The Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Physician Scholars Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) has received a $25 million donation from Mr. Gerstner. Physician-scientists who are just beginning their careers at MSK will benefit from the Gerstner Scholars Program, which aims to foster promising scientific research and the careers of excellent junior faculty members.
MSK’s Physician-in-Chief, Lisa M. DeAngelis, MD, says recruiting and maintaining the next generation of physician-scientists in cancer research is one of our most critical concerns. A substantial grant from Louis V. Gerstner Jr. will aid MSK’s efforts to attract, promote and champion exceptional early-career physician-scientists who will make discoveries and investigate the increasingly complicated challenges presented by cancer science.”
Several MSK physician-scientists each year will be named Gerstner Physician Scholars and will get the tools necessary to validate their new research ideas and integrate these ideas into clinical practice. An early career physician-scientist will benefit from the initiative, which aims to help young doctors who are able to combine clinical care with laboratory research. A total of $150,000 a year for three years will be made available to the Scholars to help them expand their research, recruit exceptional junior lab members, and create preliminary data that can be used to apply for more financing from outside sources. To continue their research after this period, they will be eligible for extra funding that is open to all MSK professors. MSK will organize a multidisciplinary selection committee under the supervision of Dr. DeAngelis to help steer the program and provide a clear sense of direction.
According to Monika Shah, MD, MSK’s infectious disease specialist and deputy physician-in-chief for educational affairs, “the 21st century has seen increasing progress in biomedical technology,” she said. “This makes translational research extremely complex and scientific training more challenging and important than ever before.” In order to address a serious shortage of cancer subspecialists who are highly trained as experts in both clinical treatment and scientific research, the formation of the Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Physician Scholars Program is essential.” During and after their time as Gerstner Physician Scholars, these Scholars will make scientific and clinical discoveries that will enhance the lives of cancer patients around the world.”
There are almost 100 successful alumni from the MSK Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, chaired by Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. He is also a long-serving trustee on MSK’s board. MSK created GSK in 2004 to train the next generation of fundamental research pioneers and to establish MSK as a top training ground in cancer biology thanks to his significant financial assistance. Gerstner’s lifelong dedication to education is seen in the Gerstner Physician Scholars Program, a unique addition to GSK.
Because of this, I have witnessed directly how critical it is to train and assist the next generation of cancer researchers in my role on Memorial Sloan Kettering’s board,” says Gerstner. A new cohort of Gerstner Scholars is selected each year to receive the financial resources needed to support their work and develop the foundation needed to create momentum and get access to other sources of financing through the Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Physician Scholars Program.” Cancer research will benefit greatly from the contributions of this group of physician-scientists, and it is an honor to support them at this early stage of their careers.”
