Southern Research Historic Background

Southern Research Institute was founded in 1941 for the purpose of serving as an external, post-Depression research and development organization for Alabama industries. World War II erupted shortly thereafter, putting plans to launch Southern Research Institute on hold for four years. Southern Research began operations in Birmingham, Alabama in 1945.

Today, Southern Research is an innovative not-for-profit research organization serving clients in life sciences, engineering, environmental protection, and energy around the world. 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. To be concise, we focus on technologies that make the country stronger, safer and cleaner.

Southern Research played a critical role in the discovery of seven FDA-approved anti-cancer drugs now being used by patients. Seven additional drugs are currently in late stage preclinical and early clinical trials. Our scientists play a pivotal role in helping the U.S. government respond to potential public health issues such as the threats of SARS and H1N1 (Avian) influenza by helping to evaluate potential vaccines and therapies.

For more than 40 years, Southern Research engineers have supported manned spaceflight, including the Space Shuttle program, since its earliest years, and now play integral roles in U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Homeland Security programs. Southern Research also conducts research that is critical to finding and developing new forms of bio-energy and alternative fuels, clean-coal technologies, next generation composite materials for advanced space flight, lightweight materials for advanced transportation and power delivery, and imaging systems for airborne flight platforms.