Category: News

Airborne Imaging and Recording System (AIRS) Tenth Anniversary

Posted on July 26, 2015

WB-57 Flyover

July 26, 2015, marked the tenth anniversary of NASA’s Space Shuttle Return to Flight. On July 26, 2005, the Space Shuttle Return to Flight occurred with the launch of STS-114, the Shuttle mission that returned NASA to active flight status following the tragic loss of Columbia. Southern Research captured video of the launch using technology produced in its labs: Airborne Imaging and Recording System (AIRS) turrets, part of the WB-57 Ascent Video Experiment (WAVE). Two AIRS-WAVE equipped WB-57 aircraft flying at 60,000 feet in an orbit over Cape Kennedy were able to collect video of the Space Shuttle Discovery’s launch from ranges of up to 20 nautical miles. The AIRS-WAVE units provided full motion video (FMV) of the Space Shuttle Discovery, from lift off, to well beyond booster separation at 146,000 feet.

After the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated on reentry, the Columbia Accident Investigation Board recommended that NASA capture high resolution images of Shuttle launches from high altitude. Imaging the Shuttle from high altitude could provide NASA a perspective not available to ground-based cameras and would offer an additional means to identify damage incurred during launch. Southern Research provided the technology to capture these high-altitude images.

The AIRS design, fabrication, and integration effort was a joint endeavor between Southern Research and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The AIRS-WAVE development effort took 14 months to complete and yielded two turrets equipped with video cameras that could be mounted to the nose of NASA’s WB-57 high altitude research aircraft. The AIRS-WAVE turrets provided FMV of the Space Shuttle at extreme range and the video yielded valuable insight of Shuttle launch conditions not previously available to NASA.

Although only originally envisioned to provide video of NASA Shuttle launches, the AIRS turrets have also been used since 2005 by a variety of Southern Research’s government clients. The AIRS turrets continue to provide video of critical rocket launches and have been used for remote sensing operations and sensor research and development projects. The AIRS turrets have hosted multiple experimental sensor payloads and assisted with the transition of new technologies, from laboratory environments, to flight testing. The AIRS units have also been used to support flight testing and remote sensing operations in the U.S. and abroad.

Over the last 10 years, AIRS-related efforts have provided approximately $39 million in research and development work for Southern Research’s Engineering division. Southern Research is the prime contractor for NASA’s WB-57 Special Capabilities Support and Engineering Services Contract, a $36 million dollar contract which NASA and other government clients use to support current WB-57 operations.

Southern Research Names Jim Tucker Director of Materials Research

Posted on July 13, 2015

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – July 13, 2015 – Southern Research announced, today, that James R. Tucker joined its Engineering division as director of materials research. Tucker will lead a team of engineers and experimentalist technicians who specialize in materials characterization and precision testing of materials and structures for industrial, aerospace, and military applications. Southern Research has a decades-long legacy in materials research supporting commercial and government customers, most notably NASA’s space flight missions to include the Space Launch System, and the Department of Defense’s hypersonics program.

“Jim’s strong technical and management experience with advanced composites and materials make him a significant asset to Southern Research’s materials research team, and we are pleased to have him on board,” said Southern Research Vice President, Engineering Michael D. Johns.

Tucker is a physicist with more than 30 years of experience in the development, characterization, and data analysis of advanced composite materials and structures, with specific expertise in non-destructive testing and metrology. He was formerly at Southern Research in the Nondestructive Characterization Group until 2004, when he went to San Diego to work with Orbital ATK.

At Orbital ATK, Tucker worked in its space systems group as senior metrology and testing engineer where he founded and directed the ATK Verification Science Lab (VSL) . The VSL developed technology including construction of the ATK Interferometric Metrology Facility, a world leader in thermal expansion capability used to test materials for the James Webb Space Telescope.

“It’s an exciting time to be at Southern Research, particularly with respect to the latest developments in the aerospace and defense industries,” said Tucker. “I look forward to working with exceptional peers in state-of-the-art facilities.”

About Southern Research
Southern Research is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with nearly 500 scientists and engineers working across four divisions: drug discovery, drug development, engineering, and energy and environment.

  • We’re developing 18 drugs to combat various forms of cancer, ALS, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, kidney disease, and Parkinson’s, among others.
  • We’ve developed seven FDA-approved cancer drugs.
  • We’re developing new medical devices.
  • We’re helping to launch manned missions to Mars.
  • We’re making the air and water cleaner here on Earth.

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.

Southern Research, founded in 1941, is headquartered in Birmingham with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Frederick, Maryland, Durham, North Carolina, Cartersville, Georgia, and Houston. Visit SouthernResearch.org for more information.

 

Southern Research Awarded New $22 Million NIAID-DAIDS Contract to Support Ground-Breaking HIV Cure Research

Posted on July 7, 2015

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – July 7, 2015 – Southern Research has been awarded a seven-year contract of up to $22 million to support research that could contribute to the cure of HIV disease. Under this contract, Southern Research will develop and standardize assays that quantitate latent reservoirs of HIV.

“This is a revolutionary area in HIV research that is opening up new avenues for us in infectious diseases,” said Southern Research President and CEO Art Tipton, Ph.D. “It supports our 24-year legacy in HIV drug discovery and development for government and pharmaceutical clients.”

HIV replication can be effectively suppressed in infected patients with antiretroviral therapy (ART), which reduces the level of HIV in the blood to an undetectable level. However, HIV remains a chronic infection due to its ability to stay hidden within these infected blood cells – latent reservoirs – that are invisible to the body’s immune defenses and are not sensitive to anti-HIV drugs. When a latently infected cell is reactivated the cell begins to produce HIV again.

In order to support the HIV cure initiative, Southern Research was awarded the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) contract HHSN272201500017C, “Quantitative Viral Outgrowth Assay (QVOA) Service Resource.” The QVOA is the current best assay for characterizing the latent viral reservoir. However, the assay is not available to many laboratories conducting HIV cure research because it is expensive and labor intensive. Southern Research will expand access to the QVOA and support future clinical research focused on eliminating the latent viral reservoir.

In addition to providing the QVOA as a service resource, Southern Research will work with experts in the field of HIV latency and cure research to develop alternative assays that are more sensitive, less costly, can be completed more rapidly, and require smaller amounts of blood than QVOA. Southern Research will also provide training in the performance of the QVOA to investigators interested in running the assay in their laboratories.

“Our team is excited and energized to be partnering with the HIV research community to enhance our collective understanding of the latent reservoirs of HIV in support of the HIV cure initiative,” said Southern Research Director, Infectious Disease Research and Principal Investigator for the contract Mike Murray, Ph.D.

Facts About HIV

  • Currently, there is no cure for AIDS caused by HIV, and the virus continues to spread despite the increased global commitment to controlling the pandemic.
  • HIV is the world’s leading infectious killer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 39 million people have died since the first cases were reported in 1981.
  • In 2013, globally, there were more than 35 million people living with HIV: 2.1 million people became newly infected and 1.5 million died.
  • In the U.S., there are more than 30 FDA approved HIV medicines. A variety of interventional agents are used in combination to control virus replication and successfully manage the disease, and they show promise in prevention of new infections.
  • Millions are relying on antiretroviral therapy (ART) until a sterilizing cure can be identified, but according to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vital Signs report, only 3 in 10 people living with HIV have achieved viral suppression.
  • Oral administration of ART was approved worldwide to inhibit transmission in high risk populations and mother-to-child transmissions.
  • In 2013, approximately 12 million people received ART, but drug resistance is an ongoing issue.

About Southern Research
Southern Research is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with nearly 500 scientists and engineers working across four divisions: drug discovery, drug development, engineering, and energy and environment.

  • We’re developing 18 drugs to combat various forms of cancer, ALS, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, kidney disease, and Parkinson’s, among others.
  • We’ve developed seven FDA-approved cancer drugs.
  • We’re developing new medical devices.
  • We’re helping to launch manned missions to Mars.
  • We’re making the air and water cleaner here on Earth.

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.

Southern Research, founded in 1941, is headquartered in Birmingham with additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Frederick, Maryland, Durham, North Carolina, Cartersville, Georgia, and Houston. Visit SouthernResearch.org for more information.

 

Southern Research Is a National Leader in Fighting Cancer

Posted on June 26, 2015

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We’ve developed seven cancer drugs – rivaling any other scientific research organization in the country.

Each year, more than 1.6 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer. It’s a diagnosis that affects the patient, their family and friends.

Southern Research has developed seven FDA-approved cancer drugs that bring new hope to patients and their loved ones. The drugs we’ve developed help patients take on some of the toughest cancers, and even help them cope with cancer treatment.

 

  • Pralatrexate:
    The first drug approved as a treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma, or PTCL – a group of aggressive blood cancers.
  • Clofarabine:
    The first drug to be approved for treatment of pediatric leukemia in more than a decade.
  • Lomustine:
    is used to treat brain tumors.
  • Carmustine:
    is used to treat brain tumors, Hodgkin’s disease and cancer of blood plasma cells.
  • Dacarbazine:
    is used to treat skin cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, sarcomas (tumors that form in the bones and in the soft connective tissues), and islet cell cancers that can occur in the hormone-producing cells of the pancreas.
  • Fludarabine:
    is used to treat leukemia (cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues) and lymphomas (cancer of immune cells).
  • Amifostine:
    It helps protect against kidney, bone marrow and nervous system damage caused by certain chemotherapy drugs. It’s also used to protect normal cells against radiation damage.

Southern Research’s Corey Tyree Helps Alabama Municipalities and Companies Become Environmental Stewards

Posted on June 26, 2015

Corey Tyree, Ph.D, Southern Research’s new director of energy and environment for Alabama, is charged with helping their municipal and corporate customers meet federal and state environmental regulations and improve Alabama’s air and water quality along the way.

Tyree’s team of engineers and technicians develop sophisticated technology that can keep cities, county governments and companies compliant¬¬ –– and that saves Southern Research customers plenty of cash.

That’s because local governments and corporations can be faced with millions of dollars in fines and legal expenses if they don’t abide by environmental laws.

“We help our customers balance their business objectives with environmental stewardship,” Tyree said. “That’s not an easy task since that often requires us to come up with new ways for factories, coal plants, or city water facilities to keep the air and water clean. But we save our customers money and that provides an important value.”

It’s a critically important role considering that more than 4.8 million people breathe the air and drink the water in Alabama.

Alabama is also one of the most biologically diverse states in the country with 4,533 different species of wildlife and plants that need to be protected.

Tyree and his team specialize in these areas: water, analytical services, selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts, mercury control, coal combustion, carbon capture, and carbon sequestration.

Tyree came to Southern Research from Georgia Power, where he was engineering manager at Plant Bowen near Cartersville, Georgia.
Before that, he was engineering manager at Georgia Power’s Howell B. Wansley Power Plant in Heard County, Georgia.

Tyree also worked as principal engineer with Southern Company, where he was responsible for emission control technology development.

“Corporate and governmental responsibility –– especially when it comes to the environment –– is critically important in this day and age,” Tyree said. “It impacts our customers image, their reputation and their ability to do business with others.”

Bill Grieco Joins Southern Research as Vice President of Its Energy & Environment Division, Where He Will Lead Efforts in the Growing Field of Clean Energy

Posted on June 17, 2015

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – June 17, 2015 – Southern Research announced today that William Grieco, Ph.D., has been named vice president of the research institute’s Energy & Environment division.
Given the ever-increasing importance of these areas, the organization now has a senior leader on board to solely focus on energy and environment.
Southern Research has a long history in these disciplines, from pioneering technologies to reduce pollution from coal combustion in the 1970s, to the recent launch of the Southeastern Solar Research Center.
Grieco will lead this division’s continued efforts toward cleaner and more efficient energy production, water research at the industrial and watershed level, new technology development for grid-scale energy storage, creation of carbon fiber production technologies from bio-based sources, and new fuel source development from biomass and other feedstocks.
He will also be in charge of identifying international business opportunities for Southern Research’s clean coal technologies.
Grieco joins Southern Research from Owens Corning in Granville, Ohio, where he was director of innovation for a 70-person science and technology team that developed energy-efficient building materials. While there, he also established a Department of Energy-funded partnership to develop solar roofing shingles.
He has more than 17 years’ experience leading innovation teams at Owens Corning, Gardenia Ventures, PetroAlgae, Alkermes, and Rohm and Haas Company in solar energy, biofuels, biodegradable polymer manufacturing and nanotechnology, among other specializations.
He earned his doctorate and master’s degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
“It’s exciting to join such a respected research institute where technology is core to what they do and where the team is passionate about making an impact on global problems in energy and clean water,” said Grieco.
“We have a strong team in Energy and Environment, and I am thrilled to welcome Bill to lead them. He is a great fit for us because he combines innovative ideas with a track record of commercializing them,” said Southern Research President and CEO Art Tipton, Ph.D. “Bill has the talent and the experience to take our Energy & Environment division to new levels here in the U.S. and globally.”

How Drug Development Works

Posted on April 20, 2015

It can take 10 to 15 years for scientists to begin the journey of understanding a disease, to creating a drug that fights it.

  • IND Application: File Investigational New Drug application with the FDA before clinical testing.
  • Phase 1Clinical Trial: Perform human testing in a small group of healthy volunteers to determine if the drug is safe for people. (20-100 people)
  • Phase 2 Clinical Trial: Test in a small group of patients with a disease to evaluate drug effectiveness. (100-500 patients)
  • Phase 3 Clinical Trial: Test in a larger group of patients to determine safety, efficacy and risk/benefit (1,000-5,000 patients)
  • NDA: Submit New Drug Application to the FDA.
  • Manufacture the drug on a small or large scale
  • Phase 4 Trial: Pharma companies continue to monitor the drug and submit reports to the FDA re: any adverse effects.

Southern Research Names Alan Stokes Director of Toxicology and Pathology

Posted on April 6, 2015

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –  April 6, 2015 – Alan Stokes, Ph.D., today joined Southern Research’s drug development division as the director of toxicology and pathology at its Birmingham headquarters. In this role, Stokes will manage groups of toxicologists, laboratory technicians, project team members, and formulation scientists for contracted studies in support of drug development activities.

“We are extremely pleased to have Dr. Stokes join the Southern Research drug development team,” said Andrew Penman, vice president of drug development at Southern Research. “He is bringing with him invaluable experience both in interacting with regulatory agencies and representing the non-clinical toxicology function for therapeutics at all stages of development.”

Stokes has more than 14 years of combined experience in pharmaceutical drug development for leading pharmaceutical companies including Schering-Plough, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, and most recently, GlaxoSmithKline, where he was head of toxicology at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

He is a diplomate to the American Board of Toxicology, and he is a member of the Society of Toxicology, the American College of Toxicology, and the editorial board for the International Journal of Toxicology.

Stokes earned a doctorate in pharmacology with a focus on neurotoxicity from Wake Forest University and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Department of Neurology at Rutgers University.

About Southern Research
Founded in 1941 in Birmingham, Alabama, Southern Research is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific and engineering research organization that conducts preclinical drug discovery and development, advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, and energy and environment research. Approximately 500 team members support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental, and energy industries in facilities in Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas.

 

Southern Research Announces Inaugural Advisory Board

Posted on March 19, 2015

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – March 19, 2015 – Southern Research announced today the launch of its foundational advisory board. The 10-person board was established to engage young professionals in the Birmingham community who are committed to enhancing Southern Research’s mission of scientific and engineering advancement.

Southern Research has a rich history of achievement throughout its 74-year existence, and appointing this group of young professionals in Birmingham will ensure the next generation of community leaders is familiar with Southern Research’s role in the city and its ongoing efforts to make the world a better place in which to live.

“The history of Southern Research is linked to the industrial history of Birmingham, from 1941 onward. Looking forward, we knew it was important to establish an advisory board of local, young leaders to be community ambassadors who are well-informed about this organization and the breadth of our work,” said Southern Research President and CEO Art Tipton, Ph.D. “We anticipate developing mentorships between advisory board members and Southern Research leadership, and, in turn, having members help broaden our external view and our preparation for ongoing growth.”

As an organization that is dedicated to solving the world’s hardest problems, Southern Research is proud to solicit the input and feedback from this group of men and women who are already contributing a great deal in their respective professions. Through quarterly meetings, the advisory board will hear from leading scientists and engineers regarding the latest updates on not only the work that is ongoing at Southern Research, but also the recent trends and issues associated with the organization’s multi-disciplinary portfolio.

“In forming the advisory board, I worked closely with Dr. Tipton to identify successful professionals in Birmingham who are committed to our city and who could share their diverse business experience and success with the Southern Research team,” said Mitesh Shah, Shareholder, Maynard, Cooper & Gale, PC. “The Southern Research advisory board provides a unique opportunity to gather together these talented, exceptional business leaders.”

The 10-member advisory board is comprised of the following community and business leaders:

  • Stephen Black, Director, Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility, University of Alabama
  • Jay Brandrup, Principal, Kinetic Communications
  • Nick Irvin, Program Manager, Advanced Energy Systems and Emissions Control R&D, Southern Company
  • Santhosh Keshavan, Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer, Regions Financial Corporation
  • G.T. LaBorde, Principal, IllumiCare, and CEO, Malcovery Security
  • Danny Markstein, Managing Director, Markstein
  • David Perry, Vice President, Operational Risk, Protective Life Insurance Company
  • Liz Pharo, Chair, Momentum Telecom
  • Shannon Riley, President and CEO, One Stop Environmental
  • Mitesh Shah, Shareholder, Maynard, Cooper & Gale, PC

About Southern Research
Founded in 1941 in Birmingham, Alabama, Southern Research is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific and engineering research organization that conducts preclinical drug discovery and development, advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, and energy and environment research. Approximately 500 team members support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental, and energy industries in facilities in Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas.

 

Southern Research Engineering to Exhibit at AUSA ILW Global Force Symposium and Exposition

Posted on March 17, 2015

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – March 17, 2015 – Southern Research will participate in the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Institute of Land Warfare (ILW) Global Force Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama, March 31 – April 2, 2015, at booth #1001.

The annual meeting relocated to Huntsville from Orlando two years prior to be closer to the U.S. Army acquisition community. Huntsville is home to the Redstone Arsenal, headquarters of the Army Materiel Command, and the city has one of the largest numbers of general and flag officers outside of northern Virginia. The conference provides unique opportunities for vendors to meet with senior Army leadership and acquisition and technical professionals and learn about emerging Army requirements.

Southern Research is a leader in research and development in aerospace engineering, thermal and structural behaviors of advanced composite materials, advanced material processing techniques, computational sciences and data processing, as well as design, fabrication, integration, and field support for electro-mechanical systems for ISR, test, and tracking requirements.

Southern Research engineering is widely recognized as a leader in contract research and development services in highly technical industry sectors. It provides clients with turrets and pods for ISR and test applications with extremely accurate and highly stabilized pointing capabilities. It also offers advanced materials development expertise and resources for extreme atmospheric and structural testing.

Clients include most federal agencies and numerous commercial companies worldwide. Southern Research welcomes opportunities to provide contract research and development services to clients and partners in pursuit of new technologies. Please visit Southern Research at booth #1001 to meet engineers who will be able to answer your questions and discuss new business opportunities.

About AUSA
Since 1950, the Association of the United States Army has worked to support all aspects of national security while advancing the interests of America’s Army and the men and women who serve. AUSA is a private, non-profit educational organization that supports America’s Army – Active, National Guard, Reserve, Civilians, Retirees, Government Civilians, Wounded Warriors, Veterans, and family members. AUSA provides numerous Professional Development Opportunities at a variety of events both local and national. For more information about AUSA, visit www.ausa.org.

About Southern Research
Founded in 1941 in Birmingham, Alabama, Southern Research is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific and engineering research organization that conducts preclinical drug discovery and development, advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, and energy and environment research. Approximately 500 team members support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental, and energy industries in facilities in Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas.

 

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