Dr. Nobuyuki Matoba is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology and the R&D Director of the Biopharmaceutical Research Unit at the Center for Predictive Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine. With over two decades of experience in biopharmaceutical research, Dr. Matoba specializes in protein-based therapeutic and vaccine development. His research focuses on leveraging protein engineering and plant-based expression systems to develop novel biologics targeting cancer, infectious diseases, and mucosal inflammatory disorders. His lab employs a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing recombinant protein design, biochemical and biophysical characterization, and preclinical efficacy and safety evaluation.

Dr. Matoba has led multiple NIH-funded projects investigating innovative therapeutics, including lectin-Fc fusion proteins targeting high-mannose glycans in cancer and viral infections. His work also extends to the development of EPICERTIN, a mucosal healing biologic for inflammatory bowel disease, currently in preclinical development with plans for first-in-human trials. Additionally, he has played a pivotal role in the clinical translation of antiviral biologics, including the development and evaluation of a SARS-CoV-2 prophylactic nasal spray. Through his extensive expertise in preclinical and clinical drug development, Dr. Matoba continues to drive the advancement of novel biopharmaceuticals from bench to bedside.