Andrew Capacci

Andrew Capacci, PhD, is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), affiliated with the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (IND). He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto and completed his PhD at Princeton University under David MacMillan, focusing on asymmetric organocatalysis and photoredox catalysis. Prior to joining UCSF in 2023, he spent over eight years at Biogen, progressing from individual contributor to program leader, supervising teams and leading drug discovery efforts for neurodegenerative diseases. His research integrates synthetic and medicinal chemistry to develop small molecules targeting unmet medical needs in neurodegenerative disorders.

Dr. Capacci’s career has spanned academic and industry settings, with expertise in catalytic methods, drug design, and translational research. His work at Biogen emphasized hit validation, lead identification, and candidate selection, while his UCSF role focuses on leveraging synthetic chemistry to advance therapies for conditions like multiple sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases. His publications span topics including BTK inhibitors, GSK3α structure-based drug design, and catalytic methodologies.

He holds a joint appointment in the School of Medicine and contributes to the IND’s mission through collaborative research and mentoring. His lab focuses on bridging chemistry and medicine to address critical challenges in neurological disease treatment.