Preston H. Dorsett, Ph.D.

Preston successfully launched a start-up biotechnology company, Viral Antigens, Inc., in 1982 using technology he developed at the University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences. He and his partners grew the company to become a major supplier of rare reagents to the viral diagnostics manufacturers. The company was acquired by Meridian Bioscience in 2000 and remains in Memphis as a subsidiary. Preston served as president of VAI from its’ inception until 2006.

Preston received his graduate education at Wake Forest University culminating with a Ph.D. in 1970. After a post doctoral fellowship with Dr. Harold Ginsberg at the University of Pennsylvania, he joined the faculty at the University of Tennessee Medical School in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. He continued to teach and conduct research on rubella virus there until 1988 when he moved to VAI. He holds 5 patents in the field of viral diagnostics and has published numerous articles concerning rubella virus replication and immunity.

As president of VAI, he was involved in all aspects of a start-up biotechnology company and now would like to use that experience to help new ventures.