News

Renhe Luo, PhD, who recently graduated from the Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSK), has been awarded the 2024 Chairman’s Prize. The competitive award is presented annually and was established by GSK’s Board of Trustees Chair Emeritus Louis V. Gerstner Jr., for whom the school is named. This year’s $2,000 Chairman’s Prize was awarded to Dr. Luo for his research on gene enhancers, which are regulatory DNA sequences that are critical in determining when and where genes are turned on or off. Enhancers play an important role in development, cell differentiation, and the response to environmental signals. “This research provides strategies for discovering more comprehensive enhancer sets, both in normal development and in cells transitioning to cancer cells or other disease cells,” Dr. Luo says.

Feeding Our Neighbors, a vital initiative by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, brought essential relief to over 200 families with a pop-up pantry at St. Helena’s in the Bronx. Monsignor Kevin Sullivan, the Executive Director, attended the event and personally engaged with attendees. “The price of food is astronomical and people who are on limited income, many, many, many of whom are working, just can’t make ends meet at the end of the month,” the Monsignor shared. Supported by Gerstner Philanthropies, this program operates 24 pop-up food pantries annually across the diocese, directly combating hunger and food insecurity by reaching New Yorkers right in their communities.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) held its Academic Convocation and Commencement on May 15, 2024, celebrating new graduates and award winners. Our Chairman, Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., namesake of the Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School, had the opportunity to honor the graduates. This year, 10 students earned their doctoral degrees in cancer biology from the Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSK). In addition, five practicing MSK doctors received Master of Science degrees in clinical and translational cancer research from GSK. Keynote speaker Elaine Fuchs, PhD, received an honorary degree for her contributions to science. Congratulations to all the graduates on their achievements!

Gerstner Philanthropies is excited to launch the search for a Program Officer for our Helping Hands Program. Based in our family office in Armonk NY, the Program Officer will collaborate with the Program Director to source, cultivate and assess potential investment opportunities as well as help build out and grow our Helping Hands College portfolio. The goal of the Helping Hands program is to provide students with financial support when they need assistance with emergency expenses ensuring that they stay enrolled in college and complete their education.

MIT researchers are developing a system for reducing emissions of the potent greenhouse gas at dairy farms and other sites. Methane traps much more heat per pound than carbon dioxide, making it a powerful contributor to climate change. “In fact, methane emission removal is the fastest way that we can ensure immediate results for reduced global warming,” says Audrey Parker, a graduate student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.