PHOTO CREDIT: Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School
PHOTO CREDIT: Jamaal Dozier (via Good Shepherd Services)
Gerstner Philanthropies focuses on biomedical research, educational opportunities, environmental sustainability, and assistance for people who have suffered a temporary setback and could use a “helping hand” to restore their equilibrium.
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Columbia University Honors Louis V. Gerstner, Jr.
April 20, 2026
We are grateful to the Department of Ophthalmology at Columbia University for sharing a thoughtful In Memoriam honoring our founder, Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. As the article reflects, Mr. Gerstner had a deep commitment to Columbia and to advancing biomedical science. He believed in supporting physician-scientists and early-career researchers to drive discovery and improve human health. We thank our partners at Columbia for this meaningful tribute and for continuing the work he cared about so deeply.
Read the Full In Memoriam at Vagelos.Columbia.Edu
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Gerstner Philanthropies Supports Ratul Chowdhury’s AI-Driven Research to Reduce Livestock Methane Emissions
April 17, 2026
In partnership with Global Methane Hub’s Enteric Fermentation R&D Accelerator, Gerstner Philanthropies has awarded funding to Dr. Ratul Chowdhury of Iowa State University, to support research aimed at reducing methane emissions from livestock. The project brings together collaborators from Texas A&M University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop an AI-driven computational framework that identifies compounds capable of lowering methane production during digestion. By targeting the microbial processes behind enteric fermentation, the research seeks to discover safe, effective inhibitors that do not compromise animal health or productivity. Findings from this work will enable farmers to to customize the diet of ruminant animals to produce less methane during digestion.
Read more at nanovaccine.iastate.edu
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Reflections on Helping Hands
Lou Gerstner shares the origin of and his vision for the emergency grants program, lessons learned over the past decade, and his belief in the critical importance of the work.
Watch the video