Southern Research
Southern Research is a nonprofit, integrated preclinical contract research organization founded in 1941 in Birmingham, Alabama, providing drug discovery and development services — including infectious disease, oncology, BSL-3 high-containment studies, PK/PD, toxicology, and bioanalysis — to biopharmaceutical companies, federal agencies, and biotech startups.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1941
- HeadquartersBirmingham, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Southern Research does
Southern Research is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) contract research organization founded in 1941 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, providing integrated preclinical drug discovery and development services to biopharmaceutical companies, government agencies, and biotech startups. Its core service portfolio is organized across three therapeutic areas — infectious disease, oncology, and emerging/rare diseases — and is supported by ten specialized capabilities including chemistry, ADME/in vitro toxicology, high-throughput screening, bioanalytical services, in vivo models (NHP, Syrian hamster, mouse), GLP-compliant toxicology and pharmacology, pathology, BSL-2/3 containment, therapeutic modalities, and clinical trial sample analysis. The organization has contributed to seven FDA-approved cancer drugs and has tested more than half of active chemotherapies in use in the United States, and it conducts significant work for government clients including BARDA and NIAID.
The technical foundation rests on a proprietary high-throughput screening platform called SR Insight, an on-site compound library of approximately 650,000 molecules, validated animal models for high-containment pathogens, and recently expanded (tripled) BSL-3 laboratory capacity. Beyond core CRO work, the organization operates Station 41 — a wholly-owned biotech commercialization hub providing wet lab incubator space, non-dilutive accelerator funding up to $300,000, a therapeutics development fund, and a venture studio — as well as Catalyst, a free statewide pharmacogenetic testing program for Alabama residents delivered with MyOme and Broad Clinical Labs. Revenue mechanics are project-based contract research plus federal grants and appropriations; customers include named biopharma (BioNTech, an unspecified Fortune 500 pharmaceutical) and federal agencies (BARDA, NIAID, DOE, EPA, Department of Commerce). The organization employs 200 scientists and professional staff and reports a $220 million annual economic impact on the Birmingham/Alabama region.
Southern Research firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Southern Research
- Legal name
- Southern Research
- Website
- https://southernresearch.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1941
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Southern Research is a nonprofit, integrated preclinical contract research organization founded in 1941 in Birmingham, Alabama, providing drug discovery and development services — including infectious disease, oncology, BSL-3 high-containment studies, PK/PD, toxicology, and bioanalysis — to biopharmaceutical companies, federal agencies, and biotech startups.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Southern Research industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Preclinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) Services
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Preclinical CROs (Discovery/Pharmacology/DMPK) (HLAGAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Specialty Therapeutic-Area CROs (e.g., oncology/rare disease) (HLAGAAAL), Clinical Research & Trial Central Laboratories (HLAFAMAL)
Keywords
Where Southern Research is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Birmingham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Southern Research business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Contract Research Services: CRO services providing preclinical drug discovery and development to pharmaceutical companies, biotech companies, and government agencies. Services include PK/PD studies, infectious disease efficacy studies, toxicology, bioanalysis, and clinical sample analysis.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Southern Research product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Southern Research is a nonprofit contract research organization (CRO) providing integrated preclinical drug discovery and development services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and government clients. Its offerings span therapeutic areas (infectious disease, oncology, emerging and rare diseases) supported by capabilities including chemistry, ADME and in vitro toxicology, high-throughput screening, bioanalytical services, in vivo models, toxicology and pharmacology, pathology, BSL-3 services, therapeutic modalities, and clinical trial sample analysis, delivered through BSL-2/3 laboratory facilities in Birmingham, Alabama.
Product overview
Southern Research is a nonprofit contract research organization (CRO) offering integrated preclinical drug discovery and development services through a unified platform. The core offering consists of therapeutic area services (Infectious Disease Research, Oncology, Emerging & Rare Disease Initiatives) supported by specialized capabilities including Chemistry, ADME & In Vitro Toxicology, High-Throughput Screening, Bioanalytical Services, In Vivo Models, Toxicology and Pharmacology, Pathology, BSL-3 Services, Therapeutic Modalities, and Clinical Trial Sample Analysis. Additionally, the organization operates Station 41, a biotech commercialization hub with incubator, accelerator, and venture studio programs, and Catalyst, a free statewide pharmacogenetic testing initiative. These components work together to provide end-to-end support from early discovery through clinical development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Southern Research
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Southern Research technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Southern Research partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Pathogenus ConsultingcoreThree-year partnership combining Southern Research's BSL-2/3 laboratory infrastructure in Birmingham, Alabama with Pathogenus's European scientific network spanning the U.K., Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Collaboration focuses on respiratory viruses including influenza, RSV, and COVID-19, as well as Dengue fever and cancer research, serving international biotech companies developing treatments for emerging and re-emerging diseases.
- MyOme and Broad Clinical LabssupportingPartnership to support Southern Research's Catalyst program bringing genetics-driven health insights to Alabamians free of charge. MyOme and Broad Clinical Labs provide genetic testing analysis and clinical laboratory services for the statewide initiative.
- Southern Biologic Solutions (SBS)supportingBirmingham-based biotechnology company using $200,000 funding from Southern Research to pursue FDA approval for its biologic wound-healing therapy. Southern Research providing preclinical testing support using genetically altered rats to verify therapy's efficacy against infection.
- Radyus ResearchcoreStrategic partnership to offer comprehensive umbrella of integrated preclinical services to clients. Combines Southern Research's laboratory research capabilities with Radyus Research's innovative planning and project management approaches to provide one-stop solution for life sciences commercialization from drug discovery through regulatory approval.
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)coreStrategic affiliation for collaborative research including animal behavior/neuroscience, preclinical imaging, human imaging, high-resolution imaging, research MRI, mass spectrometry/proteomics, genomics, macromolecular structure, metabolism, and chemistry research. Station 41 accelerator includes non-dilutive funding up to $300,000 in collaboration with UAB.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Southern Research competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Inotiv: Inotiv is a preclinical CRO focused on toxicology, safety assessment, and research models for pharma and biotech clients, competing directly with Southern Research's in vivo toxicology and animal model capabilities.
- WuXi AppTec: WuXi AppTec operates a global preclinical and clinical CRO platform with deep capabilities in drug discovery, toxicology, and bioanalysis, competing head-to-head with Southern Research for biotech and pharma preclinical contracts.
- ICON plc: ICON is a full-service CRO offering preclinical through clinical research services to pharma and biotech, with comparable capabilities in bioanalysis, PK/PD, and regulatory support that compete with Southern Research's service portfolio.
- Labcorp Drug Development: Labcorp's Drug Development segment (formerly Covance) provides preclinical and clinical research services including bioanalytical and toxicology offerings that directly overlap with Southern Research's integrated preclinical CRO portfolio.
- Frontage Laboratories: Frontage Laboratories provides integrated drug discovery, preclinical, and bioanalytical services including PK/PD and toxicology, serving as a comparable mid-sized CRO alternative for biotech and pharma clients.
- Charles River Laboratories: Charles River Laboratories is the largest global preclinical CRO, offering integrated drug discovery, safety assessment, and manufacturing services closely overlapping with Southern Research's preclinical offering, particularly in infectious disease and oncology animal models.
- Lovelace Biomedical: Lovelace Biomedical is a nonprofit preclinical research organization offering toxicology, infectious disease, and inhalation studies, structurally and operationally similar to Southern Research's preclinical CRO business.
Broad incumbents
- IQVIA: IQVIA is a global life sciences services leader spanning clinical research, real-world evidence, and technology; its preclinical and laboratory services overlap with Southern Research's offerings as part of a much broader portfolio.
- Battelle Memorial Institute: Battelle is a large nonprofit applied science organization with life sciences research operations including preclinical CRO services; it is directly comparable in structure and Southern Research's COO Harry Ledebur previously served as VP of Life Sciences Research there.
Others
- SRI International: SRI International is a nonprofit R&D organization with biosciences and drug discovery programs; while broader in scope, it shares Southern Research's nonprofit structure, federal funding model, and life sciences contract research orientation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Southern Research social profiles
Digital presenceSouthern Research financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Southern Research leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Southern Research subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Southern Research funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors3 records
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Southern Research M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments9 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Southern Research
What does Southern Research do?
Southern Research is a nonprofit contract research organization (CRO) providing integrated preclinical drug discovery and development services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and government clients. Its offerings span therapeutic areas (infectious disease, oncology, emerging and rare diseases) supported by capabilities including chemistry, ADME and in vitro toxicology, high-throughput screening, bioanalytical services, in vivo models, toxicology and pharmacology, pathology, BSL-3 services, therapeutic modalities, and clinical trial sample analysis, delivered through BSL-2/3 laboratory facilities in Birmingham, Alabama.
Is Southern Research a public or private company?
Southern Research is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Southern Research founded?
Southern Research was founded in 1941. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Southern Research based?
Southern Research is headquartered in Birmingham, United States, in the North America region.
How does Southern Research make money?
One revenue line is on record: contract Research Services.
Who are Southern Research's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Inotiv, WuXi AppTec, ICON plc, Labcorp Drug Development, Frontage Laboratories, Charles River Laboratories and Lovelace Biomedical. Broad incumbents are IQVIA and Battelle Memorial Institute. SRI International is listed as an others.
Does Southern Research have an API?
No public API is recorded for Southern Research.
What industry is Southern Research in?
Southern Research's product category is Preclinical Contract Research Organization (CRO) Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAAAB, Preclinical CROs (Discovery/Pharmacology/DMPK), with a secondary code of HLAGAAAL, Specialty Therapeutic-Area CROs (e.g., oncology/rare disease). Its NAICS code is 54171 and its SIC code is 8731.