Since 1941, the people of Southern Research have contributed to mankind's quality of life through advancements leading to life-saving drugs, safer space exploration, cleaner air and energy production, and enhanced national defense. Southern Research is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) scientific and engineering research organization conducting basic and applied research in Alabama, Maryland, and North Carolina in the areas of drug discovery, preclinical drug development, advanced engineering, and environmental protection.

Southern Research is a self-sustaining research organization and an incorporated affiliate of The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). We are brought together because of a shared belief in the power and potential of collaborative research. Southern Research and UAB have long-standing relationships in areas such as materials engineering, high-performance computing, breast cancer research, glial biology, cystic fibrosis research, and gene therapy. Read about some of our collaborations with UAB and other organizations.

Mission

Southern Research is an innovative research organization serving the life sciences, engineering, energy, and environmental protection industries. We are committed to providing the highest quality of service to our clients, operating at the highest levels of integrity, and contributing to the betterment of mankind.

We pursue entrepreneurial and collaborative initiatives to develop and maintain a pipeline of intellectual property and innovative technologies that contribute to the growth of the organization and positively impact real-world problems.

Southern Research Life Sciences

Drug Discovery and Preclinical Drug Development

Through an extensive drug discovery and development program, Southern Research provides scientific expertise and a comprehensive suite of highly specialized capabilities which enable its clients to effectively and efficiently navigate the increasingly important and complex drug discovery and development continuum, from initial targeting and lead identification through the completion of preclinical research and into the early phases of clinical trials.

As a leading contract research organization, Southern Research provides preclinical drug development services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies on an outsourced basis. Southern Research provides services 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.

From our government and internal discovery programs, we generate intellectual property that is available for collaborative development and licensing, and we enter into commercial research partnerships that result in shared intellectual property.

Southern Research and its staff are recognized internationally for the discovery and evaluation of anticancer therapeutics and the evaluation of antiviral and antimicrobial drugs, biologics, and vaccines. Additional competencies in central nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases as well as a variety of other disease states have enhanced Southern Research's portfolio of expertise.

Learn more about Southern Research Life Sciences.

Advanced Engineering

Since its founding in 1941, Engineering at Southern Research has become widely recognized as a leader in contract research services in highly technical industry sectors. Engineering focuses its research and development in the areas of thermal and structural behaviors of advanced composite materials, advanced material processing techniques, electro-mechanical systems and integration, aerospace engineering, and computational sciences. Clients include most federal agencies and numerous commercial companies worldwide. Southern Research engineers welcome opportunities to provide contract research services to clients and to partner in joint development of new technologies.

Learn more about Southern Research Engineering.

Energy and Environment

For more than 35 years, Southern Research has provided environmental and energy services and solutions to government and commercial organizations around the world. These partnerships often have led to groundbreaking developments of new test methods and instruments, improvement of process and emission control technologies, solutions to daunting new environmental and energy challenges, and other important contributions to science. Today, Southern Research continues its legacy by focusing on the development of innovative technical solutions to improve air quality, provide clean water, and produce cleaner energy.

Our scientists, engineers, and technicians work together with clients to evaluate and develop technologies that reduce harmful emissions and track greenhouse gas reduction in the electric power, alternative fuels, oil and gas, waste management, and transportation industries.

Life Sciences

From discovery to clinical trials, Southern Research contributes to the search for new and better drugs and vaccines through a comprehensive continuum of capabilities. As a contract research organization, Southern Research provides preclinical drug development and clinical trial support services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies on an outsourced basis.

Engineering

Engineering focuses its research and development in the areas of advanced material processing techniques, electro-mechanical systems and integration, aerospace engineering, and computational sciences. Clients include most federal agencies and numerous commercial companies worldwide.