Skip to content
Infectious Disease Research: How Southern Research Helps Sponsors Solve Complex Challenges

Infectious Disease Research: How Southern Research Helps Sponsors Solve Complex Challenges

Emerging viral outbreaks, antibiotic resistance, and neglected tropical diseases are shaping the global health agenda — and raising the stakes for biotech and pharma. Infectious disease research today demands more than routine assays or generic models; it requires deep expertise, specialized infrastructure, and a partner who can anticipate both scientific and regulatory hurdles.

At Southern Research, we bring more than 90 years of infectious disease research experience to sponsors who need actionable answers, not just data points. From our BSL-3 laboratories to our tailored animal models and immunology programs, we help biotech and pharma organizations address the most pressing infectious disease challenges with speed, rigor, and confidence.

Why Infectious Disease Research Requires Specialized Expertise

The field of infectious disease is unusually complex. Viruses can evolve rapidly, requiring assays that adapt in real time to emerging strains.

Sponsors working in this space must be able to ask — and answer — critical questions:

  • Which preclinical models will provide the most translationally relevant data?
  • How do you balance speed with biosafety when working against high-risk pathogens?
  • Which assays will stand up to regulatory scrutiny at the IND stage?

Southern Research helps sponsors navigate these challenges with a blend of scientific insight, specialized resources, and collaborative problem-solving.

Preclinical Models That Deliver Translational Value

A therapy is only as strong as the models that support its development. Southern Research provides a full spectrum of preclinical models that are designed to reflect real-world biology and improve the likelihood of clinical success:

  • In vitro systems: High-throughput assays for rapid compound screening across viral targets.
  • Animal models: Scientifically validated, ethically managed, and optimized for translational relevance. Our infectious disease models have supported the development of antivirals, vaccines, and immunotherapies now in use worldwide.
  • Integrated immunology: Evaluations of host-pathogen interactions, immune response durability, and potential safety concerns that inform both efficacy and risk management.

These models are not off-the-shelf. Each is adapted to the sponsor’s unique program, helping teams identify promising candidates early and avoid costly failures later.

Pathogen-Specific Assays Built on Decades of Experience

Different pathogens demand different approaches. Southern Research has developed and validated assays across a broad range of infectious agents, including Viral pathogens like:

  • Influenza
  • Coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2)
  • Flaviviruses
  • other high-priority viral threats.

By tailoring assay design to each pathogen, our scientists provide sponsors with data that is not only robust but also clinically meaningful.

Supporting the Entire Discovery-to-IND Journey

Southern Research is more than a testing site; we are an integrated discovery partner. Our services span the full arc of preclinical infectious disease research, including:

  • Hit identification and lead optimization: Leveraging high-throughput screening (HTS) and custom assays to prioritize the most promising candidates.
  • Safety pharmacology and toxicology: GLP-compliant studies that ensure regulatory readiness.
  • Regulatory alignment: Expertise in FDA and global submission requirements, ensuring that study designs and data outputs meet expectations for IND filings.
  • Continuity across programs: The ability to move seamlessly from discovery-stage work into preclinical development, reducing costly delays or data gaps.

Why Sponsors Choose Southern Research

Southern Research offers a combination of assets that few organizations can match:

  • Biosafety infrastructure — Fully operational BSL-3 laboratories supporting high-risk pathogen research.
  • Scientific depth — Decades of hands-on experience advancing antivirals, vaccines, and antimicrobials into development.
  • Customized approaches — Every program is tailored to pathogen type, sponsor needs, and development stage.
  • Regulatory perspective — Studies are designed with the endpoint in mind, ensuring smooth IND and global submissions.
  • Proven impact — Our infectious disease research has contributed to FDA-approved therapies, global health programs, and pandemic preparedness efforts.

A Partner for Today’s and Tomorrow’s Infectious Disease Challenges

Global health threats will only continue to evolve. Sponsors need a partner who understands the science, anticipates the hurdles, and provides the infrastructure to deliver results quickly and responsibly.

At Southern Research, we help pharma and biotech companies move from complex questions to clear answers — and from promising ideas to therapies that save lives.