AUREUS RESEARCH

The ongoing testing of new drugs and medical procedures is critical to maintaining a high standard of health care.

Aureus Research, located in Little Rock, provides both patients and pharmaceutical clients with first-class, professional and quality patient care and accurate research data. Their customers are nationally and internationally recognized pharmaceutical companies. Co-owners Angie Allred and Courtney Simmons, along with Dr. Robert E. Harrell, Jr., their principal investigator, have conducted studies for a variety of conditions including hypertension, diabetes, allergies, asthma, osteoarthritis, gout and pain management.

Angie and Courtney started Aureus Research in 2009. Their dream was the culmination of years of experience in both the private and public sectors including what is now the Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Lacking hands on business experience, they turned to the Arkansas Small Business & Technology Development Center (ASBTDC) in Little Rock, a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Kevin White, an ASBTDC business consultant (currently with the Peace Corps in Panama) helped Angie and Courtney with their business plan and provided other information to get their business started in the right direction.

The next step was to secure financing. Angie and Courtney worked with Jim Coffey and Kyle James at Metropolitan National Bank in Little Rock. In March 2009, Metropolitan approved a SBA-guaranteed loan for the new business.

The company has overcome a number of challenges on the path to success. The initial challenge was to get customers to "come in the door," something that was difficult to do in the tough economy in 2009. And keeping up with finances and operating on a shoe string budget has also been a learning process.

All the hard work has paid off. In June 2011, the company moved to a new location. "We doubled our size," Angie noted, "and hopefully we’ll be hiring additional employees soon."

Aureus Research is also active in the community and supports the Race for the Cure and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

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