News, Continued

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.

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.

Dr. Win Cowger, executive director of the Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research, was selected by The Pew Charitable Trusts as the first recipient of the 2026 Pew-Gerstner Fellowship in Ocean Plastics Research, a new fellowship established by the Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation and Gerstner Philanthropies. As one of seven international researchers awarded a Pew Marine Fellowship this year, Cowger will receive $150,000 over three years to enhance the capabilities of Open Specy, an open-source tool he developed to help researchers worldwide classify and analyze different types of plastic pollution. Cowger will build a robust reference library and develop new algorithms to improve the identification of nanoplastics, small microplastics, and leachates in the marine environment. He will also lead training workshops to help others use these tools for risk assessments, studies to identify pollutant sources, and interventions to address plastic pollution. “Spectroscopy is the backbone of microplastic analysis,” Cowger said. “We are developing new spectroscopy techniques to look at particles smaller than we have ever been able to analyze before.” The 2026 fellows join a distinguished community of more than 200 Pew marine fellow alumni dedicated to advancing ocean science and promoting the sustainable use of marine resources. The Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation supports midcareer scientists and other experts selected by an international panel of leaders in marine science and conservation. Alumni form an active community that promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing worldwide.

We are pleased to share a recent Q&A with Stanley S. Litow, featured by Finn Partners, highlighting lessons from decades of leadership in workforce development and education reform. In the interview, Stan reflects on the importance of strong public-private partnerships and sustained cross-sector collaboration to expand opportunity. He also honors the leadership of our founder, Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. whose commitment to practical, results-oriented solutions in education continues to guide our work.

Researchers at Mayo Clinic are using artificial intelligence and machine-learning tools to improve how preventive migraine treatments are selected for individual patients. By analyzing long-term clinical data, the team aims to reduce trial-and-error in care and help clinicians better match patients with effective therapies earlier in the treatment process. This work reflects ongoing efforts to apply data-driven approaches to complex neurological conditions and underscores the potential of AI to advance precision medicine.