Robin Roychaudhuri

Robin Roychaudhuri serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. His pioneering research challenges established dogma by demonstrating the physiological significance of D-amino acids in mammalian systems, with transformative implications for neurodevelopmental disorders and metabolic diseases.

His academic foundation includes:

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry from University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1998-2003), thesis: 'Structural Stability and Refolding of the Soybean Kunitz Trypsin Inhibitor'
• Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard Medical School (2003-2006)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship at UCLA School of Medicine (2006-2008)

Dr. Roychaudhuri's research program focuses on chiral stereoisomers, particularly D-cysteine, revealing its critical roles in embryonic brain development and pancreatic insulin regulation. His work demonstrates that D-cysteine controls neural progenitor cell proliferation in the mammalian brain and regulates insulin secretion in pancreatic islets, overturning the long-held belief that D-amino acids exist only in invertebrates. This research bridges neuroscience, metabolism, and chiral biochemistry to develop novel therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease and type 1 diabetes.

Analysis of his 8 publications (2021-2024) reveals a cohesive research trajectory centered on D-amino acid physiology. The work spans neurodevelopment, metabolic regulation, and analytical methodology development, consistently demonstrating the physiological relevance of D-cysteine and D-serine in mammalian systems. Key trends include the establishment of D-cysteine as an endogenous regulator, development of stereospecific detection assays, and exploration of translational applications for neurodevelopmental and metabolic disorders.

His honors include:

• UGC-CSIR Junior Research Fellowship (1997)
• Cambridge Commonwealth Scholarship (1997)
• Milton E. Mohr Graduate Fellowship (1997)
• Multiple UCLA research awards (2006-2008)
• Maryland Stem Cell Foundation Launch Award (2024)
• NIH-Mead Johnson Nutrition Young Investigator Award (2025)

Dr. Roychaudhuri currently leads two major research initiatives: a $350,000 Maryland Stem Cell Research Foundation project investigating lipid metabolic signatures in Alzheimer's patient-derived neurons (2025-2027), and a $100,000 SOM Departmental Grant exploring D-cysteine as a neurodevelopmental biomarker (2025-2027). His laboratory integrates advanced techniques including iPSC culture, mass spectrometry, biophysical analysis, and in vivo modeling to dissect D-amino acid functions in human biology, with active collaborations through the TMIC Metabolomics Centre and international research networks.