Emily Bernstein, PhD
img_Emily Bernstein
PROFESSOR | Oncological Sciences
PROFESSOR | Dermatology
Research Topics
Cancer, Chromatin, Epigenetics, Gene Regulation, Molecular Biology, Stem Cells
Multi-Disciplinary Training Area
Cancer Biology [CAB], Development Regeneration and Stem Cells [DRS]

Summary of Current Research

Our focus is on epigenetic regulation of gene expression in multiple biological pathways including cancer (melanoma, breast cancer, neuroblastoma), cellular senescence and stem cell biology. We have a strong research focus on histone variants and their dedicated chaperones, chromatin remodelers, and histone modifying enzymes, which are all frequently altered in cancer.

Chromatin is the complex of DNA and its intimately associated proteins - with histones constituting the major component. This template is an attractive candidate for shaping the features of a cell's epigenetic landscape. Disruption of a cell's epigenetic balance can perturb chromatin structure and gene regulation, contributing to disease states. There is a growing interest both in academia and industry to target the machinery that regulate chromatin dynamics, and this burgeoning field is of great interest to our laboratory.

Our laboratory collaborates with numerous investigators at ISMMS and other institutes to translate our basic mechanistic findings towards pre-clinical or clinical trials. We work closely with medicinal chemists, immunologists, and external partners towards this goal.

Visit the Bernstein Laboratory

PhD, SUNY Stony Brook/Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

The Rockefeller University

2020

Faculty Council Award for Academic Excellence by a Senior Faculty member

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

2019

4D Technology Development Program

Mount Sinai Innovation Award

2017

Commencement 2017 Honoree, Graduate Student Marshal

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

2015

Established Investigator Award

Melanoma Research Alliance

2014

Young Investigators in Cancer Research

Pershing Square Sohn Prize

2012

Outstanding Mentorship Award

Mount Sinai Graduate School

2012

Young Cancer Scientist Research Award

JJR Foundation

2012

Developmental Fund Award

The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai

2011

The Dr. Harold and Golden Lamport Research Award

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

2010

Tisch Cancer Institute Developmental Funds Award

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

2008

Scholar Award

American Skin Association Research

2008

New Scholar Award

Ellison Medical Foundation

2004

Postdoctoral Fellowship

National Science Foundation

Research Award

Irma T. Hirschl Charitable Trust

Publications

Selected Publications

Author Correction: A local tumor microenvironment acquired super-enhancer induces an oncogenic driver in colorectal carcinoma (Nature Communications, (2022), 13, 1, (6041), 10.1038/s41467-022-33377-8). Royce W. Zhou, Jia Xu, Tiphaine C. Martin, Alexis L. Zachem, John He, Sait Ozturk, Deniz Demircioglu, Ankita Bansal, Andrew P. Trotta, Bruno Giotti, Berkley Gryder, Yao Shen, Xuewei Wu, Saul Carcamo, Kaitlyn Bosch, Benjamin Hopkins, Alexander Tsankov, Randolph Steinhagen, Drew R. Jones, John Asara, Jerry E. Chipuk, Rachel Brody, Steven Itzkowitz, Iok In Christine Chio, Dan Hasson, Emily Bernstein, Ramon E. Parsons. Nature Communications

MacroH2A histone variants modulate enhancer activity to repress oncogenic programs and cellular reprogramming. Wazim Mohammed Ismail, Amelia Mazzone, Flavia G. Ghiraldini, Jagneet Kaur, Manvir Bains, Amik Munankarmy, Monique S. Bagwell, Stephanie L. Safgren, John Moore-Weiss, Marina Buciuc, Lynzie Shimp, Kelsey A. Leach, Luis F. Duarte, Chandandeep S. Nagi, Saul Carcamo, Chi Yeh Chung, Dan Hasson, Neda Dadgar, Jian Zhong, Jeong Heon Lee, Fergus J. Couch, Alexander Revzin, Tamas Ordog, Emily Bernstein, Alexandre Gaspar-Maia. Communications Biology

5-Azacytidine- and retinoic-acid-induced reprogramming of DCCs into dormancy suppresses metastasis via restored TGF-β-SMAD4 signaling. Deepak K. Singh, Saul Carcamo, Eduardo F. Farias, Dan Hasson, Wei Zheng, Dan Sun, Xin Huang, Julie Cheung, Ana Rita Nobre, Nupura Kale, Maria Soledad Sosa, Emily Bernstein, Julio A. Aguirre-Ghiso. Cell Reports

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Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.

Dr. Bernstein did not report having any of the following types of financial relationships with industry during 2022 and/or 2023: consulting, scientific advisory board, industry-sponsored lectures, service on Board of Directors, participation on industry-sponsored committees, equity ownership valued at greater than 5% of a publicly traded company or any value in a privately held company. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.

Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.