be tested earlier in the drug development process, thereby increasing the success rate of potential therapeutics. Additionally, this new approach harnesses the genetic diversity of all of Southern Research’s cell line and xenograft models and several cancer histotypes to provide a more comprehensive screen and ultimately identify more potential drug candidates.

“We are pleased to report the availability of this encouraging assay. The data used to assemble this assay has already been used in our continued progress in successfully advancing drug development through the efficient identification of drug candidates,” said Andrew D. Penman, Ph.D., Vice President, Drug Development at Southern Research Institute. “With this assay, we will be able to provide our clients with unique access and insights into data, expanding the potential of drugs to be utilized in other histotypes.”

For the assay, genomic analysis was performed on 100 human tumor xenograft and cell line models from a large cross section of cancer histotypes. The genomic profiles obtained underwent Unsupervised Hierarchical Cluster Analysis resulting in 12 distinct clusters with similar genetic profiles. When a drug shows efficacy in one or more of these representative models, Southern can suggest additional in vitro and in vivo models with a similar genetic background, increasing the compounds chance of success in multiple models of varying histotypes. Success in multiple models and histotypes in turn increases the chance of success in the clinic.

The Institute’s permanent AACR abstract (#3730) can be viewed by clicking here or searching http://www.abstractsonline.com/Plan/start.aspx.

About Southern Research Institute

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. Approximately 500 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, AL, with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, AL, Frederick, MD, Durham, NC, Houston, TX, and Cartersville, GA. For more information visit: http://52.55.231.133.

Birmingham, Ala. – – Southern Research Institute today announced that John M. Gerdes, Ph.D., has been named Senior Research Fellow, Drug Discovery. In this role, Dr. Gerdes will be an integral part of the Institute’s early-stage activities, particularly those focused on the development of drugs to treat conditions of the central nervous system (CNS). Additionally, he will advance research endeavors on the discovery and development of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents that are capable of assessing live CNS tissue drug target changes, as a function of disease and therapies.

“We are excited to welcome John as we continue to advance the field of CNS medicine with our proprietary technologies,” said Mark J. Suto, Ph.D., Vice President, Drug Discovery of Southern Research Institute. “With more than three decades of experience in advancing new central nervous system agents into the clinic, John’s outstanding scientific leadership will support the advancement of our work in that area.”

Dr. Gerdes joins Southern Research from the University of Montana where he was a tenured Professor in the College of Pharmacy, Department of Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Sciences. While at Montana he served as a Co-Director of the National Institutes of Health funded P30 Core Laboratory for Neuromolecular Production and as the Director of the Molecular Computational Core Facility at the University’s Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics. From 2001 until the present, Dr. Gerdes has been a principal investigator within the Center for Structural and Functional Neuroscience at the University of Montana. Dr. Gerdes also currently holds an appointment with the University of California at San Francisco, where he is a visiting professor in the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging. He is a research fellow with the Robert Packard Center for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Research at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Gerdes is the lead inventor of several brain imaging agents that may help understand, diagnose, and follow new therapies for neurodegenerative disorders such as ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases in addition to neuropsychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Dr. Gerdes completed his undergraduate studies at Colorado State University where he earned a B.S. in Chemistry, then accomplished his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Riverside and followed by serving as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley.

About Southern Research Institute

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. Approximately 500 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, AL, with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, AL, Frederick, MD, Durham, NC, Houston, TX, and Cartersville, GA. For more information visit: http://52.55.231.133.

Birmingham, Ala. – Southern Research Institute, an organization that provides comprehensive contract research services in basic discovery research, in vitro and in vivo efficacy; ADME/PK; GLP toxicology and reproductive toxicology; gene therapy/biologics; method feasibility, development, and validation; formulation and bioanalysis; qPCR and RT-PCR;, today announced that representatives of the Institute will be exhibiting at the 2014 American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) National Biotechnology Conference at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina in San Diego, California from May 19-21, 2014.

Please visit Southern Research Institute at booth #209 to meet Robin Akers, Director Business Development who will be able to answer your questions and discuss new business opportunities.

About AAPS National Biotechnology Conference

Celebrating its 28th year, the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists National Biotechnology Conference gathers scientists from industry, government, and academia for three days of educational offerings specifically geared toward the biotechnology sector of the pharmaceutical sciences. The meeting provides a dynamic international forum for the exchange of knowledge among scientists to serve the public and enhance their contributions to health.

About Southern Research Institute

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. Approximately 500 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, AL, with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, AL, Frederick, MD, Durham, NC, Houston, TX, and Cartersville, GA. For more information visit: http://52.55.231.133.

Birmingham, Ala. – Southern Research Institute today announced the appointment of M. Allison Taylor as vice president and general counsel. Ms. Taylor has more than 15 years of experience in legal and business affairs in diverse industries including the manufacturing, services and technology sectors. Ms. Taylor will be based in the Institute’s Birmingham headquarters where she will manage the contract administration and intellectual property groups and report directly to Arthur J. Tipton, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Southern Research Institute.

Dr. Tipton commented, “Allison’s tremendous legal and business experience will make her an invaluable member of our executive team as we continue to advance our programs during this important time for the Institute. I am also thrilled with her role as an additional bridge to our key collaborator — the University of Alabama at Birmingham and to the University System.”

Prior to joining Southern Research Institute, Ms. Taylor was a shareholder at Maynard Cooper & Gale, PC. Ms. Taylor earned her J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law and her LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law. Ms. Taylor also completed her undergraduate studies the University of Alabama where she earned a B.S. in Commerce and Business Administration, majoring in accounting. Ms. Taylor has been recognized for her legal expertise by a number of organizations including The Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers and Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers.

About Southern Research Institute

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. Approximately 500 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, AL, with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, AL, Frederick, MD, Durham, NC, Houston, TX, and Cartersville, GA. For more information visit: http://52.55.231.133.

High-throughput Screening Capability Under BSL-4 Containment Will Change the Paradigm for Identification of Therapeutic Candidates Against Pathogens Including Ebola, Marburg Nipah and Lassa Viruses

Birmingham, Ala. – Researchers from Southern Research Institute and their colleagues at Galveston National Laboratory announced today that they have jointly developed a semi-automated high-throughput screening (HTS) platform that is capable of testing 10,000 compounds per day within biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) biocontainment conditions.

The research, from the laboratory of James W. Noah, Ph.D., in conjunction with Lynn Rasmussen, M.S., both of Southern Research Institute, and colleagues including Bersabeh Tigabu, DVM, Ph.D. of the Galveston National Laboratory (GNL) at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, was published in a paper titled, “A BSL-4 High-Throughput Screen Identifies Sulfonamide Inhibitors of Nipah Virus.” The paper appears in the April 2014 edition of the journal ASSAY and Drug Development Technologies (ADDT).

Nipah Virus is a biosafety level 4 pathogen that causes severe respiratory illness and encephalitis in humans. Outbreaks have occurred frequently over the past decade in Bangladesh and India with fatality rates over 65%. Given the lack of effective therapeutics and vaccines, the virus is considered a significant public health concern as well as a serious bioterrorism threat, and is listed as a category C priority pathogen by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

“We are pleased to have our work, and that of our colleagues at GNL recognized by ADDT. To our knowledge, this is the first instance in which an HTS platform was implemented in a BSL-4 environment,” said Dr. Noah. “Building on our earlier experience, we believe this platform may contribute to the successful identification of compounds with antiviral activity as the first step in the development of therapeutics against these highly pathogenic agents.”

About Southern Research Institute

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. Approximately 500 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, AL, with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, AL, Frederick, MD, Durham, NC, Houston, TX, and Cartersville, GA. For more information visit: southernresearch.org.