Southern Research Institute Continues to Play a Role in U.S. Government’s Program to Make World Safer

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Southern Research Institute today announced that its prime contracting partner, Black & Veatch, has been selected by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to continue its work in Ukraine to enhance the nation’s sustainable capacity to detect, diagnose, report, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Southern Research will continue working with Black & Veatch on this program, as it has since the first award in 2008.

“We are honored to continue working with Black & Veatch to support this important global program, using Southern Research’s unique knowledge and expertise about biosafety and advancing critical research to protect the world against infectious disease health threats”

"We are honored to continue working with Black & Veatch to support this important global program, using Southern Research’s unique knowledge and expertise about biosafety and advancing critical research to protect the world against infectious disease health threats," said Mark J. Suto, Ph.D., vice president of the Drug Discovery Division at Southern Research.

Under the contract, Black & Veatch will support implementation of the agency’s Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP) with the Government of Ukraine. This award has a potential contract value of about $85 million over five years. The CBEP program enhances the animal health system by providing modern lab facilities, equipment and training. Black & Veatch is completing support for similar program activities it began in 2008 to strengthen the human health system in Ukraine.

The DTRA rated Black & Veatch and its integrated partner companies at the highest “exceptional” level for contract performance in the first implementation phase of the Ukraine program from 2008 to present. In 2010, under the existing contract, Southern Research helped develop the Ukraine’s first Bio-Safety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory to enhance the existing biosurveillance system to detect and respond to bioterrorism and potential pandemics.

ABOUT SOUTHERN RESEARCH

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization founded in 1941 that conducts preclinical drug discovery and development, advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, and environment and energy research. More than 520 scientific and engineering team members support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Southern Research is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., with facilities in Wilsonville, Ala., Frederick, Md., and Durham, NC and offices in Huntsville, Ala., New Orleans, La., and Washington, DC.