Southern Research Institute

Candidate Compound Identification and Acquisition Services

Southern Research Institute (SRI) provides medicinal chemistry and database expertise in Birmingham, AL and Frederick, MD. SRI's team of the TAACF, led by Dr. Jack Secrist, interacts with interested compound suppliers and coordinates all compound acquisition duties, data entry and database maintenance, testing coordination, and data report generation and delivery.

In order to begin participating in the TAACF program a potential supplier needs to complete and sign two copies of the Material Evaluation Agreement and mail them to the TAACF. The Material Evaluation Agreement is a legal document between NIAID, all contracted institutions, and the supplier. The document protects the supplier from violations of confidentiality.

The TAACF will then arrange for signature by an NIAID official and return one fully signed copy to the Supplier.

After receiving a fully signed copy of the Material Evaluation Agreement, the supplier will then submit a confidential list of compound structures, preferably in electronic format. If appropriate, a visit with a TAACF medicinal chemist can be scheduled to discuss compound selection. The structures should be submitted by fax (205-581-2870), e-mail (info@gentaur.com), or by mail to:

TAACF

Southern Research Institute

PO Box 55305

Birmingham, AL 35255-5305

TAACF medicinal chemists will ensure that candidate compounds are appropriate for screening and have not been previously submitted, and will then recommend to Supplier compounds for submission.

The required information includes the following:

• chemical structure
• solubility
• chemical name (IUPAC preferred)
• chemist's compound ID code
• molecular formula
• molecular weight

The supplier should submit samples of each compound to be screened in vials, preferably of 1 gram size with screw caps.

NOTE:  Weighing of compounds is labor-intensive.  Pre-weighed compounds received in the following manner may receive expedited processing: 

-For in vitro TB screening, submit between 0.98 mg and 1.02 mg of compound in the following vials:

• Fisher Cat# 11-844-10 (case of 1000 vials).
• Fisher Cat# NC9601117 (case of 1000 caps).

*Vials and caps may also be provided to a supplier – send the request to your SRI contact.

Vials should be clearly labeled with a Supplier identification number or code, and appropriate physical data should be submitted for each compound. Use a printed version of the TAACF Compound Submission Form if desired. Please note that if providing < 1 mg, it is necessary to provide exact sample weights on the vial, since such samples will not be re-weighed prior to screening. Compounds and data sheets or diskettes should be shipped by express courier to:

TAACF – FRC

Help in compound submission (e.g., assistance in weighing/packaging samples, shipping expenses) may be available upon request.

TAACF chemists will acknowledge receipt of compounds and register them in the TAACF database. Samples are added to the queue on a first-come-first-serve basis. Approved compounds are scheduled for processing - weighing, solubilizing and plating.  Once plated, they will be shipped to the appropriate screening facility. They are screened using SRI’s High-throughput screening services.  Data will reported to the supplier as received from the screening facility.