Balthasar named SUNY Distinguished Professor

The designation of SUNY Distinguished Professor is awarded to faculty members who have made extraordinary contributions to their fields of study. These contributions are typically demonstrated through significant research or creative activity that elevates standards of scholarship within and beyond their disciplines.

“SUNY Distinguished Professor is the highest academic rank within the State University of New York system and is reserved for faculty whose work has had a demonstrable and lasting impact on their discipline,” says Gary M. Pollack, PhD, dean of the UB School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. “Dr. Balthasar’s body of work unequivocally places him within this distinguished category of scholar.”

Balthasar’s laboratory focuses on the discovery of novel biological therapies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. His research is driven by the development and application of physiologically-based, mechanistic pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic models that enable hypothesis generation and testing in silico through computer simulation. Promising hypotheses are pursued through experimentation in cell culture and animal models of disease, with drug candidates generated in-house through protein engineering strategies.

Balthasar's research team played a leading role in identifying the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) as a druggable target for the treatment of autoimmunity. His lab received the first National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to pursue the development of FcRn inhibitors (R01AI60687, FcRn Inhibitors for Antibody-Mediated Immune Conditions [PI: Balthasar, JP]), performed the first in vivo evaluations of anti-FcRn monoclonal antibodies (mAb) (Getman et al., 2005), and secured the first U.S. patent for anti-FcRn compositions (US-2007092507-A1). Their patent was licensed to Momenta Inc., which was later acquired by Johnson & Johnson to support the development of nipocalimab. Building from his lab’s NIH-funded research, three anti-FcRn drugs—efgartigimod (Vyvgart), rozanolixizumab (Rystiggo) and nipocalimab (Imaavy)—have been developed and received FDA approval for the treatment of myasthenia gravis.

With additional NIH funding support (R01CA256928, R43CA261343), Balthasar’s lab developed Payload-Binding Selectivity Enhancers (PBSE) as a platform technology designed to prevent off-target toxicities of antibody-drug conjugates (ADC). Their work resulted in multiple patent applications, with the first U.S. patent in this series issued in May 2026 (Compositions and methods for reducing off-target toxicity of antibody drug conjugates, US 12,624,123 B2). Balthasar’s startup company, Abceutics Inc., was acquired by Merck in March 2024 to support clinical development of their PBSE candidates.

The Balthasar lab also developed Anti-Idiotypic Distribution Enhancers (AIDEs), supported by NIH funding (R01CA246785), which has demonstrated utility in increasing ADC distribution in tumors and increasing anticancer efficacy. Their first U.S. patent for this technology was awarded in May 2026 (Compositions and methods for improving tumor penetration of tumor specific antibodies, US12630,649 B2), and the AIDE platform has been licensed to the Empire Discovery Institute for further development. Current research in Balthasar’s laboratory focuses on the discovery and development of multi-specific antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates.

In addition to his research program, Balthasar has contributed to the discovery and development of therapeutic proteins through his establishment and leadership of the Center for Protein Therapeutics (CPT). He established the center in 2007 with William J. Jusko, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, to advance the application of pharmaceutical sciences in the discovery and development of therapeutic proteins.

Balthasar has led the center since its inception, securing more than $20 million in funding from industry sponsors, directing the CPT research program, organizing international symposia, leading training courses for scientists and supporting the training of more than 140 fellows at the University at Buffalo. Technologies developed through the center’s research are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, and CPT trainees hold leading roles in academia, regulatory agencies and the pharmaceutical industry.

Balthasar described the SUNY Distinguished Professor designation as both a professional milestone and a recognition of his team’s contributions.

“Designation as a SUNY Distinguished Professor is a tremendous honor,” Balthasar said. “I view this award as an acknowledgement of the innovative strategies pursued in my laboratory and, most importantly, as a form of recognition for the very hard work performed by my students, postdoctoral fellows, and staff.”

He also noted the importance of mentorship and collaboration in his work, crediting the success of his research program to the contributions of his students, trainees and colleagues.

“I feel that my role as a mentor and advisor is to provide a good environment, and resources, to allow my team to excel in their research and training,” Balthasar said. “Nothing in my lab would be accomplished without my students—most notably my PhD graduates: Ryan J. Hansen, Evelyn Lobo, Rong Deng, Jin Chen, Feng Jin, Amit Garg, Shweta Urva, Dhaval Shah, Yang Chen, Lubna Abuqayyas, Tommy Li, Frank Engler, Patrick Glassman, Veena Thomas, Shunxin Lin, J. Ryan Polli, Toan Duc Nguyen, Brandon Bordeau, Jue Gong, Ping Chen, and Daniel Duran.”

He also acknowledged the support of family, mentors and colleagues throughout his career.

“I would also like to acknowledge the tremendous support provided by my wife Suzanne, my children, my PhD advisor, Dr. Ho-Leung Fung, and faculty colleagues Dr. William Jusko, Dr. Marilyn Morris, and Dr. Donald Mager,” he said.

Balthasar will be formally recognized at the 2026 Distinguished Academy Induction Ceremony on Aug. 17 in Albany, NY, as well as at UB’s Celebration of Faculty and Staff Excellence this fall.