Ricardo Feldman

Dr. Ricardo A. Feldman is a Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and a founding member of The Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. His research leverages human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) for disease modeling and drug discovery in lysosomal storage diseases, particularly Gaucher disease (GD) and GBA1-associated Parkinson's disease (PD).

Research Interests

Dr. Feldman's work explores the intersection of lysosomal dysfunction and neurodevelopmental abnormalities. His lab has established iPSC models for GD, revealing sphingolipid imbalance-induced defects in lysosomal biogenesis, autophagy, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Key findings include:

• Identification of TFEB downregulation as a central mechanism in GD pathology
• Demonstration of Wnt signaling defects in neuronal and osteoblast development
• Elucidation of mTOR hyperactivity in lysosomal dysfunction
• Development of novel therapeutic strategies for GD bone disease and neurodegeneration

Publications & Collaborative Work

His research portfolio spans lysosomal biology, stem cell applications, and signal transduction pathways. Recent work focuses on sphingolipid-sensing mechanisms and translational applications of iPSC technology in regenerative medicine.