# Derek DiRocco
Derek DiRocco is an American healthcare investor and Partner at RA Capital Management ([Ra Capital Nexus](https://www.edgepedia.org/ra-capital-nexus)), working on public and private investments in biotech and serving as a board director for portfolio companies.[1](https://www.racap.com/team/derek-dirocco) He joined the firm in 2013 as an associate and rose through its analyst and principal ranks, and his mandate spans both public and private healthcare investments within RA Capital's multi-stage crossover model.[2](https://ir.89bio.com/board-member/derek-dirocco-phd)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Firm and role | Partner, Healthcare, at RA Capital Management (Ra Capital Nexus)[1](https://www.racap.com/team/derek-dirocco) |
| Career path at RA Capital | Associate from July 2013; analyst June 2015 to December 2017; principal from December 2017; subsequently Partner[1](https://www.racap.com/team/derek-dirocco) • [2](https://ir.89bio.com/board-member/derek-dirocco-phd) |
| Education | BA in Biology, College of the Holy Cross; PhD in Pharmacology, University of Washington[1](https://www.racap.com/team/derek-dirocco) • [2](https://ir.89bio.com/board-member/derek-dirocco-phd) |
| Research background | Postdoctoral work at Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School on Wnt signaling in kidney disease[1](https://www.racap.com/team/derek-dirocco) |
| Board service | 89bio since April 2018; Evommune since October 2024; Acrivon director as of May 2026; RA Capital's roster also lists Achilles Therapeutics, iTeos, Connect Bio, CANbridge, and Werewolf Therapeutics[2](https://ir.89bio.com/board-member/derek-dirocco-phd) • [3](https://www.evommune.com/team/derek-dirocco-ph-d/) • [4](https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/ACRV/form-4-acrivon-therapeutics-inc-insider-trading-activity-e4ffa344d60e.html) |
## Early life and education
DiRocco holds a BA in Biology from [College of the Holy Cross](https://www.edgepedia.org/college-of-the-holy-cross) and a PhD in [Pharmacology](https://www.edgepedia.org/pharmacology) from the University of Washington.[1](https://www.racap.com/team/derek-dirocco) • [2](https://ir.89bio.com/board-member/derek-dirocco-phd) Before entering investing he conducted postdoctoral research at [Brigham and Women's Hospital](https://www.edgepedia.org/brigham-and-womens-hospital)/Harvard Medical School, where he studied the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in mouse models of kidney disease.[1](https://www.racap.com/team/derek-dirocco) He was part of a research team that discovered a stem cell subtype responsible for solid organ fibrosis.[6](https://www.racap.com/team/dirocco) Prior to RA Capital he also covered solid tumor oncology landscapes.[1](https://www.racap.com/team/derek-dirocco)
## Career
DiRocco joined RA Capital as an associate in July 2013, served as an analyst from June 2015 to December 2017, and has been a principal there since December 2017; the firm's current roster lists him as Partner.[1](https://www.racap.com/team/derek-dirocco) • [2](https://ir.89bio.com/board-member/derek-dirocco-phd) The 89bio board bio, written earlier in his tenure, describes him as principal, while the firm's current team page gives Partner.[1](https://www.racap.com/team/derek-dirocco) • [2](https://ir.89bio.com/board-member/derek-dirocco-phd)
## Role at Ra Capital Nexus and investment model
DiRocco's stated responsibilities are to work on both public and private investments and to serve as a board director for portfolio companies; RA Capital's roster names 89 Bio, Achilles Therapeutics, iTeos Therapeutics, Connect Bio, CANbridge, and Werewolf Therapeutics.[1](https://www.racap.com/team/derek-dirocco) His Evommune bio, dated October 2024, lists current boards as 89Bio and Mineralys, among others, and adds Evommune itself; the two sources do not fully agree on the current board list, and this discrepancy is unresolved here.[3](https://www.evommune.com/team/derek-dirocco-ph-d/)
The firm's model shapes what that board work looks like. RA Capital describes investing "across the entire innovation lifecycle - from NewCo creation through seed, venture, crossover, IPO, and public markets," and states that it "lead[s] crossover rounds, anchor[s] IPOs, and maintain[s] public positions."[5](https://www.racap.com/invest-with-ra-capital) Securities filings reflect this structure: DiRocco's Acrivon holdings are recorded indirectly through RA Capital Healthcare Fund, L.P. and RA Capital Nexus Fund II, L.P., rather than personally.[4](https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/ACRV/form-4-acrivon-therapeutics-inc-insider-trading-activity-e4ffa344d60e.html)
## Notable investments and boards (by the numbers)
His governance roles are well documented. He has served on 89bio's board of directors since April 2018.[2](https://ir.89bio.com/board-member/derek-dirocco-phd) He has been a member of Evommune's board since October 2024.[3](https://www.evommune.com/team/derek-dirocco-ph-d/) An SEC Form 4 records his directorship at [Acrivon Therapeutics](https://www.edgepedia.org/acrivon-therapeutics): on May 18, 2026 he received a grant of 9,366 restricted stock units at $0.00 per share, vesting in full on March 18, 2027 if he continues as a director.[4](https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/ACRV/form-4-acrivon-therapeutics-inc-insider-trading-activity-e4ffa344d60e.html) The filing also quantifies the firm's position: 426,302 Acrivon shares held indirectly by RA Capital Healthcare Fund and 11,803,094 shares by RA Capital Nexus Fund II.[4](https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/ACRV/form-4-acrivon-therapeutics-inc-insider-trading-activity-e4ffa344d60e.html) The same filing states he holds such RSUs for the benefit of the two funds and must deliver settled shares to the fund adviser to offset advisory fees.[4](https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/ACRV/form-4-acrivon-therapeutics-inc-insider-trading-activity-e4ffa344d60e.html)
## Recent developments
The post-2023 record shows continued activity rather than a change of course. New board seats include Evommune in October 2024 and, per the 2026 Form 4, a directorship at Acrivon with an RSU grant in May 2026.[3](https://www.evommune.com/team/derek-dirocco-ph-d/) • [4](https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/ACRV/form-4-acrivon-therapeutics-inc-insider-trading-activity-e4ffa344d60e.html) The Form 4 also shows positions held through RA Capital Nexus Fund II, indicating the firm's newer vehicle, though no source in this record gives that fund's size or closing date.[4](https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/ACRV/form-4-acrivon-therapeutics-inc-insider-trading-activity-e4ffa344d60e.html)
## References
1. [Derek DiRocco - Partner | RA Capital](https://www.racap.com/team/derek-dirocco)
2. [Derek DiRocco, Ph.D. | Board Member | 89bio, Inc.](https://ir.89bio.com/board-member/derek-dirocco-phd)
3. [Derek DiRocco, Ph.D. - Evommune](https://www.evommune.com/team/derek-dirocco-ph-d/)
4. [Acrivon director gets 9,366 RSUs held for RA Capital | ACRV Insider Trading](https://www.stocktitan.net/sec-filings/ACRV/form-4-acrivon-therapeutics-inc-insider-trading-activity-e4ffa344d60e.html)
5. [Invest with RA Capital | RA Capital](https://www.racap.com/invest-with-ra-capital)
6. [racap.com page](https://www.racap.com/team/dirocco)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Economics and business › Founders, operators, and investors › Venture and growth investors › Life-science venture and company creation › Biotech venture capital partners › Titles A to J*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license