(R)-3-Amino-4-hydroxybutanoic acid is primarily utilized in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly in the development of drugs targeting neurological disorders. It serves as a key intermediate in the production of GABA analogs, which are essential for treating conditions like epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and anxiety. Additionally, it is employed in research for studying metabolic pathways and enzyme interactions related to amino acid metabolism. Its chiral nature makes it valuable in asymmetric synthesis, contributing to the creation of enantiomerically pure compounds for therapeutic applications.