Steven Bernstein

Steven Bernstein is a Professor in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where he also serves as Vice Chair for Research and Chief of the Lab of Molecular Research. His work bridges clinical ophthalmology and molecular neuroscience, focusing on age-related and genetic optic nerve diseases, particularly nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).

Education and Training

• B.Sc. in Microbiology, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science
• Ph.D. in Neurobiology, Cornell University, New York Hospital, NY
• M.D., SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, New York
• Medical Internship, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
• Ophthalmology Residency, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA
• Ophthalmic Genetics Fellowship, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD
• Postdoctoral/Senior Staff Fellow, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, MD

Research Interests encompass neuroprotective strategies for NAION, post-optic nerve infarct recovery via inflammation modulation, and stem cell roles in optic nerve function and repair. His lab pioneered animal models (mouse, rat, primate) for NAION, enabling mechanistic studies and therapeutic testing.

Labs and Teams: Chief of the Lab of Molecular Research, focusing on translational approaches to optic nerve diseases.