Joseph Balthasar, associate vice president for biotechnology innovation, 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 as associate vice president, Balthasar develops and implements strategies to advance biotechnology research; supports and facilitates innovation and entrepreneurship for UB faculty pursuing biotechnology research; and advances the translation of UB’s biotechnology innovations to commercial applications within and beyond New York State.

To expand research opportunities for faculty, 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. 

Cumulatively, the goal of his work is to increase federal grant submissions and grant awards for biotechnology research, and grow the number of new technology disclosures, patent applications, awarded patents, start-up launches and licensing agreements for faculty innovations in biotherapeutics, vaccines, diagnostics and medical devices.

Internationally recognized for his contributions to pharmaceutical research, Balthasar 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.