Disease Focus Areas

Although scientific advances have yielded life-saving medical treatments, there are still no cures for—and a lack of basic knowledge about—many debilitating diseases that affect millions worldwide.

SRI's experts in bioscience, imaging technology, and genetic engineering are making significant headway in understanding the environmental and genetic factors contributing to diseases. This knowledge holds the promise of more targeted and effective treatments. SRI researchers devote their efforts to finding cures for some of the world's most serious diseases and conditions, such as:

Projects

scientist working at a computer
Anti-Angiogenic Molecule Treatment for Multiple Myeloma

SRI has developed a promising new treatment for this cancer of the immune system that affects plasma cells in bone marrow.

Topics: Basic Cancer Research Cancer Drug Discovery Disease Focus Areas Drug Pipeline In Vitro + In Vivo Cancer Biology Services Medicinal Chemistry
bioscience workers in a lab
Anti-Infectives Development for National Institutes of Health

SRI is conducting preclinical development of treatments for diseases such as tuberculosis, West Nile virus, hepatitis, and biodefense pathogens and toxins.

Topics: Chemistry, Manufacturing + Controls (CMC) Discovery ADMET and In Vitro Metabolism Disease Focus Areas Drug Discovery Drug Formulation Development Infectious Diseases Pharmaceutical R+D
monoclonal antibodies
Discovery of Tyrosine Kinase 2 Inhibitors

Novel molecular targets of several cytokines are being evaluated by SRI scientists, with the goal of designing a small-molecule drug to block responses involved in many of these inflammatory diseases.

Topics: Disease Focus Areas Drug Discovery Immunology + Inflammation Medicinal Chemistry
scientist drawing a chemical structure
Early Detection Tool for Neglected Tropical Diseases

SRI is developing a novel point-of-care tool for the early detection of devastating diseases.

Topics: Biomarkers Disease Focus Areas Sensors
gloved hand catching pill capsules coming out of a dispenser
SMARTT Projects: Treatments for Lung, Heart, Blood Diseases

Through a broad range of services for the National Institutes of Health, SRI is accelerating preclinical development of potential therapies for diseases that affect millions of people.

Topics: Chemistry, Manufacturing + Controls (CMC) Clinical Laboratory Services Disease Focus Areas Drug Discovery
cigarette being snapped in half
Treatment of Nicotine Dependence in a Healthcare Setting

SRI is analyzing the genetics of smoking and related characteristics, using data from a large-scale National Cancer Institute study on smoking cessation.

Topics: Addiction Research Aging Research Basic Cancer Research Disease Focus Areas Human Sleep Neurodegenerative Diseases Neuroscience Twins Research
twin boys
Twin Research Registry at SRI International

SRI established the Twin Research Registry as part of its scientific research and efforts to discover more about human behavior. Fraternal and identical twins and multiples of all ages are invited to join the Registry for consideration for research studies.

Topics: Addiction Research Aging Research Behavioral Health Disease Focus Areas Human Sleep Metabolic Diseases Neurodegenerative Diseases Neuroscience Sleep Disorders Twins Research
An SRI vaccine researcher in protective clothing and a mask
Vaccinations and Next-Generation Pandemic Respiratory Viruses

To help prepare for next-generation pandemics, SRI is partnering with Stanford University to examine vaccination responses.

Topics: Disease Focus Areas Infectious Diseases Twins Research
hand holding a petri dish of bacterial culture up to the light
Vitamin A Biosynthesis in Probiotic Bacteria

Vitamin A deficiency causes susceptibility — especially in children — to diarrhea-causing infections, which lead to millions of deaths each year. SRI is developing a probiotic that produces the vitamin.

Topics: Disease Focus Areas Drug Discovery Drug Formulation Development Pharmaceutical R+D

Press Releases

tiger mosquito close-up on human arm
Common U.S. Mosquitoes Can Transmit Disease-Causing Virus from Asia

Researchers from SRI International have demonstrated that mosquitoes from Virginia and Georgia can transmit a virus called Chikungunya (CHIKV), which has infected more than 2 million people in Asia, Africa, and parts of Europe since 2005.

Topics: Disease Focus Areas Infectious Diseases
Gary Swang, director of SRI International's Center for Health Sciences
Gary Swan Elected President of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco

Gary E. Swan, Ph.D., director of SRI International's Center for Health Sciences, has been elected by the membership of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) as its president-elect and will serve as president in 2012.

Topics: Addiction Research Aging Research Disease Focus Areas Human Sleep Neurodegenerative Diseases Neuroscience Sleep Disorders Statistical Analysis
Governor Kaine Announces Major Research Institute for Virginia

SRI International will transform state's research and development efforts

Topics: 21st Century Skills Disease Focus Areas Pharmaceutical R+D
Joseph Perrone Joins SRI International to Direct Molecular Diagnostics and Rare and Neglected Diseases Group

SRI International, an independent nonprofit research and development institute, today announced that Joseph Perrone, Sc.D., has joined SRI’s International's Center for Advanced Drug Research (CADRE) in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia.

Topics: Disease Focus Areas Drug Discovery Drug Formulation Development
Rathnam Chaguturu of SRI International
Rathnam Chaguturu Joins SRI's Center for Advanced Drug Research as Senior Director of Exploratory Research

Rathnam Chaguturu, Ph.D., has joined SRI International's Center for Advanced Drug Research as senior director of Exploratory Research.

Topics: Disease Focus Areas Drug Discovery Infectious Diseases Pharmaceutical R+D Pharmaceutical Sciences: Analytical Chemistry Proteomics
Hands holding puzzle pieces
Researchers Find Genetic Marker that May Predict Smoking Quantity in African Americans

In a step toward understanding possible genetic differences in smoking behaviors, a team of researchers co-led by SRI International has identified a genetic marker associated with smoking quantity in people of African ancestry.

Topics: Addiction Research Basic Cancer Research Disease Focus Areas
researchers in SRI lab
SRI International Awarded Contract Worth Up to $100M from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

SRI International has been awarded a contract worth up to $100.5 million over 10 years from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Topics: Disease Focus Areas Drug Discovery Immunology + Inflammation Infectious Diseases Metabolic Diseases Microbiology Pharmaceutical R+D Pre-formulation Studies Preclinical Drug Development Target Validation + Assay Development Vaccine Development
mosquito
SRI International and CTK Biotech Developing Low-Cost Diagnostic for Hard-to-Diagnose Chikungunya Virus

SRI International is working with CTK Biotech to develop a diagnostic assay for early detection of chikungunya that will provide results in less than 20 minutes—compared to the several hours it now usually takes.

Topics: Disease Focus Areas Infectious Diseases Pharmaceutical R+D Proteomics
SRI International Awarded National Institutes of Health Preclinical Services Contract

SRI International announced that it has been awarded a $20 million preclinical services contract by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).

Topics: Basic Cancer Research Chemistry, Manufacturing + Controls (CMC) Developmental + Reproductive Toxicology Discovery ADMET and In Vitro Metabolism Disease Focus Areas Drug Formulation Development Genetic Toxicology Immunology + Inflammation Medical Imaging Medicinal Chemistry Pharmaceutical R+D Pre-formulation Studies Preclinical Development Plans + Regulatory Services Proteomics
SRI International Begins NIAID-Funded Drug Evaluation Program for Tuberculosis

SRI International announced the initiation of a tuberculosis (TB) preclinical drug evaluation program in partnership with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Topics: Disease Focus Areas Infectious Diseases Pharmaceutical R+D

SRI In the News

Jon Mirsalis
Fighting the War on Infectious Diseases: An Interview with SRI's Jon Mirsalis

Jon Mirsalis of SRI Biosciences describes how SRI researchers are developing drugs to fight infectious diseases like HIV, malaria, tuberculosis and the flu. Over the years, SRI has helped save thousands of lives by moving drugs from the early discovery stage into human clinical trials.

Topics: Discovery ADMET and In Vitro Metabolism Disease Focus Areas Infectious Diseases Pharmaceutical R+D
Mosquitoes Appear to be Increasing Health Threat

According to this article, in addition to West Nile Virus mosquitoes can also carry a disease-causing virus from Asia. “In laboratory experiments, researchers at SRI International demonstrated that mosquitoes from Virginia and Georgia can transmit a virus called Chikungunya (CHIKV)..."

Topics: Disease Focus Areas Infectious Diseases
Mosquitoes in the U.S. Can Be Infected with Chikungunya Virus from Asia

This press release reports that new research from SRI International finds that mosquitoes commonly found in the United States can be infected with a disease-causing virus from Asia.

Topics: Disease Focus Areas Infectious Diseases
Non-profits Partner for Homeland Security

According to the article, SRI International will work to create and commercialize products and to provide training capabilities to allow for easier and more effective communications during emergencies and disasters.

Topics: Disease Focus Areas
SRI International Research: Mosquitoes Common in the U.S. Can Transmit Disease-Causing Virus Endemic to Asia

This article reports that “new research from SRI International finds that mosquitoes commonly found in the United States can be infected with a disease-causing virus from Asia.”

Topics: Disease Focus Areas Infectious Diseases
Meet Our Innovators: Wan-ru Chao

More Videos (1)

Divisions, Centers + Labs