Birmingham, Ala. — Southern Research Institute today announced that its president and CEO, Arthur J. Tipton, Ph.D., has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Dr. Tipton was one of 143 innovators nominated and elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to innovation in areas such as patents and licensing, innovative discovery and technology, significant impact on society, and support and enhancement of innovation.

Tipton and the other new Fellows will be inducted by Deputy U.S. Commissioner for Patents Andy Faile, from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, during the 3rd Annual Conference of the National Academy of Inventors, on March 7, 2014, in Alexandria, Va., at the headquarters of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The 2013 class of NAI Fellows represents 94 universities and governmental and non-profit research institutes. Together, they hold more than 5,600 U.S. patents. Included are 26 presidents and senior leaders from research universities and non-profit research institutes, 69 members of the National Academies, five inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, six recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation, two recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Science and nine Nobel Laureates.

Tipton was named president and CEO of Southern Research Institute in 2013, and has 31 issued U.S. patents, 22 published U.S. patent applications, and numerous foreign equivalents, with more than 70 presentations and publications.

He has worked in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry for 25 years, participating in the growth aspects of three start-up companies. The company he founded in 2005 as a Southern Research Institute spin-out company—Brookwood Pharmaceuticals—was acquired by SurModics in August 2007 and then by Evonik in November 2011. At Evonik, Tipton served as senior vice president of the Birmingham Division and also led the company’s global drug delivery program.

From 1993 to 2004, Tipton held roles of increasing responsibility at Durect Corporation, including that of senior vice president of biodegradable systems, chief operating officer, vice president of its wholly-owned subsidiary Southern BioSystems, and president of Birmingham Polymers. He was with Atrix Laboratories (now part of QLT Inc.) from 1988 until 1993, as manager of Polymer Science and Senior Polymer Chemist.

Tipton serves on multiple boards including the Controlled Release Society (CRS), the Birmingham Venture Club, the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama Foundation, and the Biotech Association of Alabama (BioAlabama). He is a fellow of AIMBE and CRS and was awarded the CRS Distinguished Service Award in 2012. He serves as an external advisor to the Biomedical Engineering Department at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and volunteers as a mentor and judge in business plan competitions.

The NAI Fellows Selection Committee was comprised of 13 Members including NAI Charter Fellows, recipients of U.S. National Medals, National Inventors Hall of Fame inductees, members of the National Academies and senior officials from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Association of University Technology Managers, and the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

About Southern Research Institute

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. Approximately 500 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 additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Ala., Frederick, Md., Durham, NC, Houston, TX, and Cartersville, Ga.

The National Academy of Inventors® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit member organization comprised of U.S. and international universities, and governmental and non-profit research institutions, with over 3,000 individual inventor members and Fellows spanning more than 200 institutions, and growing rapidly. It was founded in 2010 to recognize and encourage inventors with patents issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, enhance the visibility of academic technology and innovation, encourage the disclosure of intellectual property, educate and mentor innovative students, and translate the inventions of its members to benefit society. The NAI edits the multidisciplinary journal, Technology and Innovation – Proceedings of the National Academy of Inventors, published by Cognizant Communication Corporation (NY).

New director is a recognized international expert in power plant systems R&D

Birmingham, Ala. – Southern Research Institute today announced that it has hired Mark Berry, Ph.D.—a highly regarded R&D professional in the electric utilities industry—to direct its Environment and Energy research operations based in Alabama.

“We were looking for a recognized leader in environment and energy research; someone who could help us continue our growth trajectory as this business enters the next phases of growth and technology development,” said Michael D. Johns, vice president of Engineering. “Dr. Berry brings all of those qualifications and more. We are adding a spectacular talent and leader to our ranks and I look forward to seeing what Southern Research can accomplish going forward.”

“I was always intrigued by the unique mix of technical know-how and entrepreneurial spirit that has always existed at Southern Research,” said Dr. Berry. “I am excited about the current technical program, but more excited about all of the opportunities for growth and development into new areas that exist. I am truly honored that I have been given this opportunity.”

Berry is a recognized international expert in the control of vapor phase mercury and particulate matter via electrostatic precipitation, fabric filtration, selective catalytic reduction, and flue gas desulfurization equipment. He was previously Manager of Environmental Assessment for Southern Company’s Research and Environmental Affairs organization where he managed the company’s regulatory response to federal rulemaking activity and its environmental science research program.

Berry spent 15 years working in various capacities as an applied researcher to aid in the development of technologies to reduce emissions from power plants. Berry started his employment with Southern Company Services as a research analyst and eventually became Director of Research and Technology Management with responsibilities managing R&D efforts in environmental controls, advanced generation development, power delivery and end use.

Berry was also instrumental in creating the state-of-the-art Water Research Center (WRC) at Georgia Power Company’s Plant Bowen site in Cartersville, Ga. The WRC focuses on finding new ways to reduce, conserve and improve the quality of water returned to the environment from power plants. It is the first U.S. research facility of its kind, and is made possible through a partnership with Georgia Power, EPRI, Southern Research Institute and 14 other companies aligned with the power generation industry.

Berry holds four patents regarding technical approaches to control emissions from coal-fired power plants. During his career, Berry has made numerous presentations on various environmental related technical issues at local, regional, national and international meetings and conferences. He has held leadership positions with the Utility Air Regulatory Group (UARG) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). He currently serves as President of the International Society of Electrostatic Precipitators (ISESP) and is an active member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Berry, a native of Birmingham, is a registered professional engineer (Alabama) and has a doctorate degree in Interdisciplinary Engineering from The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Alabama A&M University; bachelor’s and master’s of science degrees in Mechanical Engineering from UAB, and a master’s degree in Public and Private Management (MPPM) from Birmingham Southern College. Berry attained the commissioned rank of Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer.

About Southern Research Institute

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. Approximately 500 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 additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Ala., Frederick, Md., Durham, NC, Houston, TX, and Cartersville, Ga.

PNP Therapeutics, Inc. — a company based on a gene-therapy technology developed by scientists at Southern Research Institute and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) — has found an approach that has abolished otherwise unmanageable human cancers in preclinical rodent studies.

PNP confirmed that it has completed the first three cohorts of its Phase I clinical trial and is now recruiting for the fourth cohort. The company is looking ahead to Phase II trials and seeking an appropriate partner in the pharmaceutical industry.

“We are pleased with the progress made by the product thus far,” said William B. Parker, Ph.D., senior research fellow at Southern Research Institute. He is also one of the discoverers of the company’s proprietary technology. “Many common cancers, such as head and neck cancers, become untreatable despite the best medical intervention and the highest standard of care. There are compounds that can be used to treat these tumors, but the drugs are typically much too toxic. Our technology spares the patient from unnecessary exposure to chemotherapy, and can be used safely because the active agents are confined within a tumor mass.”

In Phase I clinical trials, patient safety and efficacy are evaluated. In PNP’s Phase I trial, an adenoviral vector is used to deliver E. coli PNP to head and neck tumors followed by intravenous administration of the prodrug fludarabine. The therapy was well-tolerated in the first nine patients, and doctors have detected efficacy.

“The therapy was well-tolerated, and all patients completed therapy with no major toxicities associated with the treatment,” said Dr. Eben Rosenthal, John S. Odess Professor of Surgery and director of Otolaryngology at UAB, and principal investigator for the clinical trial. “The most common event related to treatment was pain, itching or redness associated with the injection site and flu-like symptoms in the days immediately following viral injection. Importantly, in our most recent patients, the therapy has resulted in one complete response and two partial responses.”

The technology — based on the notion that solid tumors can be programmed to generate their own very potent chemotherapy — was discovered by Parker and Eric Sorscher, M.D., professor of Medicine of Hematology/Oncology at UAB. Selectivity of the therapeutic approach is achieved by producing an enzyme called E. coli purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) directly within tumor cells and using the enzyme to generate novel chemotherapy in the tumor mass itself. The resulting compound works by a unique mechanism of action unlike any drug currently used in the treatment of cancer, and it destroys replicating and nonreplicating malignant cells while minimizing damage to surrounding, healthy cells.

Over the course of its development, PNP has secured grants from the National Institutes of Health of approximately $10 million to support preclinical research at Southern Research Institute and UAB. In September 2013, UAB and Southern Research received notice of allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office of a significant new patent exclusively licensed to PNP that protects the product currently being tested in patients.

PNP’s funding has been provided by Birmingham Technology Fund (managed by Greer Capital Advisors) and Phase I Holdings LLC (managed by John C. Lankford, Ph.D.), with co-investments by Southern Research Institute, UAB-affiliated foundations and local private-equity investors.

Charles K. Porter, who serves on both the Southern Research Institute and the UAB Research Foundation boards of directors, describes the investments by Southern Research and UAB affiliates as an indication of confidence.

“Southern Research Institute is well-known in the industry for having discovered a significant number of FDA-approved anti-cancer drugs, so it is only natural they would take an important leadership role in the advancement of this technology,” Porter said. “Southern Research also had notable success with the creation, spin-out and ultimately the sale of Brookwood Pharmaceuticals. Not only is their science knowledge outstanding, but their business acumen is equally impressive.”

PNP is a board-managed company under the direction of Chairman John C. Lankford, Ph.D., President James F. Fuqua, William B. Parker, Ph.D., Lawrence W. Greer Sr., DDS, J. Claude Bennett, M.D., and Charles K. Porter. For further information about PNP’s clinical trials, please visit clinicaltrials.gov or call Lisa Clemons, R.N., at 205-934-9713.

About PNP Therapeutics

PNP Therapeutics®, Inc., is an early-stage, biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of a platform technology and proprietary products for the treatment of cancer. The technology is currently in Phase I clinical trials. PNP is the exclusive licensee of a comprehensive collection of patents that broadly and specifically cover the Company’s technology. These patents are owned jointly by the UAB Research Foundation and Southern Research Institute.

This press news release contains statements regarding performance or achievements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause PNP’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied. These statements reflect our current views and are based on assumptions, and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these statements. Some of the factors that could affect the statements contained herein include: that PNP may not be able to enroll the required number of subjects in its Phase I clinical trial; that PNP or its sub-licensees may not be able to enroll the required number of subjects in planned future clinical trials, or that PNP may not reach any agreement with prospective sub-licensees or receive FDA approvals for further clinical trials.

Center will explore ways to reduce, conserve and improve power plant water use

Atlanta– Southern Research Institute, Georgia Power and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) today dedicated the new Water Research Center (WRC) at Plant Bowen near Cartersville, Ga. The state-of-the-art center will focus on finding new ways to reduce, conserve and improve the quality of water returned to the environment from power plants. The WRC is the first U.S. research facility of its kind, and is made possible through a partnership with EPRI, the Southern Research Institute and 14 other companies aligned with the power generation industry.

During the dedication, research center partners met with industry leaders, local citizens and media to discuss how the center will be used to test technologies and find more ways to protect water resources. The WRC will provide a site for testing technologies to address water withdrawal and consumption, as well as explore ways to recycle or improve the quality of any water returned to the environment. The research facility is expected to yield industry-wide insights that will help power companies minimize the use of water and increase conservation of this valuable natural resource.

“We’re proud to host the new Water Research Center at one of our largest generation facilities. Efficient water management is the responsibility of every energy company and, through the work of this center, we will lead the industry in developing new ways to use and conserve this critical resource,” said Paul Bowers, president and CEO of Georgia Power. “In all areas of our business, we’re committed to conducting cutting-edge research that helps us provide clean, reliable and affordable power to customers both now and in the future.”

“The results of the Water Research Center’s test projects are being shared among Georgia Power, EPRI members and the broader electric generation industry,” said Arshad Mansoor, senior vice president of the Research and Development Group for EPRI. “This helps electricity generators all over the world to understand the performance of new technology research and, where appropriate, implement cost-effective strategies to improve water use efficiency and reduce liquid pollutant discharges.”

“We are excited to be collaborating with our partners in the Water Research Center,” added Arthur J. Tipton, Ph.D., Southern Research president and CEO. “The goals of minimizing industry water use and positively impacting conservation not only benefit the power generation industry, but also the environment, and future generations to come. This is a win in every way.”

From steam-driven turbines to hydroelectric power, water is an essential component in the generation of electricity. Georgia Power said it is constantly working to find new ways to protect water resources and use them more efficiently. The company withdraws approximately 1.3 billion gallons of water every day from Georgia’s public water ways to generate electricity for 2.4 million customers and, with a focus on conservation and recycling efforts, returns as much as 90 percent directly to the original source.

During the dedication, research center partners highlighted a number of the center’s benefits including the seven distinct research areas of study:

• Moisture Recovery: Researching innovative technologies and methods to recover moisture that would otherwise be consumed or lost through emissions “scrubbing,” cooling tower plumes and flue gas.
• Cooling Tower and Advanced Cooling Systems: Examining new ideas for reducing cooling water use such as increasing cooling tower cycles of concentration, diverting/reducing cooling tower heat loads, assessing the feasibility and applicability of hybrid wet/dry cooling systems and more.
• FGD/Process Wastewater Treatment: Focusing on technologies to treat and reuse water from various waste sources throughout the plant – including flue gas desulfurization (FGD) discharges, cooling tower blowdown, floor drains and storm water runoff.
• Zero-Liquid Discharge: Exploring technologies that separate pollutant-bearing waters into a solid material that can be used or landfilled and a high-quality distillate that can be reused.
• Solid Landfill Water Management: Exploring water issues related to managing on-site landfills with the addition of new solids such as zero-liquid discharge salts and sludges.
• Carbon Technology Water Issues: Developing models to determine the impacts of various post-combustion, carbon-capture technologies on the use of water at the plant site to reduce the impact of carbon dioxide capture on plant water use.
• Water Modeling, Monitoring & Best Management Practices: Using results from each of the focus areas to model strategies for managing water use/reuse and to explore tools for evaluating overall water use (baseline and real time).

The center is an extension of a pilot project that began in May 2010 at Plant Bowen to identify opportunities to address water withdrawal, consumption and recycling. In the future, the center may also serve as an educational hub for members of the surrounding communities about the importance of water conservation, including schoolchildren, elected officials and community leaders.

To access media images of the new Water Research Center, visit http://gapwr.co/gpcphotos.

About Georgia Power

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), one of the nation’s largest generators of electricity. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company’s promise to 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, 21st century coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Consistently recognized as a leader in customer service, Georgia Power was recently ranked highest in overall business customer satisfaction among large utilities in the South by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).

About EPRI

The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI, www.epri.com) conducts research and development relating to the generation, delivery and use of electricity for the benefit of the public. An independent, nonprofit organization, EPRI brings together its scientists and engineers as well as experts from academia and industry to help address challenges in electricity, including reliability, efficiency, health, safety and the environment. EPRI’s members represent more than 90 percent of the electricity generated and delivered in the United States, and international participation extends to 40 countries. EPRI’s principal offices and laboratories are located in Palo Alto, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Lenox, Mass.

About Southern Research Institute

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. Approximately 500 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 additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Ala., Frederick, Md., Durham, NC, and Cartersville, Ga.

Birmingham, Ala. — Southern Research Institute today announced that it has been awarded a critical new research program to study the potential impact of early life exposure to certain chemicals and to determine their impact to developmental and reproductive systems. The program will also evaluate the impact to other non-reproductive organ systems, including those that cause neurobehavioral and immunological health deficiencies which may not be discovered until later in life.

This National Toxicology Program (NTP) contract was awarded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)—a research institute of the National Institutes for Health—under contact number HHSN273201300010C which has a potential total contract value of more than $70 million over the next 10 years.

“During this time of uncertain federal funding, Southern Research is honored to have been selected to conduct this work, especially knowing that the data generated will provide valuable information to scientists, medical researchers, and clinicians about how these chemical test articles affect the development of early life and reproductive systems, and what other long-term effects that exposure could have,” said Andrew D. Penman, Ph.D., Vice President of Drug Development at Southern Research Institute.

“Southern Research’s historically-rich general toxicology capabilities and prior NTP experience, together with the expertise of our developmental and reproductive toxicology group, enabled us to put forth our strongest possible offering to the NTP,” said Kellye K. Daniels, Ph.D., Director of Toxicology and Pathology Services.

Charles D. Hébert, Ph.D. will serve as the principal investigator. The NTP requires support to conduct short- and long-term toxicity studies following pre- and postnatal exposure to a variety of test articles by various routes of exposure. Agents studied may include environmental chemicals; food additives, colorants or flavorings; pharmaceuticals and herbal remedies; pesticides; ingredients found in a variety of consumer products including soaps and cosmetics; detergents and cleaners; nanomaterials; and chemicals used in manufacturing or industrial settings.

Three years ago, Southern Research made a significant investment in its reproductive toxicology program with the hiring of Eve Mylchreest, Ph.D., Program Leader of the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicology (DART) program at Southern Research. Mylchreest has led the development of the program, ensuring that Southern Research had the facilities, equipment and training to deliver on commercial client work and government contracts such as the NTP.

“There is a growing need to look not just at the impact of chemical exposures on adult health, but also to specifically understand what impact they may have on the male and female reproductive systems and future generations of the species,” said Mylchreest. “DART testing is so critical in better understanding which chemicals in our environment could pose a hazard to sensitive life stages such as pregnancy and childhood, as well as in identifying the long term impact of these early life stage exposures.”

About the National Toxicology Program (NTP)

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) was established within the Department of Health and Human Services and charged with coordinating toxicological testing programs within the Public Health Service of the Department. The NTP, as part of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), is responsible for evaluating the toxic and carcinogenic potential of environmental agents that may pose a health hazard to citizens of the United States. NIEHS is a research agency of the National Institutes for Health.

About Southern Research Institute

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. Approximately 500 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 additional laboratories and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Ala., Frederick, Md., Durham, NC, and Cartersville, Ga.

Birmingham, Ala. – Alabama’s top commerce official was in Birmingham today to tour one of the state’s earliest economic development projects—Southern Research Institute, a not-for-profit research organization chartered in 1941.

“The Southern Research Institute has been ahead of its time for many decades, and now it is a perfect fit with our economic development plan for Alabama’s future—Accelerate Alabama,” said Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield. “We are actively targeting biotechnology and the scientific research it brings. We appreciate the trail that was blazed by Southern Research and hope to be working with them for many years.”

“Southern Research was established in Alabama more than 72 years ago, but its reach and representation for this state is both national and international,” said Art. J. Tipton, Ph.D., Southern Research president and CEO. “Every day in our interactions we are working with clients all over the world and laying the foundation for scientific and engineering advancements for the next 75 years. Alabama is a good home base for us, and we were very pleased to have Secretary Canfield tour our facilities and meet the men and women who are working to solve real world problems and improve our health, our nation’s security and the environment.”

Southern Research employs around 500 people primarily in Alabama, North Carolina and Maryland, and works with research agencies of the U.S. government, universities, defense and aerospace contractors, energy and fuel companies, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. It counts among its successes the discovery of seven FDA-approved anti-cancer drugs, more than any other organization in the country. Additional successful projects at Southern Research included finding the causative correlation between gas pump fumes and cancer, numerous contributions to manned space flight, and the development of combinatorial chemotherapy.

Southern Research Institute was chartered as the Alabama Research Institute in 1941 to serve as an outsource R&D provider for state manufacturers who did not have in-house R&D capabilities. A consortium of business leaders and academics from across the state, led by then Alabama Power Company president and CEO Tom Martin, believed this support was key to the state’s growth. Research operations were delayed by WWII, but Southern Research began conducting research in 1945.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization that conducts advanced engineering research in materials and systems development, environment and energy, and drug discovery and preclinical drug development. Southern Research’s scientific and engineering staff supports clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Southern Research Institute has facilities and offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Ala.; Frederick, Md.; Durham, NC; Cartersville, Ga., Houston, TX; and Washington, DC. Learn more at southernresearch.org

Research could economically produce NPDES quality water from shale gas hydraulic fracturing wastewater

Durham, North Carolina — Southern Research Institute today announced it has entered into a contract with the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA) — under the Unconventional Resources Program — to develop, and demonstrate the performance of technologies that will advance shale gas hydraulic fracturing water treatment in order to produce National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) quality water. The project is being funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ultra-Deepwater and Unconventional Natural Gas and Other Petroleum Resources Research and Development Program established through the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

“The 2011 Unconventional Resources Program selections focus on research that will add to the ability to develop the natural gas endowment of the U.S. in an environmentally protective and safe manner,” said Kent Perry, RPSEA Vice President, Onshore Programs.

The two-year project will develop advanced technologies that address issues related to processes and methods for handling and disposal of large volumes of hydraulic fracturing flow-back water, as well as water produced during the longer term production phase. The program will optimize four technologies—two for hydraulic fracturing water treatment and two for the treatment and disposal of residues (high solid slurry and membrane concentrate) from hydraulic fracturing water treatment.

“If successful in reducing the economic and environmental issues associated with shale gas production, this technology could have a major impact on energy security and sustainability in the U.S.,” said Robert Dahlin, Ph.D., principle investigator and director of Southern Research Institute’s Power Systems & Environmental Research Center (PSER) in Birmingham, Ala.

The hydraulic fracturing water treatment technologies are magnetic ballast clarification for removal of total suspended solids (TSS), metals, and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMS), and vortex-generating and nano-filtration membranes for removal of TSS and/or total dissolved solids. The residue treatment/disposal technologies are hydrogel adsorbent for metals, NORMs, trace element removal, and precipitation, solidification and stabilization. Several combinations of the technologies can be envisioned and will be explored as part of this research project.

The program will be managed and executed by teams from Southern Research’s Advanced Energy & Transportation Technologies Center in Durham, NC, and the PSER operations in Birmingham, Ala. and Cartersville, Ga. Southern Research also teamed with partners from M2 Water Treatment, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, and BKT United in Anaheim, Calif. to conduct this work. Southern Research is interested in partnering with additional oil and gas industry leaders to further demonstrate, commercialize and deploy the technology.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization that conducts advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, environment and energy, and preclinical drug discovery and development. Southern Research has more than 520 scientific and engineering staff that support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Southern Research Institute has facilities/offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Ala.; Frederick, Md.; Durham, NC; Houston, TX; Cartersville, GA, and, Washington, DC.

Birmingham, Ala. – Southern Research Institute today announced that Arthur J. Tipton, Ph.D., has been selected by its Board of Directors to serve as president and CEO of Southern Research effective July 8, 2013.

Tipton replaces John A. “Jack” Secrist, III, Ph.D., who served as president and CEO of Southern Research Institute for seven years. Secrist announced his retirement earlier this year after 34 years of service at Southern Research.

“The Board is extremely pleased that Dr. Tipton will lead Southern Research Institute, and I look forward to working with him,” said Ray L. Watts, M.D., president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and chairman of the Southern Research Board of Directors. “This is a critical time for research, with both opportunities and challenges, and his experience and strategic vision are ideal to grow the organization’s portfolio of contract research in biomedical science, drug discovery and advanced technology/engineering.”

Tipton previously served as senior vice president and general manager of Evonik— Birmingham Laboratories in Birmingham, Ala. During his career, he has helped lead the growth of three pharmaceutical/biotech companies and launched four commercial products. He holds 31 U.S. patents with numerous foreign equivalents, and he has more than 70 publications, presentations and invited lectures to his credit.

In 2004, Tipton joined Southern Research to lead the formation of a new, wholly-owned drug-delivery company—Brookwood Pharmaceuticals—which was launched with Tipton as president and CEO. When Brookwood Pharmaceuticals was acquired by SurModics in 2007 for about $50 million, Tipton oversaw the most significant payment to Southern Research in its history. The SurModics business was then acquired by Evonik Degussa Corporation in 2011.

“A Birmingham native, I know and have great respect for the record Southern Research Institute has in research initiatives and the impressive history of innovation,” Tipton said. “I am familiar with the Institute’s great people; I look forward to leading this exceedingly talented and dedicated team capable of pushing research and development in a range of science and engineering markets. I am equally excited to work closely with UAB and look forward to making this close relationship even stronger.”

Tipton served as executive vice president at Durect Corporation, a California-based, publicly traded drug-delivery company, and held a variety of positions in Southern BioSystems, including vice president and chief scientific officer, where he led all efforts on biodegradable technology from 1993-2001. At Southern BioSystems, Tipton invented the SABER Delivery System and led its development into multiple clinical campaigns. He was a member of the negotiating team for the acquisition of Southern BioSystems by Durect. Prior to joining Southern BioSystems, Tipton was with Atrix Laboratories (now part of QLT) from 1988-1993.

Tipton holds a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Spring Hill College and a Doctorate in polymer science and engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He has served on the boards of the Society for Biomaterials, American Institute of Biological and Medical Engineers, Brookwood Pharmaceuticals, and Southern BioSystems, and he serves on the boards of the Biotechnology Association of Alabama, Birmingham Venture Club, and the Controlled Release Society. He chairs the external advisory Board for UAB’s Biomedical Engineering Department.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization that conducts advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, environment and energy, and preclinical drug discovery and development. Southern Research has more than 520 scientific and engineering staff that support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Southern Research Institute has facilities/offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Ala.; Frederick, Md.; Durham, NC; Houston, TX; and, Washington, DC. Learn more at southernresearch.org.

Research could encourage blending of bio-oils into refinery streams for producing renewable diesel and gasoline

Durham, North Carolina — Southern Research Institute today announced it has entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Dept. of Energy to develop a mild liquefaction process that will economically convert biomass to petroleum refinery?ready bio?oils. The process will convert biomass to stabilized bio?oils that can be directly blended with hydrotreater and cracker input streams in a petroleum refinery for production of gasoline and diesel range hydrocarbons.

“We hope the project will advance liquefaction by demonstrating cost-effective biomass conversion to stable bio-oils at mild conditions. Other liquefaction processes either use severe conditions or expensive catalysts to achieve stability,” said Santosh K. Gangwal, Ph.D., Southern Research principal investigator. “We will also evaluate the suitability and process economics of directly blending our bio-oils with refinery hydrotreater and cracker streams for co-production of diesel and gasoline.”

Gangwal said co-processing of bio-oil with petroleum refinery streams can help refineries comply with new renewable fuels standards (RFS-2.) The process will be evaluated and optimized using a continuous flow lab?scale biomass liquefaction system simulating the commercial embodiment of Southern Research’s liquefaction process. Also a lab?scale reactor will be constructed and tested for hydrotreating and cracking the bio?oils to produce gasoline and diesel range hydrocarbons.

Southern Research is seeking a refinery partner who will help to further define bio?oil quality specifications that meet requirements for direct insertion at various points in the petroleum refining process. Based on the experimental data, a technical and economic evaluation and life?cycle assessment of the process will be carried out. Requirements for scale-up and commercialization of the liquefaction process will be determined.

“Development and commercialization of a cost?effective biomass liquefaction process using a high impact feedstock such as wood waste to produce renewable gasoline and diesel can reduce the nation’s requirement for importing oil from foreign countries, help to stabilize the prices at the pump, and lower the emission of greenhouse gases” said Tim Hansen, director of Advanced Energy and Transportation Technologies.

About Southern Research

Southern Research Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) scientific research organization that conducts advanced engineering research in materials, systems development, environment and energy, and preclinical drug discovery and development. Southern Research has more than 520 scientific and engineering staff that support clients and partners in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, defense, aerospace, environmental and energy industries. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., Southern Research Institute has facilities/offices in Wilsonville and Huntsville, Ala.; Frederick, Md.; Durham, NC; Houston, TX; and, Washington, DC.

Year-long, in-field evaluation of ORC generator as new energy source for remote military installations begins

DURHAM, NC — Southern Research Institute today announced it has finalized plans to demonstrate an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) generator at the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Mobile Utilities Support Equipment (MUSE) Division in Port Hueneme, Calif. which could potentially produce up to 624 gross megawatt hours of electricity in a year using waste heat and deliver a new source of energy to remote military installations.

This evaluation, conducted by Southern Research under a program funded by the U.S. Dept. of Defense’s (DoD’s) Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), is expected to provide independently verified information about the efficiencies and value of using waste heat to power technology to reduce energy costs, and environmental impacts, for military facilities. The mission of the ESTCP program is to find solutions that will advance the military’s high-priority environmental and energy goals.

Technicians at the MUSE facility will initially operate the generator—which produces electricity using low-grade waste heat—and then deploy it as part of a remote DoD field operation. Data will be collected and analyzed by Southern Research engineers and technicians.

“Our work with ESTCP continues to showcase promising technologies that will advance progress being made to achieve the DoD’s aggressive renewable energy, energy security, and environmental goals,” said Tim Hansen, program manager and director for Southern Research’s Advanced Energy & Transportation Technologies Center. “By using unique technology to generate electricity from otherwise wasted—but useful—energy, a new energy source is made available, improving generating efficiency, reducing operational costs, and reducing emissions.”

The ORC generator being evaluated is the Green Machine manufactured by Nevada-based ElectraTherm, Inc.  This technology uses low-grade waste heat—with a current focus on fossil fuel-fired electrical generators—to generate additional local power to boost overall system efficiency. The ability to successfully deploy this technology in remote or portable military installations where fuel costs are high, and the delivery of fuel poses a safety risk to troops, could be particularly beneficial.

The system could potentially boost the overall fuel efficiency of a one megawatt diesel-fired electric generator by six- to eight-percent, capturing heat from the engine’s exhaust and radiator coolant and safely and efficiently converting it to electric power.

About Southern Research

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

About ESTCP

ESTCP is the U.S. Dept. of Defense’s environmental technology demonstration and validation program. The Program was established in 1995 to promote the transfer of innovative technologies that have successfully established proof of concept to field or production use. ESTCP demonstrations collect cost and performance data to overcome the barriers to employ an innovative technology because of concerns regarding technical or programmatic risk, the so-called “Valley of Death.” The Program’s goal is to identify and demonstrate the most promising innovative and cost-effective technologies and methods that address DoD’s high-priority environmental requirements. For more information, visit www.estcp.org.

About NAVFAC EXWC MUSE Division

The MUSE Program enhances Naval core competencies with specialized title 10 capabilities that enable DoN and DoD global mission successes while supporting the warfighter by; ensuring operational capabilities for mission critical utilities and energy infrastructure, addressing deficiencies in fleet readiness, providing sustainment for forward presence operations, and supporting energy assurance and security initiatives.

About ElectraTherm, Inc.

ElectraTherm, Inc. is a small scale waste heat recovery company headquartered in Reno, Nevada. ElectraTherm’s product, the Green Machine, generates fuel-free, emission-free power from low temperature waste heat using the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) and patented technology. ElectraTherm’s machines are modular, robust power generators with an attractive payback. For more information on ElectraTherm and its clean energy products, please visit www.electratherm.com.