Frederick R. Maxfield

Frederick R. Maxfield is a Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at Weill Cornell Medical College. His research focuses on cholesterol metabolism, lipid trafficking, and their roles in neurodegenerative diseases and atherosclerosis. He has received major funding from the American Heart Association and National Institute on Aging for studies on STARD4 protein function, microglial lysosomal degradation of amyloid-beta, and macrophage-lipoprotein interactions.

• M.S., Cornell University (1973)
• Ph.D., Cornell University (1977)
• B.S., Union College (1971)

His work spans lysosomal function, membrane dynamics, and sterol transport, with recent studies on pharmacological chaperones for Niemann-Pick disease and microglial digestion of amyloid deposits. Key publications include mechanistic insights into cholesterol-rich lesion formation and HDL/sterol transport pathways.

Current research grants include:

• National Institute on Aging (2023-2026): Role of microglial lysosomes in amyloid-A-beta degradation
• American Heart Association (2024-2025): Two projects on STARD4 and atherosclerosis mechanisms
• NHLBI (2022-2026): Macrophage-Lipoprotein Interactions

External roles include consultant positions at Amlogenyx INC and leadership at Burke Neurological Institute.