Kara Anne Bernstein

Kara Anne Bernstein is the George W. Raiziss Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. She is actively engaged in research and teaching, with affiliations in the Pharmacology, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics graduate groups.

Education:

• B.A. in Biology, Bryn Mawr College, 2000
• M.Phil. in Genetics, Yale University, 2004
• Ph.D. in Genetics, Yale University, 2006 (Advisor: Susan Baserga)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Columbia University, 2006–2011 (Advisor: Rodney Rothstein)

Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of DNA double-strand break repair, particularly the role of RAD51 paralogs in maintaining genomic stability and preventing breast and ovarian cancers. Using both budding yeast and mammalian models, her lab investigates how mutations in DNA repair genes contribute to tumorigenesis and how environmental exposures compound cancer risk. She leads a dynamic research team and is deeply involved in training the next generation of scientists.

Her recent publications highlight work on variant classification in RAD51C, structural insights into the BCDX2 complex, and the role of RECQL4 in DNA repair. These studies span structural biology, cancer genomics, and molecular diagnostics, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to understanding cancer development. Her work has significant implications for cancer risk assessment and targeted therapies.

Scientific Awards:

• PA Breast Cancer Coalition Research Award

Kara Bernstein has advised numerous PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, and technicians, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in academia, industry, and clinical research. Her lab has received competitive funding supporting research on triple-negative breast cancer and DNA repair mechanisms. She continues to publish in high-impact journals and is a sought-after speaker, recently delivering the Marc J. Mass Memorial Lecture at UNC Chapel Hill.

The Bernstein Lab maintains a strong presence in both experimental and translational research, with ongoing projects focused on reclassifying variants of unknown significance, investigating gene-environment interactions in cancer, and targeting alternative DNA repair pathways in homologous recombination-deficient cancers.