Balthasar, the David and Jane Chu Endowed Chair in Drug Discovery and Development and SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, is a UB alumnus who also serves as director of the Center for Protein Therapeutics. 

In this role, Balthasar promotes the formation of interdisciplinary teams within the university, facilitating collaborations between faculty with expertise in bioengineering, chemical and biological engineering, biology, chemistry, biostatistics, epidemiology, public health, dental medicine, medicine, pharmaceutical sciences, computer science and structural biology.

Internationally recognized applies pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modeling to the discovery and development of novel biological therapies to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. His lab’s work has led to the discovery of more than 15 platform technologies that have provided opportunities for patent applications, startup launches, licensing deals and an acquisition by a major pharmaceutical company. In 2025, he was honored with a UB Entrepreneur Award in recognition of his entrepreneurial leadership and groundbreaking work in drug discovery and development.