SRI International and Regional and State Leaders Dedicate New SRI Shenandoah Valley Facility in Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg, VA —November 9, 2009—Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine and officials from Rockingham County and the City of Harrisonburg will join SRI International executives for a building dedication ceremony from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. today at the Rockingham County Research and Technology Park in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The new 40,000-square-foot research and development building will house SRI Shenandoah Valley and its Center for Advanced Drug Research (CADRE).
"Innovative organizations that support science and develop new commercial opportunities are a critical part of the future success and development of Virginia," said Governor Kaine. "We congratulate SRI on the dedication of their new facility, and look forward to the beneficial impact their research will have in Virginia and beyond."
SRI and community partners from the Commonwealth of Virginia, Rockingham County, the City of Harrisonburg, James Madison University (JMU), and the Shenandoah Valley Partnership established SRI Shenandoah Valley in December 2006, and broke ground on the new building the following year, in December 2007. During the construction, SRI Shenandoah Valley was housed on the JMU campus.
SRI was attracted to the Shenandoah Valley because of the many strengths of the region, including excellent universities, a dedicated workforce, and proximity to federal government agencies. Through client-sponsored research and partnerships, SRI Shenandoah Valley is working to advance critical scientific research and benefit economic growth in Shenandoah Valley and throughout Virginia.
The new facility was constructed by Nielsen Builders, Inc. and designed by HOK using green design practices that limit environmental impact. The mix of office space and specialized bioscience laboratories is organized in a clustered design that maximizes open space, with light fixtures that reduce light pollution to the neighboring community. Most of the major materials used in the construction process came from local manufacturers and suppliers.
"Today, we celebrate an important milestone in SRI's history, as SRI Shenandoah Valley dedicates a beautiful building that holds great promise for important research in infectious disease," said Curtis R. Carlson, Ph.D., SRI president and CEO. "Our programs and innovations depend on terrific partners who share our commitment to world-class research and commercialization of technologies that solve important problems. We are grateful to Governor Kaine, JMU President Rose, the leaders of the Commonwealth, and the local community who shared our vision and helped make this happen. With their support, we look forward to serving as a key center of research and technology development in the region."
Under the leadership of Krishna Kodukula, Ph.D., executive director of CADRE in SRI's Biosciences Division, researchers at SRI Shenandoah Valley are focused on developing life-saving treatments that can reach people globally, particularly in the areas of infectious and neglected diseases. CADRE extends SRI's expertise in drug discovery and development and biomedical sciences with a new proteomics laboratory to develop vaccines, diagnostics, and therapies. Proteomics is the study of protein structure and function, helping scientists better understand the causes of disease, which can streamline drug development and make personalized medicine more cost-effective.
Recent CADRE projects at SRI Shenandoah Valley include:
- Research to address the problem of antibiotic resistance in tuberculosis, supported by a Grand Challenges Explorations grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Discovery of a novel insecticide that targets infection-carrying mosquitoes. The preventive treatment could be widely used as a decontaminant of vehicles, homes, and public places.
- Development of rapid and sensitive diagnostics for aspergillosis, an invasive fungal disease that is one of the most common causes of infection for people undergoing chemotherapy.
"Rockingham County is excited to have SRI Shenandoah Valley as its anchor, with the opening of this state-of-the-art facility in the Rockingham Center for Research and Technology," said Frederick E. Eberly, Chairman of the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors. "SRI, under Dr. Kodukula's leadership, has quickly become a vital part of the Shenandoah Valley community. SRI Shenandoah Valley is a critical link as the region transforms to meet the challenges of the 21st century."
In addition to their work in biosciences, SRI researchers have been addressing regional economic development and educational needs. In 2008, SRI completed the Shenandoah Valley 21st Century Workforce Transitions Project, an initiative led by SRI, the Shenandoah Valley Partnership and local business leaders to inventory and evaluate the adequacy of local education and training systems to meet long-term needs of the local job market. SRI researchers are currently evaluating a National Science Foundation-funded student recruitment and retention effort led by JMU and three local higher education institutions to increase the number of students obtaining degrees in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology.
SRI has also conducted its Five Disciplines of Innovation™ workshop for local business and community leaders. These workshops allow SRI to share its innovation best practices with others, so they can create compelling new value for their organizations and customers.
