StevenLanceBernsteinMD

Summary

• I am both a board certified Ophthalmologist and a Scientist. My research interests are focused on identifying the critical mechanisms of retinal ganglion cell neuroprotection, optic nerve repair and regeneration for common age-related optic nerve (ON)-and retinal diseases, particularly primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). I utilize molecular biological, cell biological, and transgenic techniques. We recently identified neural progenitor cells in the optic nerve head-optic nerve laminar region (ONLR), and have characterized these cells in human, nonhuman primate and rodent ONLR. My lab generated the first clinically relevant models of NAION in rodents (rNAION) and nonhuman primates (pNAION). My work is translational in nature, utilizing cell, molecular biological, and functional analyses, and nonhuman primate, rat and mouse transgenic models, as well as human tissues. I was one of the key developers of the NEIbank-ocular tissue gene identification program. My lab interests include: 1) Regenerative (Neural stem/neural progenitor based) approaches to optic nerve repair and recovery. 2) Early retinal ganglion cell neuroprotection and neuroregeneration for ischemic CNS disease. Our new findings have implications for treatment of anterior optic nerve diseases such as NAION and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). I utilize statistically robust methods to analyze ganglion cell injury and death. My lab’s work on repair of ON-ischemic injury is enhanced by my clinical experience as a comprehensive Ophthalmologist, and I collaborate widely.