David Feldman

Steroid hormones act by binding to intracellular receptors which regulate the expression of specific genes in target cells. My group is studying a number of aspects that relate molecular and cellular events of hormone action at the receptor level to clinically relevant questions. Some of the current projects are as follows:

1. Elucidation of the molecular basis of hereditary vitamin D resistant rickets, a genetic disease due to mutations in the vitamin D receptor.

2. Analysis of the endocrinologic mechanisms regulating vitamin D receptor expression and thereby modulating target organ sensitivity to the actions of vitamin D and its analogs.

3. Investigation of the role of vitamin D as a differentiating and antiproliferative agent with the potential to affect malignant cells, specifically prostate cancer.

4. Study of genetic variations in the vitamin D receptor gene and inheritance of low bone mass in relation to the development of osteoporosis.