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Why Turnaround Time Is Crucial for Biotech: Accelerating Preclinical Development Without Compromising Quality

Why Turnaround Time Is Crucial for Biotech: Accelerating Preclinical Development Without Compromising Quality

When lives are at stake, timelines aren’t abstract—they are the difference between possibility and progress. In biotech, the urgency of preclinical development is underscored by history: while Sanofi’s dengue vaccine took two decades to reach approval, the first mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 went from concept to distribution in just 10 months. That acceleration wasn’t only about scientific breakthroughs—it was about the entire research ecosystem working faster without sacrificing rigor.

At Southern Research, speed is built into our DNA. As one of only five organizations trusted by BARDA during Operation Warp Speed, we demonstrated what it means to be “pandemic ready.” Today, that same philosophy shapes every project we take on, from pandemic influenza studies in our expanded BSL-3 facilities to custom preclinical assays designed for rare diseases and novel therapies.

Turnaround Time as a Strategic Advantage

For small and mid-sized biotech companies, delays aren’t just inconvenient—they can be fatal to the program. Funding cycles, investor confidence, and IND submissions all hinge on meeting milestones. The so-called “valley of death” between discovery and clinical testing is where promising candidates too often stall, not because of science, but because timelines slip.

By responding to RFPs in half the time of typical CROs, and by validating new animal models in weeks instead of months, Southern Research helps sponsors cross that valley. Our teams know that every day shaved off a timeline is a day closer to patients who need solutions.

Removing Bottlenecks with Investment and Innovation

Turnaround time is not solved by working faster alone—it requires rethinking the entire workflow. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in:

  • Expanded BSL-3 capacity: tripling space to simultaneously run multiple vaccine and antiviral studies, minimizing delays when pathogens surge.
  • AI-enabled efficiency: from automating proposal generation for federal contracts to accelerating QC and report writing, we leverage AI to cut hours into minutes while maintaining quality oversight.
  • Digital pathology and advanced LIMS: digitized slide review and barcoded sample management streamline analysis and reduce time lost in manual steps.
  • Cross-trained staff: our scientists are specialists, but flexible enough to run multiple assays, ensuring projects don’t stall due to resource bottlenecks.

Meeting—and Defining—Industry Standards

Unlike large CROs that operate on cookie-cutter models, Southern Research is known for custom, GLP-compliant studies that don’t fit neatly into pre-defined templates. That means every proposal is unique, every timeline is tailored, and every deliverable is managed with project-specific rigor. We don’t promise unrealistic speeds; instead, we promise precision, transparency, and deadlines that sponsors can trust.

Preparing for What’s Next

As emerging threats like H5N1 influenza expand across species, the next pandemic is not a question of if, but when. At Southern Research, we’re already validating high-throughput immunogenicity assays to quadruple screening speed, ensuring we are ready to meet the next challenge before it arrives.

Turnaround time is not just a service metric—it is a responsibility. For more than 80 years, Southern Research has combined scientific expertise with agility, ensuring that when biotech companies need answers fast, they don’t have to choose between speed and quality. We are a pandemic-ready CRO, and we bring that same urgency to every partner we serve.