Category: News

Gen IV nuclear focus unveiled with key hire

Posted on June 14, 2016

Southern Research, which has engaged in energy-related work for decades, is expanding its focus in the field to incorporate the development of Gen IV nuclear, a new kind of nuclear power that is more affordable and even safer than the nuclear reactors in use today.

To direct its next-generation nuclear initiative, Southern Research has hired Lance Kim, Ph.D., as senior nuclear engineer. Kim most recently served as a Research Fellow in the Nuclear Security Unit at the European Commission Joint Research Centre in Ispra, Italy. In this role, he analyzed nuclear security and non-proliferation issues, as well as safeguards to prevent nuclear materials from falling into the wrong hands.

Kim’s work experience includes stints at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in reactor safety, the International Atomic Energy Agency in nuclear safeguards, and the U.S. Department of State in verification and compliance. He also served as a Stanton Nuclear Security Fellow at the RAND Corporation.

While Southern Research’s historic focus in energy has been on fossil fuel and air pollution, its capabilities have expanded in recent years to include solar and clean water. To accelerate that evolution, the organization established an Energy & Environment division in 2015 and hired Bill Grieco, Ph.D., who has deep experience in research and development, to head the unit.

“Under Bill’s leadership, our team has added robust new capabilities and expertise, allowing us to address energy and environmental issues worldwide with a full set of tools aligned with that industry,” said Art Tipton, Ph.D., president and CEO of Southern Research.

“We view next-generation nuclear as part of an overall energy solution, and adding Dr. Kim to the Southern Research team gives us new capacity in that area while complementing our capabilities in fossil, solar, energy storage and biofuels,” Tipton said.

DEVELOPING NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Generation IV nuclear power, as it’s known, is viewed as a substantial leap forward compared to current technology, though next-generation reactor designs remain in the developmental stage. Southern Research will work with leading utilities, universities, and technology developers with the objective of developing safe Generation IV nuclear power systems with no radioactive waste or nuclear proliferation concerns.

In addition to being safer, this new form of nuclear power will deliver significant benefits over conventional technologies including greater efficiency, affordability and environmental soundness.

Next-generation nuclear power has the potential to play a key role in meeting future demand. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), global energy consumption is projected by increase by 48 percent by 2040, compared to 2012 levels. Renewables and nuclear will be the world’s fastest-growing energy sources over the period, the EIA projects.

“Southern Research’s Energy & Environment division was built on a foundation of fossil energy,” said Grieco, the division’s vice president. “Decades ago we worked to reduce emissions from stationary power sources. Today, we work in renewable energy, water treatment, sustainable chemistry, energy storage, carbon capture, and now Generation IV nuclear power.

“Dr. Kim will help drive our continuing evolution within the energy sector,” he added.

Kim received a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of California at Berkeley, where he was a Public Policy and Nuclear Security Threats Fellow.

 

 

 

BIO agenda: Advance the Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance, promote state

Posted on June 6, 2016
Southern Research
Two drug discovery scientists at work in a Southern Research lab.

A Southern Research team is showcasing the Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance (ADDA) and its pipeline of potential therapies for debilitating diseases at this week’s BIO International Convention, while also promoting Alabama’s advantages in the sector to industry leaders.

The ADDA is a strategic collaboration that unites the talents and resources of Southern Research and the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine in a coordinated drug discovery and development program.

Art Tipton, Ph.D, president and CEO of Southern Research, said the team will engage in focused talks with high-level biotech and pharmaceutical industry executives while in San Francisco for BIO. The team has more than three dozen scheduled partnering sessions, and the number of meetings could rise.

Joining Tipton for the talks are Mark Suto, Ph.D, vice president of discovery at Southern Research, and Maaike Everets, Ph.D., director of the ADDA and an associate professor in UAB’s Department of Pediatrics.

“We’re hugely excited about the pipeline,” Tipton said. “While early stage, we have some great candidates, and our approach minimizes risk as we partner academic discovery with industry diligence.”

The ADDA’s pipeline today consists of about 17 potential therapies, including possible treatments for Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, kidney disease and many forms of cancer. Last month, researchers at the two institutions received a $250,000 grant to expand an investigation into Alzheimer’s that began as an ADDA project.

BIO CONVENTION LOGO_VERTICAL_NODATES_CMYKAt BIO today, Tipton participated in a panel discussion titled “Creative Partnerships: Leveraging Economic Development Organization Support in the Life Sciences Sector.” The event was sponsored by Select USA, a U.S. Department of Commerce program that promotes the U.S. as a site for investment and commercial ties.

Tipton discussed topics including Alabama’s overall life sciences climate and the Alabama Legislature’s support of the ADDA. He also described how the Alabama Innovation Fund provided a critical grant for the Alliance for Innovative Medical Technology, another Southern Research-UAB partnership that has developed a unique treadmill.

The BIO conference in San Francisco’s Moscone Center is expected to attract 15,000 biotech and pharma leaders from around the world over a week. More than 4,000 companies are expected to attend, with 69 countries represented.

In a question-and-answer session, Tipton discusses Southern Research’s goals at the conference and how the organization’s team plans to support the Alabama delegation while in San Francisco.

 Why is Southern Research focusing on drug discovery work at BIO?

“The headline reason we’re going is everything we’re doing with the Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance. The companies want to meet with us because we have a very promising early-stage pipeline, and they need additional candidates in their pipelines. It’s that simple.

“We’re meeting with senior-level people charged with finding new molecules to fill up their pipelines. Big Pharma is there looking for blockbuster potential to add to the pipeline.”

Will Zika – a special area of interest for Southern Research – be a major topic?

 “Zika will come up at the conference. It’s the hottest topic right now, and we’ll get asked about what we can do and what we are doing in Zika. We have the first cynomolgus monkey model for doing Zika work, and that’s going to attract some attention. We have the capabilities with high-throughput screening and in vitro characterization to look at new vaccines.

“We can help companies that are developing products.”

Aside from the partnering meetings, what else will you participate in at BIO?

 “There will be briefing documents coming from the federal government about what it is looking to fund in upcoming years. So, we can get, particularly in the infectious disease space but also in a number of other areas, insight into what they want to fund. That’s hugely valuable.

“The sessions on Zika are going to be packed, because the government is going to be making significant funding available. For all things related to bio-threat reduction, we’ll be able to be front and center and to see and hear about those things.”

Alabama is placing a greater emphasis on recruiting bioscience jobs. Is there a bioscience field that ideally fits with what the state can offer?

 “For me, one area we should be focusing on in the sector, from an economic development perspective, is additional biotech/pharmaceutical manufacturing. That’s where we are going to create the greatest number of jobs in Alabama. We can manufacture and produce things competitively with any other part of the country. Those jobs are a great match for the workforce we have in the state.”

How will Alabama benefit from broad involvement in BIO?

 “The companies from across Alabama will get to know each other better, get to know what their capabilities are – that’s always a good thing. We will have an opportunity, both on the exhibit floor and at the dinner, to present ourselves as a state and to show the breadth of companies in Alabama to a variety of people.

Also, many other states will have a presence at BIO. Being represented there puts Alabama in the bioscience sector, just like all the other states. That’s a positive thing. Having a continual presence at the conference is important. People know each other, they’re in the mix, they know who to contact in the state.”

Southern Research launches philanthropic outreach with $500,000 gift

Posted on June 1, 2016

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Southern Research, a non-profit organization marking its 75th year of operation in 2016, today launched a broad-based philanthropic outreach initiative that includes a significant employee giving campaign.

The Southern Research employee give campaign is targeting $1 million in contributions over five years to fund innovative research programs, needed capital improvements, equipment purchases, and other potential uses.

To kick start the campaign, former President and CEO John A. “Jack” Secrist III, Ph.D., has pledged a donation of $500,000 to create the Encourage Innovation Fund. The fund will be used to enhance the organization’s ability to attract talented researchers and to help them thrive once they’re on board.

Secrist is a noted scientist who retired from Southern Research in 2013 after 34 years, including seven as its top leader. His research focused on the development of new anticancer, antiviral and antibacterial agents, and he is the co-inventor of clofarabine, an FDA-approved treatment for pediatric leukemia.

“Southern Research has played a prominent role in efforts to discover more effective treatments for cancer, make man’s journeys into space safer, and develop new technologies for a cleaner environment,” Secrist said. “From its beginning, the organization has been a hotbed of innovation, and supporting it today means that it will continue to make important contributions well into the future. We appreciate being part of that future.”

To show their firm support for the initiative, Southern Research’s entire leadership team – comprised of 33 officials, from the CEO to the director level – has agreed to participate in the employee give campaign.

Before today’s public announcement, the employee give campaign had quietly generated commitments totaling $145,000, all from the organization’s leadership team. Coupled with Secrist’s substantial contribution, Southern Research is making a strong push toward the campaign’s $1 million goal.

PHILANTHROPIC OUTREACH

In addition, Southern Research is taking steps to reconnect with the philanthropic community and with donors whose generosity enabled the organization founded in Birmingham in 1941 to become a world leader in cancer research and make noteworthy advances in other fields including clean energy, vaccine development and engineering.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Southern Research seeks charitable donations to complement its traditional funding stream of research grants and contracts secured from government and commercial sponsors.

“As we celebrate our 75th anniversary, and beyond, we’re looking forward to reengaging with the philanthropic community and with donors who have helped Southern Research make a difference in the world,” said Art Tipton, Ph.D., president and CEO. “In fact, our cancer research program, which has been instrumental in saving countless lives with drug discoveries and therapeutic breakthroughs, got its start in 1946 with a single $25,000 philanthropic gift.”

As part of this outreach, Southern Research recently brought Brynne MacCann on board to provide administrative and tactical support to the organization’s fund-raising strategy. MacCann previously served as vice president for development at the McWane Science Center, and, prior to McWane, in development roles at the Birmingham Museum of Art and the MS Society.

Today, Southern Research’s four operating divisions focus on drug discovery, drug development, engineering, and energy and the environment. Its staff of more than 400 scientists, engineers and researchers work at facilities in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland and Texas.

Southern Research was incorporated on Oct. 11, 1941, as the Alabama Research Institute, and its name was changed three years later to reflect its regional focus. Over the years, the organization has conducted work on behalf of the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, NASA, major aerospace firms, utility companies, and many others.

Not all mosquitoes are created equally

Posted on May 27, 2016

This may come as a surprise to some people, but there are over 3,500 different species of mosquitoes in the world. Of these, it is believed that approximately 175 can be found in the United States, two of which are known to serve as vectors for the Zika virus — the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. 

Aedes aegypti, also known as the yellow fever mosquito, is the primary species responsible for transmission of the Zika virus. It is an aggressive mosquito that originated in Africa, but has spread invasively throughout the equatorial and warmer regions of the world via modern trade routes. Unlike some mosquitoes, A. aegypti feed only on humans, and are capable of breeding virtually anywhere, requiring very little amounts of water in which to lay their eggs. This species also likes to live in urban environments, which has helped it emerge as such a highly effective vector for the spread of Zika across Brazil and throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Aedes albopictus, commonly known as the Asian tiger mosquito, has long been known as a vector for dengue, yellow fever, and chikungunya. However, researchers in Mexico recently found it to also carry Zika. This discovery has led the global health community to question whether A. albopictus will exacerbate the rate and number of Zika outbreaks as we enter deeper into mosquito season.

A. albopictus differs from A. aegypti in two important ways. First, it can survive in more temperate climates and is, therefore, more widespread throughout the continental United States. It is also less aggressive towards humans, and known to enjoy feeding on birds and other animals. This means that even though A. albopictus is a source of concern, it is not believed to pose the same level of threat as A. aegypti.

Other distinctions of note

Unlike the Anopheles, or malaria mosquito, which only bites at night, A. aegypti and A. albopictus are day feeders and can breed virtually anywhere, requiring only small amounts of water in order for their eggs to hatch. Additionally, both species like to live near humans and can  often be found living in homes and under beds. Combined, these traits render traditional mosquito prevention methods — such as bed nets, fumigation, and staying indoors — as insufficient tools for effectively controlling the spread of Zika virus.

Fast facts about the A. aegypti and A. albopictus mosquitoes:

  • The average lifespan for the Ae. aegypti is only 10 days.
  • Females are the only mosquitos that take a blood meal.
  • Mosquitoes don’t actually “bite” — rather, their tubular mouth parts (proboscis) are used like needles.
  • When feeding, mosquitoes secrete saliva to prevent the blood from clotting.
  • An average female can lay 1,000 eggs in her lifetime.
  • They prefer to feed during the day.
  • It takes only a couple of infected mosquitoes to cause an outbreak.

To learn more about how to protect yourself from A. aegypti and A. albopictus, visit the CDC page on Zika prevention.

AIMTech unveils new ResistX Treadmill

Posted on May 26, 2016
AIMTech's ResistX treadmill will make its debut at the American College of Sports Medicine's annual conference.
AIMTech’s ResistX treadmill will make its debut at the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual conference.

Following an intensive period of research and product development, the Alliance for Innovative Medical Technology (AIMTech) has quickly developed its first product. ResistX will be unveiled at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting in Boston May 31 through June 4.

AIMTech is a collaboration between Southern Research and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

ResistX is a unique force-induced treadmill designed with safety in mind and engineered for use in physical therapy and rehabilitation centers. It is the first treadmill to allow individuals recovering from neurological or physical disorders — such as injury, stroke, or surgery — to exercise in a challenging treadmill environment to improve cardiovascular fitness and lower limb strength. Thanks to a custom algorithm, the device employs resistive forces to increase the amount of work required by an individual to move under his or her own effort, and at a comfortable pace.

Additionally, in order to guard against injury, ResistX features a protective catching mechanism and padded backstop. These features ensure that if a user loses balance, he or she will not fall or be thrown from the device.

“ResistX is different from anything on the market, and represents a significant milestone for AIMTech and the physical therapy and rehab communities,” said Robert Hergenrother, Ph.D., director of AIMTech and Medical Technology Developments at Southern Research.

The project was accelerated by a $164,800 grant from the Alabama Innovation Fund — a program administered by the Alabama Department of Commerce that provides funding for promising research being conducted at Alabama universities and organizations.

“The Alabama Innovation Fund is a key component in our efforts to fuel the creation of ‘Made in Alabama’ products while also advancing our strategy of stimulating breakthrough research at universities and institutions across the state,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “The treadmill developed by the AIMTech joint venture is precisely the kind of product that aligns with the mission of our Innovation Fund.”

BORN TO FILL A UNIQUE MARKET NEED
The idea behind ResistX originated several years ago following a presentation by Marcas Bamman, Ph.D., and director of UAB’s Center for Exercise Medicine, involving a study of individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. Christopher Hurt, Ph.D., and Dave Brown, Ph.D. attended the talk as members of the UAB Department of Physical Therapy and immediately realized the need to develop a more effective way to conduct exercise tests for patients with disabilities.

Currently, clinical exercise tests can be difficult for individuals with gait or balance disabilities to perform. For anyone unable to tolerate treadmill tests, alternative methods of measuring estimated peak performance often include bike or recumbent ergometer tests, arm ergometer tests, or submaximal exercise tests. However, these tests have limited ability to provide an accurate estimation of a person’s actual peak performance.

“Individuals will self-limit their behaviors if they feel threatened or endangered in some way,” said Hurt, co-inventor and a UAB investigator on the project. “So, if you’re going to exercise without the safety of a support system, then you may limit the benefit of that exercise. If, however, people exercise in a safe environment, they may push themselves a little harder, may exercise a little longer, and may ultimately realize a better outcome.”

Additionally, while physical therapists are often able to assess or improve a patient’s fitness level through current methods, there is often limited benefit when it comes to improving one’s ability to walk.

“If you want to get good at throwing a ball, you don’t go out and practice kicking a soccer ball,” Hurt added. “In physical therapy, you need to focus on doing the thing you actually want to get better at. So, if a patient’s goal is to walk again, why can’t we provide a safe, yet challenging, system for the patient to practice walking?”

Woodway has been an integral partner with AIMTech for the ResistX treadmill.

WOODWAY COMMITMENT
This question led the UAB team to an AIMTech partnership with Southern Research and opened the door for Woodway to provide a treadmill for use in the development of a prototype. Woodway, the preeminent manufacturer of high performance treadmills used by elite athletes and in physical therapy settings around the world, also offered booth space at the American College of Sports Medicine to unveil the invention.

“The AIMTech partnership has been incredible because Southern Research has the expertise and unique ability to develop and bring a product to the market quickly,” said Brown, co-inventor. “But, a lot of credit also goes to Woodway for graciously donating a treadmill and the Alabama Innovation Fund for providing funding to make this possible.”

After ResistX is unveiled, it will return to Birmingham for use in a clinical setting, and become available for licensing.

“ResistX is a transformational rehabilitation tool that will help people develop the strength they need in order to be able to exercise by themselves again,” Brown said. “That’s our goal, and that’s the wish for every physical therapist dealing with a person who has a disability.”

ABOUT AIMTech
AIMTech is a collaboration between Southern Research and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to develop new medical devices to improve healthcare in the U.S. and around the globe. By combining the research and discovery expertise of Southern Research’s scientists and engineers, and UAB biomedical engineers and clinicians, AIMTech is designed to take a patient-centric approach to medical technology development in five key areas: Cardiology, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, Rehabilitation Engineering, and Trauma. Additionally, with the close collaboration and in-house expertise of the two institutions, AIMTech is well positioned to bring new products to the market much quicker than under a traditional R&D environment.

 

Cynomolgus macaque model for ZIKV research

Posted on May 23, 2016

Used previously for dengue virus studies, this cynomolgus macaque model will serve to better understand synergy between these viruses

In an effort to help identify a vaccine for the Zika virus (ZIKV), Southern Research is actively running experiments to study the course of ZIKV infection in non-human primates, while developing animal models for the evaluation of candidate vaccines and drug therapies. Cynomolgus macaques were chosen for these studies as they have a relatively simple HLA phenotype that allows for a reproducible immunological response. Additionally, the Cynomolgus macaque was previously established at Southern Research as a relevant animal model for dengue viruses (DENV), and has been successfully used to evaluate new candidate DENV vaccines. This model will allow the study of viral synergy to better understand the impact of cross-reactive but non-neutralizing antibodies from DENV infection/vaccination on ZIKV pathogenesis.

In this study, a total of six (6) male and female ZIKV and DENV seronegative Cynomolgus macaques were challenged with ZIKV strain isolates PRVABC59, FSS13025 or IBH 30656 subcutaneously (n=2 per strain) with a target delivery dose of approximately 1×104 or 5×105 PFU per monkey. A description of the viruses used are shown in Table 1.

After ZIKV inoculation, serum and tissue samples were collected at predetermined time points and are being analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for the detection of viral load. Additionally, Day 14, 30 and 60 serum samples will be analyzed by Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT) for the enumeration of ZIKV neutralizing antibody (Nab) as a potential surrogate of protective immunity.

Table 1. Zika virus strains evaluated in a non-human primate model of infection.

Zika Virus Isolate Source Year of Isolation Geographical Origin
PRVABC59 CDC 2015 Puerto Rico (AM)
FSS13025 UTMB arbovirus Reference collection 2010 Cambodia (AS)
IbH 30656 BEI Resources 1968 Nigeria, West Africa (AF)

Preliminary results of this study demonstrated no significant changes in body weight, body temperature or clinical signs in animals challenged with ZIKV, as was expected from studies reported by other groups in Rhesus macaques and consistent with DENV infection of this model. However, ZIKV RNA was detected by qRT-PCR in the serum of primates challenged with the Puerto Rican strain of ZIKV (PRVABC59) as soon as 1 day post-challenged and peaked after Days 2 or 3 but remained detectable out to 14 days (Fig. 1). In contrast, ZIKV RNA concentrations in serum from those animals challenged with the Cambodian Strain (FSS13025) fell below the level of detection on Days 8 or 10 but increased again by Day 14 in at least one of the 2 animals. SR is continuing to assess viral load in serum and tissues from all primates on study, and data will be updated as soon as it becomes available.

Preliminary data for Cynomolgus Macaque model (updated: 8/03/16)

Click the images below to enlarge.

 

cynomolgus macaque_ZIKV RNA challenged with Puerto Rican strain ZIKV PRVABC59
Figure 1. Concentration of ZIKV RNA in serum samples from Cynomolgus macaques challenged with the Puerto Rican strain of ZIKV (PRVABC59).

 

cynomolgus macaque_ZIKV infection_serum viral load_qRT-PCR
Figure 3. Measurement of serum viral load in cynomolgus macaque following challenge with the Nigerian strain ZIKV IBG30656

 

cynomolgus macaque_Urine and saliva ZIKV viral load by qRT-PCR
Figure 4. Measurement of ZIKV viral load found in the urine and saliva of cynomolgus macaques challenged with the Puerto Rican strain ZIKV PRVABC59 by qRT-PCR

 

cynomolgus macaque_Neurtalizing Antibodies
Figure 5. 60-day measurement of neutralizing antibodies found in cynomolgus macaque challenged with PRVABC59.

 

Southern Research teams investigate Zika virus and its damaging mechanisms

Posted on May 3, 2016
Aedes aegypti mosquito
The Zika virus is carried by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito.

Scientists at Southern Research are heavily involved in the global fight against Zika, and are examining five different strains of the virus in a broad-based effort to penetrate the mysteries of a virus that was seen as posing little threat before being linked to devastating neurological abnormalities in unborn children as well as other maladies.

Through this multi-pronged inquiry, infectious disease experts in the Drug Discovery and Drug Development divisions at Southern Research have engaged in basic and applied science to better understand Zika, while exploring how the mosquito-borne virus progresses in infected human neural cells. Scientists are also using these virus stocks to develop in vivo models to evaluate potential vaccines and treatments.

In March, Southern Research developed the first in vitro antiviral assay for the Zika virus, giving researchers and drug developers worldwide a testing platform for new compounds and biologics capable of interfering with Zika virus infection and replication by detecting the accumulation of progeny virus in cull culture supernatants.

Timothy Sellati, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Infectious Diseases in Southern Research’s Drug Discovery division, said the Zika investigation aims to reveal the mechanisms that cause microcephaly, a rare disorder that causes a baby’s brain and head to be abnormally small.

“If we can understand how this virus affects normal human RNA, we may be able to develop therapeutics that can either eradicate the virus entirely or at least neutralize the virus’ ability to cause such severe damage to normal brain development,” Sellati said.

SUDDEN THREAT

Jonathan Rayner, director of Infectious Disease Research
Jonathan Rayner, director of Infectious Disease Research

After a surge in microcephaly cases in Brazil, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control in April confirmed the link between the birth defect and Zika. The virus has also been recently associated with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare condition causing muscle weakness and temporary paralysis, as well as other illnesses in pediatric and adult populations.

“The more we learn about Zika, the more we realize how complex this virus truly is,” said Jonathan Rayner, Ph.D., Southern Research’s director of Infectious Disease Research. “While in the past, Zika was understood to be arthropod-borne virus associated with limited clinical pathology, we are now seeing increased transmission by previously unrecognized routes, including sexual transmission, and it is becoming increasingly associated with significant maladies in both newborns and adults.”

The virus was first identified in Uganda’s Zika Forest in 1947. Since this time, there have been several other outbreaks in various equatorial regions of the world, but Zika’s sudden emergence as a public-health hazard in the Americas makes developing a complete understanding of the virus a critical priority, Rayner said.

As part of that effort, Southern Research’s infectious disease researchers are studying five unique strains of the virus, each isolated in the geographic locations of a previous outbreak.

“One interesting question is whether, over this span of time, the Zika virus changed genetically in terms of its virulence and its ability to cause disease, particularly neurological diseases like microcephaly or Guillain-Barré Syndrome,” Sellati said.

“That’s a question we’re able to address in-house here at Southern Research.”

COORDINATED EFFORT

Southern Research is well positioned to take a leading role in the fight against Zika. With fully developed labs dedicated to drug discovery and drug development, the organization has deep experience in infectious disease research, including mosquito-borne viruses, and a longstanding history of exploring new drugs for a wide range of cancers and other maladies.

“We have a lot of experience working with other viruses in the same family as Zika,” Rayner said. “Dengue is a very good example. We have very active drug-screening programs against dengue and have developed the associated in vivo models to support drug development. West Nile virus is another example, as is Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever – we’ve established research programs and models for all of those.”

Tim Sellati, chair of Infectious Diseases, Drug Discovery.
Tim Sellati, chair of the Department of Infectious Diseases.

Sellati said teams of experts from various fields at Southern Research are collaborating on the Zika investigation, with the common goal of gaining insights that can combat the virus’ harmful spread.

“When you see the tiny brains, the tiny skulls of these children born with microcephaly, it’s amazing how devastating this viral infection on the normal development of the cerebral cortex,” he said. “We hope our research will help the scientific community better understand the aggressive nature of this virus, as we work collectively to fight its spread and develop effective therapeutic approaches.”

The Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology (DART) program at Southern Research is poised to assist Sellati and Rayner as a partner in this effort. Researchers in the organization’s DART program have decades of experience and expertise, which will be invaluable assets in the program to determine how Zika is able to interrupt normal brain development.

“Once we have a better understanding of the complex interactions between the Zika-infected mother and child, we can help define a strategy to effectively prevent or mitigate Zika-induced birth defects,” said Paul Bushdid, DART program leader.

Space Shuttle anniversary: How Southern Research helped the program log 542 million miles

Posted on April 29, 2016

NASA’s Space Shuttle blasted off for the first time 35 years ago, and engineers and scientists from Southern Research made critical contributions to the program during a journey that spanned three decades and a half-billion miles.

In fact, by the time Columbia rose from Kennedy Space Center on April 12, 1981, Southern Research’s engineers had been working on the project for nine years, testing materials that would allow the new spacecraft to withstand the extreme conditions of lift-off and re-entry.

The Birmingham-based organization’s involvement in the Shuttle program didn’t end with the launch that day. In coming years, its engineers remedied a potentially catastrophic rocket nozzle problem and helped NASA prevent a replay of the events that doomed Columbia in 2003, among other things.

“Southern Research’s work on NASA’s Space Shuttle really started with the inception of the program,” said Michael D. Johns, the organization’s vice president of Engineering. “Over many years, we remained on the critical path for material development and understanding of the complex systems required to get people and payloads to space.”

Johns was on the engineering team that evaluated ablative materials used to protect the Shuttle from the high thermal loads and 5,500-degree temperatures generated by its massive solid rocket motors.

The Space Transportation System (STS), as the Shuttle was officially known, flew 130 missions over 30 years, covering 542 million miles and making 21,000 earth orbits, according to a NASA history. Its missions included a critical repair to the Hubble Space Telescope’s mirror and the launch of the Magellan probe to Venus.

EVALUATING MATERIALS

The Shuttle program was not the first time Southern Research had focused on manned space flight.

Its engineers helped NASA select heat-shield materials used in the Apollo program after exposing material specimens to conditions similar to a fiery re-entry. The tensile properties of these materials were tested at temperatures up to 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

While working on Apollo, Southern Research developed devices to take temperature readings needed to select landing sites on the moon’s surface, and to measure heating rates on the Saturn booster exit. It also operated an engineering materials lab at Kennedy Space Center to provide technical support to NASA contractors.

As the Shuttle program got under way, the ability of Southern Research engineers to evaluate materials in extreme environments once again played a vital role. One example was the carbon-carbon composite leading edges of the orbiter, which experienced temperatures ranging from –150 degrees to more than 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit on every flight.

Other divisions at Southern Research also worked on the Shuttle program leading up to the first launch.

Analytical chemists, for example, conducted tests that identified compounds in charred insulation, while chemists and toxicologists determined the harmful properties of burned insulation.

In one case, Southern Research’s analytical chemists were able to steer NASA away from using a polyurethane insulating foam with a flame-retardant additive because tests showed it produced toxic fumes when burned.

RECOVERY REMEDIES

Southern Research’s engineering team also made important contributions in post-flight incident investigations.

After the STS-8 mission in 1983, an inspection of the boosters revealed that a three-inch lining protecting the rocket nozzle had almost burned away, leaving just a few seconds of firing time before a catastrophic rupture would have occurred.

A group of Southern Research engineers led by John Koenig studied the unexpected event. They identified why the rocket nozzle erosion occurred and provided guidance for material design and process changes to prevent the defect. They even developed a unique laser screening test to ensure there was no repeat.

NASA again called in Koenig and the Southern Research team after Columbia broke up on re-entry on Feb. 1, 2003.

Koenig and the team helped determine how the disaster occurred and modeled the impact event that damaged the Shuttle’s wing, allowing in super-heated gasses that destroyed the support structure. Koenig’s group also developed approaches to repair a wing in space if damage occurred on a future mission.

“The unique talents of Southern Research’s engineers were integral, and, in some cases, enabling for the design, operation and recovery from the flight anomalies and accidents that occurred during the Shuttle program,” Johns said.

In addition, Southern Research developed technology to help the Shuttle program return to space two years after the Columbia accident.

Its Airborne Imaging and Recording System (AIRS) turrets, mounted on WB-57 high-altitude research aircraft circling above Cape Kennedy on July 26, 2005, captured full-motion video of Space Shuttle Discovery’s launch to well beyond booster separation at 146,000 feet. The video provided new insights into conditions at lift-off.

Today, Southern Research is making contributions to NASA’s Space Launch System, the most powerful rocket ever developed.

Johns, who serves on NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate’s Technology, Innovation and Engineering Committee, said Southern Research is well positioned to participate in the nation’s space program for decades to come.

Southern Research appoints Paul Bushdid to direct DART program

Posted on April 7, 2016
Paul Bushdid, Ph.D., Developmental & Reproductive Toxicology Program Leader
Paul Bushdid, Ph.D., Developmental & Reproductive Toxicology Program Leader

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – April 7, 2016 – Paul Bushdid, Ph.D., has joined Southern Research to lead its Developmental & Reproductive Toxicology (DART) program, which performs complex preclinical studies to ensure that potential medicines, nutraceuticals and environmental chemicals don’t endanger unborn children and pregnant women, and don’t negatively affect fertility in men and women.

Bushdid brings extensive experience as a study director and investigative team leader to the Birmingham-based institute, which is involved in a critical research program to evaluate the long-term health effects of chemical exposures early in life.

Prior to joining Southern Research this month, Bushdid worked for 13 years at global pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, where he headed an Investigative Developmental Toxicology group. In this role, he managed a team of study directors and technical scientists focusing on teratogens, or agents that can cause birth defects or halt pregnancies.

At GlaxoSmithKline, Bushdid’s team was also involved in DART assessments of traditional Chinese medicines, study designs needed for cell and gene therapy products, and data requirements for the use of nanomaterials in non-clinical development.

“I am excited and ready to act as a resource for the growth and development of the DART program at Southern Research,” Bushdid said. “Our goal is simple but important – protect the children.”

CRITICAL MISSION

Southern Research’s DART program provides a full range of safety evaluation services and Good Laboratory Practice-compliant assessments that determine a chemical’s effects on fertility, fetal development and post-natal outcomes.

In 2013, Southern Research was awarded a contract from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to study the potential impact on early-life exposure to certain chemicals, and to determine their effects on development and reproductive systems. The contract has a potential value of $70 million over 10 years.

“The reproductive toxicology studies we perform at Southern Research are necessary to ensure new materials do not pose a health hazard to unborn children and mothers,” said Art Tipton, Ph.D., president and CEO. “We are thrilled Paul is bringing his expertise and leadership abilities to SR to direct the critical mission of our DART program.”

Bushdid received a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 2000 and served as a post-doctoral fellow at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center before joining GlaxoSmithKline in 2003.

About Southern Research
Southern Research is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with more than 400 scientists and engineers working across four divisions: drug discovery, drug development, engineering, and energy and environment. We work on behalf of the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy, NASA, major aerospace firms, utility companies, and other private and government organizations as we solve the world’s hardest problems. SR, founded in 1941, is headquartered in Birmingham with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Alabama; Frederick, Maryland; Durham, North Carolina; Cartersville, Georgia; and Houston.

E.A. Dulmadge: Pursuing a research dream and attacking cancer

Posted on March 28, 2016

Elizabeth Ann Dulmadge – E.A., as she was known to her friends — arrived at Southern Research Institute in 1956 with more than a decade of experience in a clinical microbiology laboratory. She soon became involved in a significant new area of inquiry for the institute: cancer research.

Over several decades, Dulmadge’s work in Southern Research’s anticancer drug screening program helped the Birmingham-based organization make important strides in the battle against a disease doctors still struggle to understand.

To mark Women’s History Month, Southern Research is highlighting the careers of some of the female scientists and technicians who have made meaningful contributions to the institute over its 75 years of scientific investigation.

“E.A. Dulmadge should be an inspiration to many young people today, particularly girls interested in science,” said Art Tipton, Ph.D., president and CEO of Southern Research. “E.A. pursued her dream of conducting research that could help save lives, and her valuable work over many years accomplished that.”

Dulmadge came to the institute after earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from Birmingham-Southern College and working for 11 years as supervisor of the clinical microbiology lab at University Hospital, now UAB.

“I wanted more of a challenge to see what I could do,” she recalled in a 1981 interview to mark her 25th anniversary at Southern Research.

CELL CULTURE WORK

Her sense of timing in 1956 was ideal. After arriving at Southern Research, she spent six months testing antiviral agents for pharmaceutical company Parke-Davis, then transferred to the institute’s fledgling anticancer drug screening program.

She worked alongside Dr. Frank Schabel, whose groundbreaking research with Dr. Howard Skipper and others at Southern Research advanced the role of chemotherapy as an effective cancer treatment and expanded the understanding of how to better counter the disease.

“Dr. Schabel put me in charge of the cell culture work since my background in microbiology was an excellent prerequisite for this type of work,” she recalled.

In those days, pharmaceutical companies were developing large numbers of synthetic drugs, and it was up to Southern Research to test them for the National Cancer Institute. Dulmadge and the team annually screened 5,000 to 7,000 compounds in cell cultures – cells grown under controlled conditions, perfect for experimental studies.

Over the years, she continued her work with cell cultures, investigating the effects of antitumor agents on laboratory-grown tumors and studying cells resistant to anticancer agents. Her inquiries included an extensive look into tumor stem cells, or those cells that give rise to cancer. She also developed effective methods of growing tumor colonies for the screening tests.

ANTICANCER ADVANCES

Dulmadge, who contributed to at least two dozen scientific papers with her Southern Research colleagues, felt a deep sense of accomplishment in the institute’s chemotherapy research.

“I think of how much more we know about cancer chemotherapy now that we did in the beginning of the program,” she said in the 1981 interview. “It’s been a privilege to work here.”

Dulmadge retired in 1992, after 36 years at Southern Research. At her death, she left a majority of her estate to Birmingham-Southern, which created the Elizabeth A. Dulmadge Scholarship Fund in 2004 for students majoring in biology or music.

Southern Research’s anticancer drug expertise has led to the discovery of six FDA-approved medicines that treat the disease. The organization remains a key player in cancer research, having received more than $90 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health over the past two decades.

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