Southern Research

09/01/2026

Sometimes the biggest impact originates from the people who simply show up.

Charles Kettering, the prolific GM inventor, became one of Southern Research's earliest and most engaged supporters after meeting founder Thomas Martin in 1945. He contributed funding, expertise, and made regular trips to Birmingham to encourage the team in person.

His foundation's generosity helped fund our first permanent biomedical research facility: the Kettering-Meyer Laboratory. Southern Research's Kettering-Meyer Laboratories were formally affiliated with the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, creating an integrated cancer chemotherapy research program.

A fitting close to this series and a reminder that our legacy was built by visionaries and supporters who believed in the mission from the start.

Read the full story: https://southernresearch.org/kettering/

Thank you for following along with this celebration of Southern Research at 85. 🎉

08/25/2026

A $25,000 gift with one condition and a legacy that changed cancer treatment.

In 1946, Mobile lumber magnate Ben May donated to Southern Research on one condition: the money had to improve human welfare, not just industry. That gift launched our cancer research program, with Dr. Howard Skipper leading work that would define the fundamentals of modern chemotherapy.

At a time when the field faced widespread skepticism, Skipper's team demonstrated the principles of combination chemotherapy through work that drew major funding from the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society and built a reputation that reached far beyond the South.

It's also a personal story: of friendship, gratitude, and believing in something bigger than yourself.

Read the full story: https://southernresearch.org/ben-mays-gift/

08/18/2026

One of our first research projects? Making peanut butter more spreadable.

In 1945, Southern Research's entire scientific staff was just two people. From stabilizing peanut butter to developing artificial flavors and early military chemical agent detectors, that small team took on an ambitious range of work.

By September of that year, the team had grown to 20 scientists with $250,000 in sponsored projects. Three years later, the staff neared 90 - early proof the mission was taking hold fast.

Read the full story: https://southernresearch.org/improving-peanut-butter/

08/13/2026

Every great organization has an origin story, and ours starts with a simple five-minute speech.

In 1941, Thomas Martin, the president of Alabama Power, saw untapped industrial potential across the South and decided to act. Backed by nearly 80 business leaders and a grassroots financing campaign, his vision became what is now known as Southern Research.

From that five-minute speech to the Alabama Chamber of Commerce to the founding meeting in Room 236 of the Tutwiler Hotel, it took real determination and collaboration to build something built to last.

Read the original story from 2016 that still resonates today: https://southernresearch.org/southern-research-founding/

08/06/2026

85 years ago, a bold idea took root: science and industry could lift an entire region.

That idea became Southern Research.

Over the coming weeks, we're celebrating 85 years by revisiting the stories that shaped us, starting with our founding and the people who made it happen.

Follow along as we share this series, first told in 2016 and now revisited for our 85th year.

04/30/2026

If you're connected to a middle or high school student in the Birmingham area, this one's worth sharing.

Southern Research's STEM program offers hands-on science experiences for K-12 students across Alabama, and summer camp spots are filling fast. From "Break into Biotech" for middle schoolers to "Biotech Academy" and "BioScholars Institute" for high schoolers, students work in real labs, explore biomedical science, and get a genuine look at what a career in STEM can look like.

All programs are held at Southern Research's STEM Outreach Center, located inside our newly built research facility in Birmingham. Scholarships are available.

Learn more and register: southernresearch.org/stem

03/11/2026

The SMART Antiviral Prize Concept Stage deadline is nearing.

Reviewers expect clear, fit-for-purpose data — not generic screening packages.

Southern Research combines validated biochemical and cell-based assays with chemistry and PK support to create decision-grade results that align with BARDA expectations.

You retain your IP. No reach-through.

Let’s outline a focused ex*****on plan for your submission. Contact us: https://southernresearch.org/contact/

03/04/2026

It is great to be at , in London with the team and our partners, Pathogenus.
Conversations here keep reminding us why this work matters — sponsors are sitting on powerful data, and the gap between that insight and actual clinical proof points is where we live. Whether it's infectious disease models, efficacy studies, or PK evaluation, that's the work we're here to support.
If you're around today, be sure to find us — always happy to talk science (or say hello).

03/02/2026

At AACR-IO, Dr. Rebecca Boohaker outlines her poster that explores the overlap between macrophage biology and checkpoint inhibition:
“Macrophage Reprogramming and Immune Checkpoint Blockade Efficacy in the Lewis Lung Carcinoma Model: Utility of Longitudinal CD206-Targeted Molecular Imaging.”

This work enables real-time identification of immune modulation via CD206-targeted molecular imaging, provides new insights into therapeutic response prediction, and reinforces our focus on advancing immuno-oncology models that generate actionable insights.

12/09/2025

Clinical evidence drives progress in health and medicine, yet many communities remain underrepresented in research. As a CRO dedicated to closing that gap, we are proud to have launched Catalyst by Southern Research, a multi-omic program that provides free, clinical-grade genetic testing and personalized guidance to Alabama adults.

Mallie’s story shows how this access can help an individual understand their hereditary risks and chart a more informed path forward:

Meet Mallie, a Birmingham local, who heard about Catalyst by Southern Research's free genetic testing through a friend and wanted to give it a try. She was a...