Charles Bugg

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Charles Bugg

Charles E. Bugg Sr (born June 5, 1941 in Durham, North Carolina) is a biochemist, crystallographer, and cofounder of BioCryst Pharmaceuticals

Bugg was the son of the orthopedic surgeon in North Carolina. He completed a bachelor of science in chemistry at Duke University in his home town, working during the summer at Chemstrand Research Labs. He then earned his PhD in physical chemistry from Rice University in Houston, Texas in 1965, followed by two years of postdoctoral study at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

After graduating, Bugg accepted a job with DuPont's polymer fiber division. The company intervened when he was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War, and he was assigned to a research position at their facility in Kinston, North Carolina. In 1968, at the recommendation of Bob Corey at CalTech, he accepted a newly-created faculty position in crystallography at the Institute for Dental Research at UAB. He became the director of the UAB Center for Macromolecular Crystallography, as well as an associate director of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, and a professor of biochemistry and molecular genetics. Currently he holds the title of professor emeritus in biochemistry and molecular genetics. In 1974 and 1981 he completed research fellowships at Oxford University in England. He recruited Y. S. Babu to come from Oxford to join his research team at UAB. Bugg's team designed numerous protein crystallography experiments conducted by NASA astraunauts, including Larry DeLucas. Bugg served as president of the President of the American Crystallographic Association in 1987 and editor-in-chief of its journal, Acta Crystallographica, from 1987 to 1996.

In 1984, Bugg co-founded the pharmaceutical research firm BioCryst with John Montgomery and Bill Spencer. He hired Babu as the company's first employee. He served as the company's first CEO, and chaired its scientific advisory board. He retired from UAB and was elected chairman of the BioCryst's board in 1993, and served a term as president from 1995 to 1996. Bugg retired from BioCryst in 2007.

References