The Oregon State University Sesquicentennial Oral History Project

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Balz Frei Oral History Interview. January 10, 2014

Balz Frei Oral History Interview

Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.

January 10, 2014

Location:  Linus Pauling Science Center, Oregon State University.

Balz Frei (b. 1958) served as Director of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University from 1997 to 2016. A Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Frei's research has focused on the mechanisms causing chronic human disease, in particular atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, and the role that micronutrients, phytochemicals and dietary supplements might play in ameliorating these diseases. His interview provides an overview of his life experiences and career path, beginning with his formative years in Switzerland and continuing on to his academic appointments in the United States. The interview's primary emphasis is Frei's tenure at OSU, with particular attention paid to the growth of the Linus Pauling Institute under his leadership.