Alexander V. Kabanov

Alexander V. Kabanov is the Mescal S. Ferguson Distinguished Professor and director of the Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. He holds adjunct roles at the UNC Department of Biomedical Engineering and co-directs the Carolina Institute for Nanomedicine. His research focuses on nanomedicine and drug delivery systems, including polymeric micelles, polyplexes, and exosome-based therapies. Kabanov has pioneered clinically approved drug delivery platforms and holds over 30 patents, with $120M in research funding. He mentors students and postdocs, many of whom hold academic positions.

Education: PhD (1987) and D.Sc. (1990) in Chemical Kinetics from Moscow State University (MSU), USSR. Former directorships include the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine (2004–2012) and the NIH-funded Nebraska Center for Nanomedicine (2008–2012).

Research interests span nanotechnology for cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and CNS disorders. Key innovations include polymeric micelle-based drugs, nanozymes for toxin neutralization, and macrophage-guided gene delivery for Parkinson’s disease. Awards include the Controlled Release Society Founders Award, AAAS Fellowship, and Russian Academy of Sciences membership.

Leadership roles include president-elect of the Russian-American Science Association and directorships in professional societies. Grants include NIH funding for cancer nanotechnology training and spinal injury therapies. Over 340 publications (50k+ citations, h-index 115) and co-founded companies like NeuroNano and Ostrea Bio reflect his translational impact.