Kerry Burnstein

Kerry Burnstein, Ph.D., is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Molecular & Cellular Pharmacology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She also serves as Associate Director for Education and Training at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and works as a Health Scientist at the Miami Veterans Affairs.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Genetics (1986), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • B.A. in Biology (1981), Wesleyan University

Research Focus: Dr. Burnstein investigates androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathways in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Her lab explores cross-talk between AR and other signaling pathways to identify therapeutic targets, focusing on pharmacological interventions and gene regulation networks that drive cancer progression.

Scientific Contributions: Her work includes novel prostate cancer treatments, with one granted US patent and two pending applications. Key publications highlight advancements in CRPC biomarkers, drug screening automation, and targeted kinase inhibition.

• Leadership & Awards:
  • Former President, Cancer Biology Training Consortium (CABTRAC)
  • Chartered Member, NIH Mechanisms of Cancer Therapeutics-2 (MCT2) Study Section
  • Recipient of multiple mentoring awards (Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami)
  • Recipient of Society for Women in Urology / Society for Basic Urologic Research joint award

Training & Education: Dr. Burnstein has mentored 17 graduate students, many pursuing oncology research careers. She leads education initiatives at Sylvester Cancer Center and contributes to national cancer research training programs through advisory roles.