Program areas at Southern Research Institute
The engineering division develops engineering solutions to complex problems through characterizing the mechanical, thermal, physical, and chemical properties of advanced materials. The engineering division is also developing new, low-cost processes to produce carbon/carbon and polymer matrix composite materials and aerogels (ultra-light foam), as well as processing methods to fabricate these materials for a wide variety of applications from automotive and recreational products to the most advanced aerospace applications. Southern Research Institute also provides environmental Research and services to government, industry, and private institutions. The Research has led to the development of new test methods and instruments, the improvement of process and emission control technologies, solutions to daunting new environmental challenges, and other important contributions to environmental sciences.
Cro services provides drug discovery and pre-clinical drug development to pharmaceutical and biotechnology on an outsourced basis. Southern Research Institute has capabilities in all phases of the early-stage drug discovery and development process and provides clients with comprehensive services and support to assist them in streamlining their custom drug discovery and development programs. Some of Southern Research Institute's significant pre-clinical Research accomplishments include: demonstrated the efficacy of combination chemotherapy in mice, leading the way for the development of therapeutic approaches with improved clinical outcomes in certain cancers, performed pre-clinical drug development evaluations and analyses on approximately half of the fda-approved cancer therapeutics currently on the market, and contributed to the development of the first drug delivery technology for the extended release of synthetic agents that promote the treatment of prostate cancer.
Scientific platforms has accomplished innovative Research in the areas of cancer, infectious disease, and neuroscience. With a focus on the discovery of new, small-molecule therapeutics and the understanding of how these molecules work, drug discovery carries out translational science designed to invent small molecules and advance them from the design stage to the clinic. Government funding supports our efforts in pioneering new scientific areas of drug discovery. The scientific platforms' staff provides expertise in medicinal chemistry, molecular biology, biochemistry, and high-throughput screening technologies, all focused on making discoveries that will contribute to improving human health. The scientific platforms' team has been very effective in its efforts and has discovered more than 20 drugs that have entered clinical trials and six drugs that have been approved by the fda for use in the treatment of cancer.
Southern Research's stem education outreach program is involved in a wide variety of programs that impact students and teachers in Alabama. The mission of sr's stem program is to enhance 6th 12th grade stem education by drawing upon the expertise and scholarly contributions of the Southern Research community. We aim to define and exemplify effective stem education to maximize students' readiness to excel in a rapidly changing world. We are working to achieve our education mission by engaging students and teachers in stem activities through summer learning programs, field trips, after-school programing, stem competitions and science fairs, internships, and professional development workshops for stem educators. Our primary objective is to embolden students who possess a passion for innovation and discovery to pursue their interests and strengthen the stem community. Southern Research is committed to fostering creativity and impacting the future generation.