Brian C. Capell

Brian C. Capell, M.D., Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Genetics at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. He leads the Capell Lab within the Department of Dermatology, with additional affiliations at the Penn Epigenetics Institute, Abramson Cancer Center, and Penn Skin Biology and Diseases Resource-based Center. His research focuses on epigenetic mechanisms at the intersection of cancer, immunity, and metabolism in epithelial tissues.

Education

• B.S. in Biology, Boston College (2000)
• Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology, New York University (2008)
• M.D., New York University School of Medicine (2009)

Dr. Capell’s work has established ferroptosis as a critical mechanism for epidermal differentiation and tumor suppression in skin cancer. His lab explores diet-metabolism-epigenetic crosstalk, sex-based disease disparities, and therapeutic applications of epigenetic modulators. Recent publications highlight ferroptosis, m6A RNA methylation, and LSD1 inhibition in epithelial homeostasis and oncogenesis.

Scientific Awards

• Charles and Daneen Stiefel Scholar Award (2019)
• Todd Nagel Memorial Research Grant (2022)

Dr. Capell mentors graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, including Shaun Egolf (Ph.D. 2022), Jessica Lee, and Gina Pacella. His lab collaborates with clinical teams at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Hospital, translating basic discoveries into skin cancer and inflammatory disease therapies.