Kathy Giacomini

Kathy Giacomini is a Professor and Dean of the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Pharmacy. She holds joint appointments in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology (School of Medicine) and the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Her leadership focuses on advancing the School’s mission in research, education, and patient care, particularly in precision medicine and pharmacogenomics.

Dr. Giacomini’s research centers on membrane transporter biology, including SLC22 family members like OCT1 and OCT3. Her work explores how genetic variation in transporters affects drug disposition and response, especially in anti-diabetic medications such as metformin and sulfonylureas. She co-leads the UCSF-Stanford Center of Excellence in Regulatory Sciences and Innovation (CERSI), the first FDA-funded CERSI on the U.S. West Coast.

Her recent publications highlight advances in transporter-mediated drug interactions, pharmacogenetic testing, and the role of excipients in drug absorption. Key research areas include metformin pharmacogenetics, transporter structural determinants, and precision medicine applications for ethnically diverse populations.

• Scientific Awards include election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2024), Reynold Spector Award (2023), Volwiler Research Achievement Award (2018), and National Academy of Medicine membership (2006).
• She advocates for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, establishing the CERSI Diversity Scholars Program and promoting underrepresented minorities in pharmacogenomics and pharmaceutical sciences.

Dr. Giacomini’s laboratory collaborates extensively with institutions like Stanford University and the Quantitative Biosciences Institute, advancing understanding of transporter proteins as therapeutic targets and determinants of drug safety.