Photo Credit: Abigail Edwards
(Huntsville, Ala. | May 12, 2021) – CFD Research has been awarded a $1.5M Phase II Defense Health Agency (DHA) Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract to develop extremophile-derived antivirals to protect soldiers and civilians from COVID-19. Selection was based on achievements during previous drug discovery projects and a novel strategy for targeting the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes COVID-19.
The CFD Drug Discovery group specializes in discovering new antibiotics, anticancer agents, antitoxins and antivirals with novel mechanisms of action.
“CFD Research has developed a unique platform which mines natural products from extreme environments such as hot springs at Yellowstone.” AJ Singhal, the project Principal Investigator, said. “Most of our current antimicrobial drugs come from natural products, but these hot spring environments remain largely untapped. Our platform allows access to this hidden chemistry by utilizing metagenomics and synthetic biology.”
The technology developments made by this project will enable high throughput discovery of inhibitors for a critical coronavirus protein. These inhibitors will be developed into therapeutics not only for COVID-19 and its variants but also for other coronaviruses which cause the common cold.
About CFD Research: Since its inception in 1987, CFD Research has worked with government agencies, businesses and academia to provide innovative solutions within the Aerospace & Defense, Biomedical & Life Sciences, and Energy & Materials industries. Over the years CFD Research has earned multiple national awards for successful application and commercialization of innovative technology prototypes, multi-physics simulation software, multi-disciplinary analyses, and expert support services. CFD Research’s impressive >70% three-year growth rate was high enough to recognize the company in the Inc. Magazine’s 5000 for the first time this year. CFD Research is an ISO9001 and AS9100 registered company and is appraised at CMMI Level II for services. Learn more at www.cfd-research.com.
