Category: News

Southern Research leader Augelli-Szafran named 2024 National Academy of Inventors Fellow 

Posted on December 11, 2024

Southern Research leader Augelli-Szafran named 2024 National Academy of Inventors Fellow 

  

BIRMINGHAM, AL. December 11, 2024 — Corinne Augelli-Szafran, PhD, of Southern Research has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), the organization announced on December 10th, 2024.  

NAI Fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors and this year’s class is composed of 170 exceptional individuals. The full list of 2024 Fellows can be found here. 

The 2024 cohort of Fellows exemplifies the Academy’s belief that groundbreaking innovation knows no bounds and inventors can be found everywhere. This is evident in the fact that the honorees represent 39 U.S. states, 12 countries, and 43% identify as underrepresented inventors.  

The 2024 Fellows hail from 135 research universities, governmental and non-profit research institutions worldwide and their work spans across various disciplines. They are not only phenomenal researchers holding prestigious honors and distinctions such as the Nobel Prize, U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation and National Medal of Science, and membership to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, but are also incredible inventors who collectively hold over 5,000 issued U.S. patents and whose innovations are making significant tangible societal and economic impacts today and will well into the future. 

“This year’s Class of NAI Fellows represents a truly impressive caliber of inventors. Each of these individuals are tackling real-world issues and creating solutions that propel us into the future. Through their work, they are making significant contributions to science, creating lasting societal impact, and growing the economy,” said Dr. Paul Sanberg, FNAI, President of the NAI. “NAI Fellows as a whole are a driving force of innovation, generating crucial advancements across scientific disciplines and creating tangible impacts as they move their technologies from lab to marketplace. We are excited to welcome and honor this newest Class of Fellows during our 2025 Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. I can think of no better group that exemplifies our conference theme, Forward Together: Innovating with Purpose.” 

Since its founding in 2012, the NAI Fellows program has grown to include 2,068 exceptional researchers and innovators, who hold over 68,000 U.S. patents and 20,000 licensed technologies. NAI Fellows are known for the societal and economic impact of their inventions, contributing to major advancements in science and consumer technologies. Their innovations have generated over $3.2 trillion in revenue and generated 1.2 million jobs. The 2024 Class of Fellows will be honored and presented their medals by a senior official of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) at the NAI 14th Annual Meeting on June 26th, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Augelli-Szafran currently serves as Southern Research’s Vice President of Research Fellows. She has more than 35 years of drug discovery and leadership experience in pharma, academia and not-for-profit organizations. After 17 years at Parke-Davis/Pfizer, where she held a number of leadership roles mainly in the neurodegenerative field of study, she spent 8 years at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital building a drug discovery laboratory with a focus on novel Alzheimer disease therapies. Some of the current key research programs that involve Augelli-Szafran’s strategic oversight at Southern Research include new therapies for Cystic Fibrosis, antivirals, oncology, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dermatology, and kidney disease. She is PI/MPI on several grants, including R01s, UG3/UH3, DoD and DTRA awards as well as NIAID Task Orders and Foundation funding. Augelli-Szafran has been a standing member on NIH grant review panels (NINDS) for 15 years, a reviewer for several journals and a mentor to several graduate and undergraduate students. Her scientific record includes more than 70 publications, 200 presentations and 45 issued and published patents. She received her BA in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania and her MS and PhD in Organic Chemistry from New York University. 

“Dr. Augelli-Szafran is an extraordinary scientist who is very deserving of this honor from the NAI,” said R. Coleman Loper, Interim CEO of Southern Research. “She has made significant contributions in the search for effective therapies for diseases like Cystic Fibrosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and is a highly valued member of our leadership team here at Southern Research. On behalf of our entire organization, I would like to congratulate and thank Corinne for her great work.”  

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About the National Academy of Inventors: 

The National Academy of Inventors is a member organization comprising U.S. and international universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutes, with over 4,000 individual inventor members and Fellows spanning more than 250 institutions. It was founded in 2010 to recognize and encourage inventors with patents issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students, and translate the inventions of its members to benefit society. Inaugurated by the USPTO, the Academy and the USPTO have enjoyed a collaborative partnership. Most recently this has been reflected in their joint mission to expand access to underrepresented individuals and institutions participating in the invention and innovation ecosystem. www.academyofinventors.org. 

Biotech incubator Station 41 fills up with plans to expand

Posted on November 21, 2024

Southern Research’s biotech incubator, Station 41 fills up with plans to expand. The pilot space for the Incubator was unveiled in January 2024 with twelve private leasable wet labs (325-625 square feet) and 13 private offices (125-200 sq. ft.). “We had one wet lab and office left coming out of the Summer and it was grabbed in September,” explained Dr. Erik Schwiebert, Executive Director of Station 41. “We knew there was demand, but wow!”

Biotech incubator Station 41 fills up with plans to expand

Due to this early and unexpected demand and success, Station 41 has plans coming into clarity to expand our Incubator space gradually throughout the building in which it is currently located on two floors within a much larger research and development building. Support will come from our parent organizations Southern Research and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. When realized across 2025 and 2026, our space will expand over time to 40,000 square feet from the current 15,000 square feet. A larger footprint may attract an industry sponsor or partner going forward, along with Federal agency support.

We are proud of our ecosystem of companies that populate our Incubator program as members. Their names and foci are listed below. For more details, we have links to their websites on our Station41.bio website: https://station41.bio/incubator/

Lastly, this transformative project and remarkable early success would not have been possible without the critical support of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Build to Scale grant, which has been instrumental in catalyzing our vision for Birmingham’s life sciences innovation ecosystem.

 

Incubator Residents

Adjuvax – developing novel vaccine adjuvants that may also have chemotherapeutic potential in cancers

Alveolus Bio – developing over-the-counter and regulated therapeutics for lung diseases

ASRT – established government contractor performing genomics and whole genome sequencing services

Celestia Diagnostics – developing high sensitivity diagnostic tests for long Covid and for other viral and bacterial pathogens that exhibit latency in the host

Endomimetics – developing a bionanomatrix coating for medical devices and products that improve biocompatibility in the patient

Inovodel – developing a nitric oxide (NO)-eluting nanocoating for medical devices and products that improve biocompatibility in the patient

Moremme – developing over-the-counter remedies for women’s health and regulated therapeutics for reproductive diseases

Precision Editing Biosystems – contract research services provider of gene edited human and non-human cell lines for academic and industry clients

PMX Labs – developing software and “omics” solutions for detection of infection in wound healing and in other human tissues

Symphony Biosciences – developing SymphNode, an artificial lymph node as a biological medical device to attract immune cell attack of solid tumor sites after surgical removal and to locally apply chemotherapy to the excision site.

 

TDF Awardees in Shared Space

Station 41 has dedicated a shared lab space and a shared office space, co-branded with Innovate Alabama, for its Therapeutics Development Fund awardees. They are: DomainOne Therapeutics, Diamond Therapeutics, Kalm Therapeutics, Metaclipse Therapeutics, SCORE Pharma, Southern Biologic Solutions, Vanquish Bio, and Yuva Biosciences. Celestia Diagnostics, Moremme and Symphony Biosciences are also TDF awardees, but they have their own private spaces in the Incubator.

MyOme and Broad Clinical Labs to support Southern Research program to bring genetics-driven health insights to Alabamians free of charge

Posted on October 14, 2024

MyOme, Inc., a leading clinical genetics innovation company, and Broad Clinical Labs (BCL), a world expert in whole genome sequencing (WGS) are announcing a collaboration to support the Southern Research (SR) program, Catalyst. SR is a leading nonprofit research organization committed to advancing science and medicine in Alabama and beyond, and Catalyst is an innovative program bringing genetics-driven clinical risk assessments to Alabamians to increase access to better healthcare decision making and address healthcare disparities. This unique initiative not only provides cost-free assessment of personalized health risks, it also provides participants’ primary care providers with actionable insights for their patients.

Alabama currently ranks 49th in the nation for life expectancy(1), (averaging 73.2 years of age). According to a recent report(2), the state ranks 44th in overall health system performance with black and Hispanic Alabamians being disproportionately impacted. The leading cause of death in the state is heart disease, and it is estimated that approximately 2 million of its residents either have type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes (~40% of the population)(3).

“Communities in Alabama and across the nation have waited too long for advances in healthcare technologies—specifically genetics—to benefit them in clinical practice,” said Josh Carpenter, President and CEO, SR. “Providing these patients and their providers with personalized health insights using MyOme’s industry-leading, clinical risk assessments will allow providers to identify potentially life-saving interventions, lifestyle and medication changes, imaging, and early cancer detection tests for their patients.”

MyOme’s genetics-driven tests and reports, which leverage BCL’s WGS services, deliver personalized clinical risk assessment across cancers, cardiac conditions, metabolic diseases, other commonly observed diseases, and response to commonly prescribed medications. In addition to disease risk attributed to rare, single-gene alterations that impact approximately 6% of the population(4), MyOme uses its polygenic risk score (PRS) technology and pharmacogenomics reports to provide risk for disease for everyone. MyOme’s PRS technology combines the impact of hundreds of thousands to millions of variants in an individual’s genome with commonly measured clinical factors to account for environmental and lifestyle differences. The technology has been validated across multiple ethnicities, including those of African and Hispanic descent.

“We are proud to be part of this important initiative,” said Premal Shah, PhD, CEO, MyOme. “Empowering patients to live a lifetime of better health by assessing the risk and detecting disease earlier is core to our mission. By providing a single sample, these patients and their providers will have access to MyOme’s industry-leading, genetics-driven clinical reports including a proactive screen for rare, single-gene alterations, a pharmacogenomics report measuring response to over 70 common medications, and our integrated PRS reports for coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, and breast cancer. They will also have access to our expanding menu of reports for other diseases.”

Catalyst will be available to patients and their established providers across the state of Alabama. Providers will order the tests using MyOme’s provider portal. Patient’s samples will be collected at their provider’s clinic and sent to the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), which is run out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. From there, samples will be sent to BCL for genomic sequencing, and de-identified patient samples will be securely stored at CCTS to power individual-anonymized population-health research studies to measure how access to clinical, biological, and social data may impact patient outcomes. Once a patient sample is sequenced by BCL, data will be shared seamlessly and securely to MyOme for analysis using their CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited bioinformatics and report generation platform. Results will be available via MyOme’s provider portal, where the patient or provider can request cost-free genetic counseling if desired.

BCL, as part of The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, has a history of providing high-quality genome sequencing at scale to serve large populations. “This initiative will help narrow the gap between what is possible with genomic-driven medicine and what is clinically accessible for most patients,” said Niall Lennon, PhD, Chair and Chief Scientific Officer of BCL. “BCL has always been at the forefront of deploying the most advanced genomic sequencing technologies and together with MyOme’s bioinformatics and analysis pipeline, we can bring this power to the clinic, seamlessly providing patients and providers individual risk assessments powered by an individual’s whole genome.”

Catalyst is expected to begin in October 2024.

References:

(1) Centers for Disease Control (CDC). National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, 2018, 2019 and 2020 data.
(2) The Commonwealth Fund Reports; April 18, 2024
(3) Centers for Disease Control (CDC). National Center for Health Statistics, Alabama; July 29, 2024
(4) World Health Organization (WHO), National Institutes of Health (NIH), European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS) and the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)

Southern Research launches project offering free genetic testing, expanding access to precision medicine to patients in communities across Alabama

Posted on October 11, 2024

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Birmingham, Ala. – State leaders joined Southern Research today in Montgomery at the State House to launch a new initiative that will provide patients across Alabama with access to free genetic tests and clinical insights about medications and risks for certain chronic diseases.

“The goal is to offer all Alabamians access to the cutting-edge technologies that can hopefully improve their health and their medical outcomes,” said Josh Carpenter, D.Phil., CEO of Southern Research.  “We want to make sure that the latest health innovations are available not just in urban medical centers but also in rural, underserved communities across our state.”

Catalyst will launch statewide for patients to receive testing ordered through their primary care providers and will host kickoff events in Selma, Tuskegee, Demopolis and Jasper as well as Florence, Dothan and Mobile. The kickoff events in these communities will be an opportunity to share details with patients, healthcare providers and community leaders.

Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth said that by promoting biomedical research, Catalyst will have economic development implications as well as potential healthcare benefits in communities across the state.

“The clinical trials industry is expected to reach $80 billion by 2030, and Catalyst can help Alabama attract a sizable portion of that investment,” Ainsworth said. “Equally important is the prospect of creating high-paying, long-lasting, 21st Century jobs in a sector that is already ripe for explosive growth.”

Dr. Khalilah Brown, vice president of Medical Affairs and Patient Advocacy for Southern Research, said Catalyst will seek to ensure access for Alabamians to advance medical research that can lead to new treatments and can offer hope to patients living with a wide range of diseases.

“In addition to getting access to genetic risk information that can be used to inform their own care, patients participating in Catalyst can contribute to the important work of drug discovery that will benefit patients everywhere,” Dr. Brown said. “Catalyst is a bridge between the great work that is already happening at Southern Research and the patients who ultimately benefit from our research.”

Southern Research received $20 million in state American Rescue Plan Act funds to support the development and launch of Catalyst as well as $5 million in ARPA funds from the City of Birmingham.

Southern Research currently has an annual statewide impact of $300 million, and the organization also has $120 million in active construction projects.

“Catalyst gives us the opportunity the improve the health of our friends and neighbors throughout Alabama, making sure our research is directly connected to every corner of the state,” Carpenter said. “We are fortunate to have state leaders like Lt. Gov. Ainsworth who saw this potential and were willing to make this investment to benefit people across our state.”

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About Southern Research: Founded in Birmingham in 1941, Southern Research is a non-profit scientific research organization that employs 250 scientists and professional staff. In its 80-year legacy of moving science, the organization has helped shape modern cancer treatment practices, including developing seven FDA-approved cancer drugs and testing more than half of active chemotherapies in the United States. The organization is the highest NIH-funded non-academic research center in Alabama and has a $300 million annual economic impact. Visit southernresearch.org for more information.

Southern Research awards biotech funds, bringing new jobs and business to Alabama

Posted on June 28, 2024

June 27, 2024, Birmingham, Ala – Southern Research has awarded more than $2.7 million in funds to eight biotech companies through a fund established as a result of the Innovate Alabama Tax Credit.

The investments through Southern Research’s Therapeutics Development Fund are expected to add more than two dozen high-paying jobs in Alabama as well as support the efforts of dozens more scientists. Beneficiaries include two companies headquartered out of state that have committed to move to Alabama.

“The Therapeutics Development Fund is playing a critical role in our effort to enhance the biotech industry in Alabama by supporting innovators who are already here and those who are willing to move here,” said Josh Carpenter, Ph.D., CEO of Southern Research “We are excited to leverage our 80 years of experience and expertise to support startups who want to advance their programs in Birmingham’s rich biotechnology ecosystem.”

In addition to launching the Therapeutics Development Fund, Southern Research has opened its Station 41 incubator and accelerator spaces to support biotech startups, is building a new state-of-the-art building to expand research space, and is working closely with local partners to develop the new Birmingham Biomedical Innovation Corridor on the site of the former Southtown Court housing community.

The Therapeutics Development Fund is designed to attract biotech firms to Alabama and connect in-state startup companies with resources they need to stay in Alabama, including wet lab space. Southern Research ultimately expects the fund to create 139 biotech jobs, support almost 700 other jobs, and create $9 million in economic impact for Alabama.

Initial awardees for the Therapeutics Development Fund:

Yuva Biosciences (Birmingham):

Yuva Biosciences is addressing the root cause of aging – mitochondrial dysfunction. It is a biotech spinout of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

SCORE Pharmaceuticals (Huntsville and Birmingham)

SCORE Pharmaceuticals is an early-stage biologics company focused immuno-oncology therapeutics with a proprietary patent-pending platform called CoreXTM which allows the transformation of existing antibody therapies into more potent and targeted antibody therapeutics.

Southern Biological Solutions (Birmingham)

Southern Biological Solutions is a life sciences and biotechnology company focusing on the creation and development of anti-microbial biologic therapies for wound healing and the prevention of infections in wounds in people and animals. It will be located in the Southern Research Station 41 incubator.

Celestia Diagnostics (Birmingham)

Celestia Diagnostics is focused on developing diagnostics for long Covid-19 infection and for latent virus infection in general. The company moved to Birmingham from Austin, Texas, as one of three initial members of Southern Research’s Station 41 incubator.

DomainOne (Virtual company)

DomainOne is developing small molecule therapeutics for systemic sclerosis (scleroderma); however, the therapy is also viable for cancer and for fibrosis in general. The company is a new startup company launched by Ohio-based Orange Grove Bio, seeded with technology from Southern Research and UAB. It has a location in the Southern Research Station 41 incubator.

CorriXR Therapeutics (Virtual company)

CorriXR Therapeutics is a new startup company that owns patents associated with gene editing technology geared to cancer treatment. It has a location in the Southern Research Station 41 incubator.

Diamond Therapeutics (Canadian company with Birmingham subsidiary)

Diamond Therapeutics is an early-stage therapeutics development company focused on developing novel drugs for mental health conditions. It is located in Canada but has created a new U.S. subsidiary and is registered in Alabama.

Metaclipse Therapeutics (Atlanta company with plans for Birmingham location)

Metaclipse Therapeutics is an early-stage biotechnology and therapeutics development company focused on next-generation cancer immunotherapies and novel vaccines for infectious disease. Its personalized cancer immunotherapy platform is called MembrexTM and its vaccine technology is called VaxRexTM. The company is located in Atlanta; however, it has registered in the State of Alabama and will be located in Southern Research.

Southern Research received nearly $3 million via the Innovate Alabama Tax Credit to launch its Therapeutics Development Fund. A second tranche of more than $3 million will be deployed later in the year to support additional existing companies and new ventures in 2024 into 2025. The Innovate Alabama Tax Credit was included in Gov. Kay Ivey’s signature economic development legislation in 2023, “The Game Plan,” which included an enhanced arsenal of economic development incentives to support innovation.

“I continue to be encouraged by the success of the Innovate Alabama Tax Credit program,” said Innovate Alabama CEO Cynthia Crutchfield. “Through this program, we can continue to serve the innovative small businesses of Alabama and show that our state is open for business to other such companies looking to relocate. We are dedicated to working with governmental leaders to create a ripe ecosystem for tech accelerators and businesses to thrive.”

State Finance Director Bill Poole, who is chair of Innovate Alabama’s board of directors, added:  “Innovate Alabama’s mission is to spur job creation in knowledge-based jobs throughout the state. These investments continue to lay the groundwork for Alabama’s economic future.”

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About Southern Research: Founded in Birmingham in 1941, Southern Research is a non-profit scientific research organization that employs 200 scientists and professional staff. In its 83-year legacy of moving science, the organization has helped shape modern cancer treatment practices, including developing seven FDA-approved cancer drugs and testing more than half of active chemotherapies in the United States. Southern Research conducted more than $30 million in coronavirus research since 2020. The organization is the highest NIH-funded non-academic research centers in Alabama and has a $220 million annual economic impact. Visit southernresearch.org for more information.

About Innovate Alabama: Innovate Alabama is Alabama’s first statewide public-private partnership focused on entrepreneurship, technology and innovation with a mission to help innovators grow roots here in Alabama. Innovate Alabama was established to implement the initiatives and recommendations set forth in the Alabama Innovation Commission’s report, including smart policy solutions that will create a more resilient, inclusive and robust economy to remain competitive in a 21st-century world. With founding CEO Cynthia Crutchfield leading the charge, Innovate Alabama is also made up of a board of 11 innovation leaders appointed by Gov. Ivey, collaborating across sectors to advance industries, drive technology and facilitate an environment where innovation and entrepreneurship thrive. Learn more about Innovate Alabama at www.innovatealabama.org.

Southern Research Selects Chief Operating Officer

Posted on May 9, 2024

May 8, 2024 Birmingham, Ala. – Harry C. Ledebur, Jr., Ph.D., is joining Southern Research as Chief Operating Officer, bringing to the role more than 25 years of experience across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and contract-research industry.

In his new position at Southern Research, Dr. Ledebur will lead the preclinical drug discovery and development business — the stage of research when potential new treatments are vetted for effectiveness and safety before being tested on people.

“Harry’s operational experience and deep industry knowledge will be a differentiating asset for Southern Research,” said Josh Carpenter, Ph.D., the CEO of Southern Research. “He offers a compelling vision and energy for capitalizing on our historic strengths to better serve our clients in a fast-changing biotech market. Harry can take what we do to a whole new level.”

Dr. Ledebur’s career has centered on the discovery, characterization, and development of novel therapeutics. He recently held executive positions in the contract research industry serving as Vice President and General Manager of Contract Research Organization Operations at AmplifyBio and Vice President of Life Sciences Research The Battelle Memorial Institute. He has also held key leadership positions at several biotech companies including Axonia Medical, NanoMed Pharmaceuticals, Chromos Molecular Systems, and Caprion Pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Ledebur earned his B.S. in Biochemistry from The Ohio State University and his Ph.D in Molecular and Cell Biology from Pennsylvania State University.

“We look forward to bringing Harry onboard to align our business with the best opportunities for the future, streamline our operations, and grow our partnerships,” Carpenter said.

Dr. Ledebur said he is excited to join Southern Research and be a part of Birmingham’s future to become a Southeastern biotech hub. “Southern Research has a long history of drug discovery and remains on the cutting edge of science,” Dr. Ledebur said. “It’s a great time to be a part of this team, working together to build and expand our business to create a thriving space for the advancement of transforming medicines and the improvement of human health”.

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About Southern Research: Founded in Birmingham in 1941, Southern Research is a non-profit scientific research organization. In its 80-year legacy of moving science, the organization has helped shape modern cancer treatment practices, including developing seven FDA-approved cancer drugs and testing more than half of active chemotherapies in the United States. Southern Research has conducted more than $30 million in coronavirus research since 2020, including collaborations on a COVID-19 vaccine currently in clinical trials, conducting thousands of PCR tests and refining the underlying chemistry of critical treatments. The organization is among the highest NIH-funded non-academic research centers in Alabama and has a $220 million annual economic impact. Visit southernresearch.org for more information.

Southern Research Awarded Grant to Develop Novel Antidotes for Arsenical Poisoning

Posted on April 11, 2024

Project Aims to Deliver Safer and More Effective Treatments for Cutaneous Injuries

Southern Research is pleased to announce the award of a UG3/UH3 grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This prestigious grant will support the development of novel small molecule inhibitors as anti-inflammatory agents and antidotes for arsenical poisoning.

Arsenicals are toxic compounds historically used in medicine and agriculture. Despite being banned in many countries, accidental and intentional exposure to arsenicals remains a significant health concern. Current treatments for arsenical poisoning are often ineffective and can cause harmful side effects.

Southern Research Taking on the Challenge

This research project, led by Dr. Corinne Augelli-Szafran, VP of Scientific Platforms at Southern Research in collaboration with Dr. Mohammed Athar at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, aims to address this critical need by developing a new class of antidotes. The project focuses on creating hybrid inhibitors targeting specific cellular pathways involved in arsenical-induced inflammation. These pathways include:

  • BRD4: Bromodomain-containing protein 4, which plays a role in inflammatory gene expression.
  • RIPK3: Receptor-interacting protein kinase 3, a key regulator of cell death and inflammation.
  • IL6: Interleukin-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine.

A Multi-Phased Approach

The research team will utilize a comprehensive approach, combining:

  • Molecular modeling: To design and optimize novel small molecule inhibitors.
  • In vitro studies: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the candidate inhibitors in cell culture models.
  • In vivo studies: To assess the effectiveness of the most promising candidates in animal models.

A Preclinical Candidate for Treatment

The ultimate goal of this project is to identify a preclinical candidate for treating the cutaneous (skin) injuries associated with arsenical poisoning. This candidate will pave the way for further development and clinical trials, leading to the creation of safer and more effective antidotes for patients suffering from arsenical exposure.

Southern Research’s Commitment to Public Health

“We are honored to receive this grant from NIAMS,” said Dr. Corinne Augelli-Szafran, VP of Scientific Platforms. “This funding will allow us to advance our research on novel antidotes for arsenical poisoning. We are committed to developing solutions that improve public health and patient outcomes.”

Radyus Research Forges Strategic Partnership with Southern Research to Propel Life Sciences Commercialization

Posted on March 13, 2024

Radyus Research, a global drug development organization from Atlanta, Georgia, is excited to announce a pivotal strategic partnership with Southern Research, a Birmingham-based contract research organization with more than 80 years of experience in drug discovery and development. This partnership marks a significant milestone in the advancement of life sciences commercialization in the Southeast region. The collaboration aims to leverage the strengths of both organizations to offer a comprehensive umbrella offering to clients, with fully integrated preclinical services.

By combining Southern Research’s longstanding reputation for cutting-edge laboratory research with Radyus Research’s innovative planning and project management approaches, this alliance will provide a one-stop solution for clients seeking to navigate the complexities of life sciences commercialization.

“We are very excited to continue creating synergy within the Southeast’s biotech community,” said Josh Carpenter, CEO at Southern Research. “The team at Radyus Research brings unique expertise that complements our own. Together, we will work closely to help our partners move their therapeutics forward with a compelling suite of combined services.”

This partnership’s primary goal is to foster a thriving ecosystem for life sciences companies in the region. By offering a comprehensive array of services under one roof, clients can benefit from seamless integration of preclinical services, including but not limited to drug discovery, development, clinical, regulatory, and manufacturing support.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Southern Research in this strategic partnership,” said Marta New, CEO at Radyus Research. “Our combined expertise will not only enhance the services we offer but will also create new opportunities for life sciences companies to flourish in our region. This partnership underscores our commitment to driving innovation and accelerating the journey from concept to market.”

Maria Thacker Goethe, President & CEO at Georgia Bio, is also excited about this joint regional ecosystem effort: “The Southeast region is rapidly advancing in terms of startups with game-changing and impactful technology innovations. Effective partnerships like this between Radyus Research and Southern Research are critical to the growing landscape in the region and will demonstrate innovative ways for collaboration.”

Clients can expect a seamless experience with access to a full spectrum of consulting, project management, and laboratory testing services tailored to meet their unique needs in drug development. From initial research and development to preclinical toxicology testing and regulatory approval, the collaborative efforts of Southern Research and Radyus Research will provide comprehensive support every step of the way.

About Radyus Research

Radyus Research is a drug development group dedicated to accelerating clients’ drug programs into the clinic. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, Radyus Research offers a range of services aimed at providing comprehensive drug development planning and project management. Acting as an operating R&D partner to biotech companies, academic startups, and seed venture capital firms, we manage their programs through IND-enabling studies, IND application, and initiation of first in human trials. Our extensive expertise spans various modalities in immunology, oncology, infectious diseases, metabolic diseases, and neurosciences. We are based in Atlanta, Georgia, serving clients across the globe in over 12 countries.

Coming soon to a doctor’s office near you: Access to cutting-edge research and care

Posted on March 17, 2023

By Josh Carpenter, Ph.D.

Growing up in North Alabama, I remember watching movie trailers with excitement. They always ended with a deep voice that said, “opening soon in select theaters near you.” As it turns out, those openings were never “near me” since my local theater was not one of those “select theaters.”  Those movies always premiered in big cities, often on the coasts. Most movies didn’t trickle to the theaters in Florence, Alabama, for another six or nine months. By then, I had forgotten about the trailer.

While kids (and adults) no longer have to wait for movies based on their zip code (thank you, Netflix), they are waiting for something far more important: the best proven medical treatment. Waiting on a movie is an inconvenience. Waiting on the best medical option could be the difference between life and death.

Most scientific experts estimate that it takes an average of 17 years for proven biomedical research to be implemented in clinical practice. That means it takes nearly two decades from when there is evidence of a discovery until it actually benefits patients.

For context, 17 years ago, Sen. Tommy Tuberville was still coaching Auburn, and Nick Saban was coaching the Miami Dolphins. And 17 years ago, Twitter was a brand-new platform for football fans to complain about coaching decisions and play Monday-morning quarterback.

Closing that 17-year research gap and compressing the related lag time from drug discovery to drug deployment are critical objectives of translational research – the kind of work we do at Southern Research.

Since its founding 81 years ago as an Alabama-based nonprofit, Southern Research has executed every step in the long and winding process between the point when a potential medicine is identified in a test tube and when it becomes a drug that enters the human body. Throughout our history, our process has led to 20 new drugs developed at Southern Research, and we’ve assisted hundreds more of our commercial clients in drug development throughout the world—including 50% of all chemotherapies on the market. In fact, we have 20 drugs in the pipeline of development now, many of which are developed in partnership with UAB researchers.

At Southern Research, we believe it is our duty to make the best research and best medical treatments available to our friends and neighbors in Alabama and throughout the Deep South—and, we don’t think they should have to wait 17 years for it.

This sense of duty is why we are embarking on an ambitious new project to build a clinical trials hub that will serve as a unique vehicle to support patients with cutting-edge care and give primary care physicians access to the newest tools in medicine.

This is precision medicine, and we know that it works. Aided by genomic information, precision medicine helps doctors identify the right treatment for the right patient at the right time.

This kind of precision medicine is already happening today, but too few Alabamians are enjoying the benefits. Our Community Health Catalyst platform would enable more providers to bring the best medical care to people across Alabama by giving them information about clinical trials that would meet their unique healthcare needs.

As a non-profit with a proven track record in protecting highly classified data and a long history of biomedical research with hundreds of government and commercial clients, Southern Research is an ideal partner to develop a unique platform that link patients and their doctors to clinical trials.

Motivated to close the 17-year gap, three critical pillars guide the development of the Catalyst platform. First, patients should be in control of their care, and they should know all of their options. Likewise, we are placing the patient’s relationship with their primary care physician at the center of this project. Patients will be able to review their data with their physician and decide what courses of treatment may be best for them. Second, we will make sure patient data is secured and anonymized, and it will never be shared with a third party. Third, we will organize patient data to enable them to benefit from new treatments that could improve their quality of care and open up access to the best drugs on the market.

Not only will this Catalyst improve health outcomes for Alabamians, it will grow jobs and attract investment to our state. Clinical trials are a $50 billion industry now, and that number is expected to grow to $80 billion by 2030. Our project would help Alabama secure clinical trial investments, positioning us as a top-10 state in one of the fastest growing industries in America. We estimate our new platform by itself could add 1,600 new jobs throughout the state, add $145 million in annual economic impact, and support rural healthcare providers who participate with new sources of revenue.

With advances in technology, Alabamians no longer have to wait six to nine months to watch the best new movies. We should not have to wait 17 years to receive the best medical care for our friends and families.

 

Josh Carpenter, Ph.D. is president and CEO of Southern Research.

Southern Research launches Venture Studio

Posted on November 22, 2022

Southern Research has launched a Venture Studio to develop startups that will bring new therapeutic products to market. In conjunction with its partners, Southern Research has more than 20 drug programs currently in preclinical development. These programs hold enormous potential for patients in therapeutic areas such as cancer, infectious disease, neurological disease and others. The Venture Studio will compete for competitive sources of non-dilutive and equity funding from public and private sources to bridge from early-stage research to clinical development.

The Venture Studio Director Tayo Sanders II, Ph.D., will work closely with investigators at Southern Research to advance current drug programs. To enter the Venture Studio, programs will undergo a rigorous selection process that assesses scientific strength, commercial potential and regulatory considerations. The first cohort of Venture Studio spinouts was launched in November 2022, with fundraising to begin in November 2023.

Venture Studio Cohort I companies:

  • Litus therapeutics is advancing therapies that target a critical feature of many cancers: silenced tumor suppressor genes. Using a newly developed analog of clofarabine, a cancer drug product previously developed at Southern Research, the team behind Litus has shown it can correct epigenetic dysregulation in cancer cells and promote cancer cell death. Litus expects that these new therapies will be powerful tools in the fight against triple-negative breast cancer as well as other solid and liquid cancers.
  • Silanus Therapeutics is developing new therapies to disrupt protein-protein interactions responsible for cancer immune evasion. While antibody drugs have been developed to address this problem, these therapies are costly and complex to manufacture and suffer from poor tumor penetrance resulting in limited efficacy against solid tumors. Initial studies by the Silanus team using peptide and small molecule compounds have demonstrated promising antitumor activity against triple-negative breast cancer models.
  • Pratum Therapeutics is utilizing drugs that target the tumor microenvironment to improve treatment for a variety of cancers. Earlier work by the Pratum team in a colorectal cancer model suggests that priming the tumor microenvironment with targeted DNA damage alongside immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment results in significantly reduced tumor volume and regrowth compared to ICI treatment alone. Pratum anticipates its new therapies will not only lead to better outcomes for patients receiving ICI treatment but also expand the types of cancers that can be addressed.
  • Divum Therapeutics is developing a new class of drugs to treat moderate to severe chronic pain without the debilitating side effects associated with traditional opioid analgesics. Studies by the Divum team indicate that potent pain relief can be achieved while reducing tolerance, withdrawal and addiction liability. Divum hopes this promising work could play a significant role in combating the opioid crisis.

 

About Tayo Sanders, II, Ph.D.

Tayo Sanders II, Ph.D., has spent the last seven years working with investors and startups in the biotech and industrial technology space. Most recently, he led due diligence on more than 15 companies, totaling more than $130M in deployed capital as a senior member of the investment team at the Boston-based VC firm, Anzu Partners. Prior to this, Sanders led technical diligence on Anzu’s first investment, Axsun Technologies, which was acquired for an 8x return in Q1 2019. Sanders received a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and pursued a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.

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