A little less than a year after SRI announced it was coming to the Valley, they're just about to start their research. They say they're hoping to make an impact worldwide with their work.

Almost a year ago, when he first announced SRI's arrival in the Valley, Governor Tim Kaine said, "It will revolutionize both existing university research and our workforce opportunities."

There was a lot of excitement from James Madison University, which would be a research partner of the company, and Rockingham County officials, who look forward to the economic boost SRI would bring.

At this point, there is still only an empty field where the company will set up shop. However, Dr. Krisna Kodukula, SRI, says they're already getting to work.

At their JMU labs, the machines are just being plugged in and beakers are being unpacked.

"We are equipping those labs with all the instrumentation, and supplies and the agents, all the things that are needed to do research," says Kodukula.

Within the next few months Kodukula says they'll begin their research.

"Molecular biology and chemistry kind of research, Flu, TB, and West Nile Virus research," says Kodukula.

They're hoping to answer world health problems.

Kodukula says, "Our aim is to conduct research that will help solve very important global problems, global health care problems, actually developing new therapies new vaccines new diagnostics for some of these infectious pathogens."

SRI says they'll be up and running in their new facility by mid-2009.