Alexander Kabanov

Dr. Alexander Kabanov is the Mescal S. Ferguson Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina School of Pharmacy and a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. He directs the Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery and co-directs the Carolina Institute for Nanomedicine at UNC-Chapel Hill. Previously, he was a Parke-Davis Professor and Director of the Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (1994–2012).

• Education: PhD in Chemical Kinetics and Catalysis (1987, Moscow State University), DSc in USSR.

Research Interests focus on nanomedicine and drug delivery systems, including:

• Polymeric micelles for cancer therapy
• Polyion complexes for CNS delivery
• Nanogels for protein/peptide delivery
• Magnetic nanoparticle actuation
• PEGylation alternatives
• Exosome-based therapeutics

His scientific impact includes over 240 peer-reviewed articles (H-index 73), 100 patents, and $110M+ in cumulative research funding. Key article themes span nanocarrier design, tumor microenvironment targeting, and clinical translation of polymeric micelle technology. Notable awards include:

• AAAS Fellow (2021)
• NSF Career Award (1995)
• UNMC Scientist Laureate (2009)
• Lenin Komsomol Prize (1988)

Dr. Kabanov co-founded Supratek Pharma and established the Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery Symposium series. His work led to SP1049C, a first-in-man polymeric micelle drug for cancer now in Phase II clinical trials.