Dr Andrew Capel

Andrew completed his BSc in Chemistry and Sports Science in 2010 at Loughborough University, before undertaking an MSc in Pharmaceutical Science and Medicinal Chemistry in 2011 at the same institution. He then began a PhD in the School of Science, researching the use of 3D Printing as a method of manufacturing milli-scale fluidic devices. In 2014, Andrew began working as a research associate in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences (SSEHS), researching next-generation bio-hybrid prosthetics, before being promoted to senior research associate in 2017, working alongside Prof Mark Lewis in the area of musculoskeletal bioengineering. In July 2022 Andrew began working as a lecturer in bioengineering within SSEHS, and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2025.

Andrew’s research operates at the interface between chemistry, engineering, and biology. Since starting his academic career, he has been the recipient of a number of prestigious funding awards within the area of musculoskeletal bioengineering, understanding the role that exercise plays on health, injury, and regeneration. These projects total £7.3M worth of funding including recent awards from:

1. NIHR (HealthTech Research Centre, £2.9M) to work alongside industry to translate the latest healthcare technologies.
2. NC3Rs/BBSRC (£200k) investigating the role of soluble factors released during exercise on multi-tissue cross-talk.
3. NC3Rs (£900k, CRACKIT STRATIS) a highly multi-disciplinary project alongside partners from the UK military (Defence Science Technology Laboratory) to develop and commercialise bioengineered tissues models of musculoskeletal injury and regeneration.
4. East Midlands Emerging Rehabilitation Technology Growth Enterprise (£2.5M, UKRI PBIAA) working alongside regional rehabilitation companies to support commercial translation of rehabilitation technologies into clinical settings.

This project activity has been showcased across a breadth of forums, including a recent Royal Society Summer Science Exhibit entitled “Revolutionising Rehabilitation”, bringing cutting-edge science to the general public. To date, Andrew has published 26 research articles with a H-index of 15, and is supervising 12 postdoctoral research students and 6 contract research staff.

Current Projects

• Bioengineering the human mechanosensory-motor feedback loop.
• Real-time assessment of musculoskeletal injury and rehabilitation.
• 3D assays of vascularised and innervated human skeletal muscle.
• A mechanically induced injury model of bioengineered skeletal muscle.
• Skeletal sex differences: an interaction between exercise intensity and hormonal niche?
• A bioengineered 3D model of obesity-related breast cancer to investigate the anti-tumour immune response induced by exercise.

Andrew is the currently the Chief Scientific Officer for Myomaker Bio. Myomaker Bio is a contract research organisation providing a range of pre-clinical services in muscle biology testing. For more details please visit myomakers.com or contact Dr Capel on andrew.capel@myomakers.com.

Other activities

• Member of the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society (TCES).
• Management Board EPSRC Network+ in Rehabilitation Technologies.
• HealthTech Research Centre in Rehabilitation: Enabling Participation Theme Lead.
• East Midlands Emerging Rehabilitation Technology Growth Enterprise PBIAA: Loughborough University Academic Lead.
• National Rehabilitation Centre: Loughborough University Academic Research and Innovation Committee.
• Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)

• R.P.Rimington, J.W.Fleming, A.J.Capel, P.C.Wheeler, M.P.Lewis (2021) ‘Bioengineered model of the human motor unit with physiologically functional neuromuscular junctions’ Scientific Reports
• M.C.Turner, R.P.Rimington, N.R.W.Martin, J.W.Fleming, A.J.Capel, L.Hodson, M.P.Lewis (2021) ‘Physiological and pathophysiological concentrations of fatty acids induce lipid droplet accumulation and impair functional performance of tissue engineered skeletal muscle’ Journal of Cellular Physiology
• A.J.Capel, M.A.A.Smith, S.Taccola, M. Pardo-Figuerez, R.P.Rimington, M.P.Lewis, S.D.R.Christie, R.W. Kay, R.A.Harris (2021) ‘Digitally Driven Aerosol Jet Printing to Enable Customisable Neuronal Guidance’ Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
• K.W.Aguilar-Agon, A.J.Capel, J.W.Fleming, D.J.Player, N.R.W.Martin, M.P.Lewis (2020) ‘Mechanical loading of tissue engineered skeletal muscle prevents dexamethasone induced myotube atrophy’ Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility.
• J.W.Fleming, A.J.Capel, R.P.Rimington, P.Wheeler, A.N.Leonard, N.C.Bishop, O.G.Davies, M.P.Lewis (2020) ‘Bioengineered human skeletal muscle capable of functional regeneration’ BMC Biology
• J.W.Fleming, A.J.Capel, R.P.Rimington, D.J.Player, A.Stolzing, M.P.Lewis (2019) ‘Functional regeneration of tissue engineered skeletal muscle in vitro is dependent on the inclusion of basement membrane proteins’ Cytoskeleton
• K.W.Aguilar-Agon, A.J.Capel, N.R.W.Martin, D.J.Player, M.P.Lewis (2019) ‘Mechanical loading stimulates hypertrophy in tissue‐engineered skeletal muscle: Molecular and phenotypic responses’ Journal of Cellular Physiology
• A.J.Capel, R.P.Rimington, J.W.Fleming, D.J.Player, L.A.Baker, M.C.Turner, J.M.Jones, N.R.W. Martin, R.A.Ferguson, V.C.Mudera, M.P.Lewis (2019) ‘Scalable 3D Printed Moulds For Human Tissue Engineered Skeletal Muscle’ Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
• A.J.Capel, R.P.Rimington, M.P.Lewis, S.D.R.Christie (2018) ‘ 3D Printing for Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Applications’ Nature Reviews Chemistry