<p>Nikki Johnston, Ph.D.</p> <p>Professor</p> <p>of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences</p> <p>(Division of Laryngology and Professional Voice and Pediatric Otolaryngology)</p> <p>and Microbiology and Immunology</p> <p>Director of Airway, Digestive and Voice Research</p> <p>Medical College of Wisconsin</p> <p>Milwaukee, WI 53226</p> <p>Tel: (414) 955-4075</p> <p>Email: [email protected]</p> <p>My research laboratory is:</p> <p>1) Using pepsin as a diagnostic biomarker for reflux and aspiration</p> <p>2) Investigating the role of pepsin in reflux-attributed inflammatory and neoplastic disease</p> <p>3) Leading a multi-disciplinary drug discovery program to develop a therapeutic for reflux disease which specifically targets pepsin.</p> <p>4) Serving as one of 25 international Pilot Centers for the World Organization for Specialized Studies on Diseases of the Esophagus - Stanford Esophageal Multidisciplinary Program in Innovative Research Excellence (OESO-SEMPIRE).</p> <p>I have been invited to present our research as a keynote speaker at national and international scientific and clinical conferences, directed international conferences on extra-esophageal reflux: diagnosis and treatment, edited books on this subject and contributed multiple chapters to others’ textbooks.</p> <p>I recently incorporated a new company, N-Zyme Biomedical. I am a co-founder and the Chief Scientific Officer of N-Zyme Biomedical which has exclusively licensed three patents from the Medical College of Wisconsin: PCT/US2021/027758, Aerosolized formulations of HIV protease inhibitors for the treatment of airway reflux; PCT/US2023/071204, Sustained-release oral fosamprenavir for the treatment of reflux; and PCT/US2021/027758, Methods and compositions for treatment of peptic ulcers and/or peptic ulcer disease. Venture Capital investment in N-Zyme is funding a phase II clinical trial to assess the efficacy of a new sustained-release oral/systemic formulation of fosamprenavir sodium alginate for the treatment of laryngopharyngeal reflux. Good Lab Practice (GLP) inhalation toxicology studies for a fosamprenavir dry powder inhaler (DPI) for local delivery of fosamprenavir direct to the throat are also underway, funded by a Falk Medical Trust Transformative Award. These data will support an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for a phase I clinical trial of a fosamprenavir DPI.</p> <p>More information about my research program can be found here: https://www.mcw.edu/departments/ent-Ear-Nose-Throat/research/pepsin-and-reflux-laboratory</p>