Summary

Creator:

Bolognesi, Dani and Duke University. Medical Center. Department of Surgery.

Abstract:

Dani Bolognesi received his PhD from Duke in virology in 1967, and he joined the faculty at Duke as an Assistant Professor in Virology in the Department of Surgery in 1971 and became an Associate Professor of Surgery in 1972. Bolognesi held other positions at Duke: Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery (1994-1999), Professor of Virology in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology (2001-2002), Professor of Virology in the Department of Microbiology (1994-2002), Professor of Surgery (1977-2002), and Professor Emeritus of Surgery (2002-present). While at Duke, his laboratory did the early work on identifying anti-HIV activity in what would become AZT, the first drug developed against the disease. This collection contains 2 oral history interviews conducted on September 29, 1994 by Dr. James Gifford and May 29, 2019 by Taylor Patterson and is part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project. In the June 29, 1994 interview, Bolognesi discusses his educational background; working with Dr. Joseph Beard at Duke; and his research, particularly the work of the laboratory he directed. In the May 29, 2019 interview, Bolognesi discusses his early life and education; his studies and work at Duke, where he was a student under Dr. Joseph Beard; professional and personal memories of Dr. David Sabiston, including Sabiston's interest in grants; Sabiston's stoke; Sabiston's Christmas parties; translational research; the Department of Surgery; and Bolognesi's HIV research.

Extent:

2 Interviews (2 transcripts) and 11.5 MB

Collection ID:

OH.BOLOGNESID

Background

Scope and Content:

Includes 2 oral history interviews with Dani Bolognesi, PhD conducted on June 29, 1994 by Dr. James Gifford and May 29, 2019 by Taylor Patterson as part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project.

In the June 29, 1994 interview, Bolognesi discusses his educational background; working with Dr. Joseph Beard at Duke; and his research, particularly the work of the laboratory he directed. Charles Rott is also present during the interview.

In the May 29, 2019 interview, which is part of the Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project, Bolognesi discusses his early life and education; his studies and work at Duke, where he was a student under Dr. Joseph Beard; professional and personal memories of Dr. David Sabiston, including Sabiston's interest in grants; Sabiston's stoke; Sabiston's Christmas parties; translational research; the Department of Surgery; and Bolognesi's HIV research.

Biographical / Historical:

Dani Paul Bolognesi, PhD grew up in Italy and came to the United States at 17. He earned his undergraduate and master's degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he played football and baseball. He received his PhD from Duke in virology in 1967. He joined the faculty at Duke as an Assistant Professor in Virology in the Department of Surgery in 1971 and became an Associate Professor of Surgery in 1972. Bolognesi held other positions at Duke: Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery (1994-1999), Professor of Virology in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology (2001-2002), Professor of Virology in the Department of Microbiology (1994-2002), Professor of Surgery (1977-2002), and Professor Emeritus of Surgery (2002-present).

While at Duke, his laboratory did the early work on identifying anti-HIV activity in what would become AZT, the first drug developed against the disease. Outside of Duke, Bolognesi is a cofounder and former Chief Scientific Officer, Vice Chairman, and member of the Board of Directors of Trimeris, Inc., a publicly traded biotechnology company that developed a first-in-class HIV fusion inhibitor called Fuzeon. Bolognesi led the execution of its development and commercial collaboration with F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG. He also served as CEO and Chairman of b3Bio, Inc; CEO, Enci Therapeutics, Inc.; and CEO, C2 Regenerate, Inc.

Acquisition Information:

Accession A1994.004 (transferred by James Gifford, June 1994), Accession A2019.105 (transferred by Mary-Russell Roberson, December 2019)

Processing information:

Processed by Archives staff: June 1994; updated by Lucy Waldrop: December 2019

Arrangement:

Organized into the following series: Interview, June 29, 1994; Interview, May 29, 2019.

Rules or Conventions:

DACS

Related

Related Material:

• Department of Surgery Records
• May 29, 2019 interview is part of Dr. David Sabiston Oral History Project

Separated Material:

June 29, 1994 interview transcript is housed in the James Gifford Papers

Subjects

Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.

Personal Name(s):

Bolognesi, Dani
Sabiston, David C., 1924-2009
Sabiston, Agnes (Barden)
Kirk, Allan
Beard, Joseph W., 1906-1983

Corporate Name(s):

Duke University. Medical Center
Duke University. School of Medicine
Duke University. Medical Center. Department of Surgery

Topical Term(s):

Faculty.
Enfuvirtide.
HIV.
Research.
Translational Medical Research.