Audrey Bernstein

Background

About Audrey Bernstein

As Principal Investigator at SUNY Upstate and Chief Scientific Officer of DUB Therapeutics, I lead research and innovation at the intersection of discovery science and therapeutic development. My work spans scientific strategy, project design, problem solving, team leadership, and communication. Our research is focused on scarring and glaucoma, with an emphasis on how aberrant protein accumulation drives disease. We have identified novel ubiquitin-mediated degradation pathways that regulate integrin expression, TGFβ signaling, and fibrosis in the eye. By silencing key genes in this pathway, we can prevent scarring and promote regenerative healing. Building on these discoveries, we co-founded DUB Therapeutics to commercialize a patented self-delivering siRNA platform designed to reduce scarring and inflammation after injury or chronic disease. In exfoliation glaucoma, the leading identifiable cause of open-angle glaucoma, we are targeting lysosomal and mitochondrial defects that drive protein aggregate buildup, intraocular pressure, and vision loss—advancing a new therapeutic strategy for this devastating disease.