\nPrincipal Investigator
\nMount Sinai Profile<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”107px” custom_margin=”||-59px|||” custom_padding=”17px||0px|||” animation_style=”fade” animation_duration=”700ms”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-18px|auto|-82px|auto||” custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_button button_url=”#open” button_text=”Read More” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”lightbox-trigger-emily” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”19px” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#00AEEF” button_border_width=”0px” button_font=”|300|||||||” button_use_icon=”off”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_cta title=”Emily Bernstein, PhD” button_text=”Click Here” module_class=”lightbox-content-emily” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#8C8C8C” max_width=”57%” module_alignment=”center” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″]Dr. Bernstein is a Professor of Oncological Sciences and Dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. She performed her thesis research in the laboratory of Dr. Gregory Hannon at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory with a PhD from Stony Brook University. Dr. Bernstein completed her postdoctoral studies with Dr. David Allis at The Rockefeller University. She has made important scientific contributions to various areas of biology during her career, including understanding the mechanisms underlying RNA interference and chromatin regulation, and more recently, how the latter can impact on disease. Her laboratory studies epigenetic mechanisms underlying stem cell biology and reprogramming, and cancer initiation and progression with a focus on malignant melanoma.
\n[\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”31px|auto||auto||” custom_padding=”78px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/bernsteinlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2025\/08\/Alja_cropped-1.jpg” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|5px|5px|5px|5px” border_radii_image=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px”]<\/p>\n
ALJA PIRHER, PhD<\/strong> [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_button button_url=”#open” button_text=”Read More” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”lightbox-trigger-elena” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”19px” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#00AEEF” button_border_width=”0px” button_font=”|300|||||||” button_use_icon=”off”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_cta title=”Alja Pirher, PhD” button_text=”Click Here” module_class=”lightbox-content-elena” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#8C8C8C” max_width=”57%” module_alignment=”center” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″]<\/p>\n Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. Alterations in the chromatin remodeler ATRX define a high-risk NB subgroup characterized by poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. These alterations frequently generate ATRX in-frame fusion (IFF) proteins that lack essential chromatin-binding and interaction domains, potentially conferring new, alternative functions. Alja is particularly interested in understanding how ATRX IFFs sustain the NB phenotype by identifying novel binding partners and dissecting the mechanisms through which these fusions reprogram transcriptional networks. Her ultimate goal is to uncover critical ATRX IFF interactors that drive oncogenic transcriptional programs and represent potential therapeutic targets.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/bernsteinlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2025\/08\/FM-300×271.jpg” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_radii_image=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” title_text=”FM” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n FARBOD HATAMI, MD<\/strong> [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_button button_url=”#open” button_text=”Read More” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”lightbox-trigger-sina” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”19px” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#00AEEF” button_border_width=”0px” button_font=”|300|||||||” button_use_icon=”off”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_cta title=”Farbod Hatami, MD” button_text=”Click Here” module_class=”lightbox-content-sina” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#8C8C8C” max_width=”57%” module_alignment=”center” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″]H2A.Z is a highly conserved histone variant upregulated in many cancers, playing critical roles in transcription, DNA replication, repair, apoptosis, and cell identity. However, its role in the tumor microenvironment remains unexplored. Previous work from our lab has shown that H2A.Z regulates melanoma cell proliferation, progression, and apoptosis.\u00a0Farbod\u00a0is using\u00a0in vitro<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0in vivo<\/em>\u00a0models, alongside transcriptomic and epigenomic techniques, to investigate the mechanistic functions of H2A.Z and its chaperone complexes, SRCAP and P400-TIP60. His research aims to elucidate their roles in the melanoma tumor microenvironment and treatment resistance, as well as explore their potential as therapeutic targets. VALENTINA KIRIGIN, MS<\/strong> [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_button button_url=”#open” button_text=”Read More” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”lightbox-trigger-anisha” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”19px” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#00AEEF” button_border_width=”0px” button_font=”|300|||||||” button_use_icon=”off”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_cta title=”Valentina Kirigin, MS” module_class=”lightbox-content-anisha” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#8C8C8C” max_width=”57%” module_alignment=”center” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″]Valentina\u00a0began her academic career in France where she first completed her bachelor\u2019s degree in biology at Universit\u00e9 de La Rochelle followed by a Master\u2019s degree in research biomedicine at Universit\u00e9 de Strasbourg.\u00a0Valentina\u00a0developed an interest in melanoma research while carrying out an internship at Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies where she investigated how the positioning of various intracellular organelles affected migration and extracellular matrix degradation linked to melanoma progression. In Dr. Bernstein\u2019s team, she is currently involved in understanding the role of macroH2A function in melanoma pathogenesis using mouse models. Outside the lab,\u00a0Valentina\u00a0enjoys working out, exploring the city and cooking new dishes. DAN FILIPESCU, PhD<\/strong> [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_button button_url=”#open” button_text=”Read More” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”lightbox-trigger-valentina” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”19px” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#00AEEF” button_border_width=”0px” button_font=”|300|||||||” button_use_icon=”off”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_cta title=”Dan Filipescu, PhD” button_text=”Click Here” module_class=”lightbox-content-valentina” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#8C8C8C” max_width=”57%” module_alignment=”center” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″]<\/p>\n Histone variants are incorporated and exchanged at specific regions of the genome to regulate homeostasis and cellular identity. As such, histone variant dysfunction has profound consequences for tumor cells; however, the role of these chromatin components in the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains unclear.\u00a0Using an autochthonous, immunocompetent primary melanoma model, Dan showed that mice devoid of the histone variant macroH2A develop larger tumors, underpinning a compromised anti-tumor immune response. This stems from intrinsic upregulation of inflammatory genes in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), where macroH2A deficiency leads to rewiring of 3D chromatin interactions. Dan is using his expertise with in vivo<\/em> tumor models, in vitro<\/em> cell biology, various modalities of large-scale data analysis (e.g., single cell RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, and epigenomics), and distinct compartments of the TME, to define how epigenetic modulation of CAFs directs their phenotype, in turn affecting immune cell activity in melanoma.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/bernsteinlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2023\/10\/Hasson-2.png” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii_image=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px”]<\/p>\n DAN HASSON, PhD<\/strong> [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_button button_url=”#open” button_text=”Read More” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”lightbox-trigger-filipescu” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”19px” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#00AEEF” button_border_width=”0px” button_font=”|300|||||||” button_use_icon=”off”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_cta title=”Dan Hasson, PhD” module_class=”lightbox-content-filipescu” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#8C8C8C” max_width=”57%” module_alignment=”center” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″]<\/p>\n Dan\u2019s main research interest is focused on understanding the functional role of cis DNA regulatory elements in cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, and dormancy. Dan also studies the role of chromatin remodelers and transcription factors (TFs) that control the functional output of these elements, as well as the 3D chromatin structure associated with their regulation. Dan utilizes innovative genomic approaches and computational tools to support our laboratory\u2019s studies investigating the role of epigenetics in cancers such as melanoma and neuroblastoma. Dan is also Co-Director of the Bioinformatics for Next Generation Sequencing (BiNGS) core of the Tisch Cancer Institute.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/bernsteinlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2025\/02\/saul_cropped2-300×257.jpg” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii_image=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px”]<\/p>\n SAUL CARCAMO, PhD<\/strong> [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_button button_url=”#open” button_text=”Read More” button_alignment=”center” module_class=”lightbox-trigger-saul” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”19px” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#00AEEF” button_border_width=”0px” button_font=”|300|||||||” button_use_icon=”off”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_cta title=”Saul Carcamo, PhD” module_class=”lightbox-content-saul” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#8C8C8C” max_width=”57%” module_alignment=”center” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″]<\/p>\n Dr. Carcamo is a senior bioinformatician in the Bioinformatics for Next Generation Sequencing (BiNGS) Shared Resource of the Tisch Cancer Institute. Dr. Carcamo\u2019s thesis dissertation focused on chromatin remodeling alterations in cancer. He\u00a0has expertise in performing and analyzing epigenetic and transcriptomic genome-wide datasets. More specifically, Dr. Carcamo is an expert in analyzing ATAC- and ChIP-seq data, integration of epigenetic and transcriptomic data, and the analysis of TF networks.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”23px” text_line_height=”1.9em” header_font_size=”23px”]<\/p>\n Lab Alumni\u00a0<\/a><\/span>: See where former lab members are now!<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_divider color=”#141414″ _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Footer Fullwidth – Section 13″ module_class=”footer-section” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”#ffffff” background_color_gradient_end=”#ffffff” background_image=”https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/bernsteinlab2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2022\/10\/Rectangle-3.png” background_enable_image=”off” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”50px|||176px|false|false” custom_padding=”3px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”bottom” animation_intensity_slide=”14%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.0″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” background_color_gradient_direction=”38deg” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|auto||147px||” locked=”off” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_social_media_follow icon_color=”#00AEEF” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||17px|||”][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”twitter” url=”https:\/\/twitter.com\/bernstein_lab” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”24px” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(0,0,0,0)” background_enable_color=”on”]twitter[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][\/et_pb_social_media_follow][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”24px”]<\/p>\n Contact Us<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.0″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” background_color_gradient_direction=”38deg” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|auto|-2px|auto||” custom_padding=”0px||104px|||” locked=”off” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.0″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_line_height=”22px” background_color=”#FFFFFF”]Resources<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Department of Oncological Sciences<\/a> Phone
Postdoctoral Fellow<\/strong><\/p>\n
Postdoctoral Fellow<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n[\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/bernsteinlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2023\/10\/Valentina-2.png” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii_image=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px”]<\/p>\n
\n Research Associate<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n[\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/bernsteinlab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2023\/10\/Filipescu-1.png” _builder_version=”4.9.0″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii_image=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px”]<\/p>\n
Assistant Professor<\/strong><\/p>\n
Associate Professor<\/strong><\/p>\n
Lead Bioinformatician<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
\nBlack Family Stem Cell Institute<\/a>
\nTisch Cancer Institute<\/a>
\nDepartment of Dermatology<\/a>
\nGraduate School of Biomedical Sciences<\/a><\/p>\n![\"MSSMLogo\"](\"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/bernsteinlab2\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/498\/2022\/07\/MSSMLogo.png\")
<\/a>
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.0″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_line_height=”1.25em” header_font=”||||||||” header_4_font=”|700||on|||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_color=”#FFFFFF” background_layout=”dark” locked=”off”]E-mail
\n<\/strong>emily.bernstein@mssm.edu<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Tel: 212-824-9335<\/span><\/p>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.0″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_line_height=”1.25em” header_font=”||||||||” header_4_font=”|700||on|||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_letter_spacing=”1px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” background_layout=”dark” locked=”off”]Lab Address <\/strong><\/span>
\n Department of Oncological Sciences<\/span>
\n Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai<\/span>
\n One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1044A<\/span>
\n New York, NY 10029<\/span><\/p>\n