Brian J. A. Gill, MD, Named 2026 Gerstner Scholar
The prestigious award recognizes early-career physician-scientists advancing innovative translational research with the potential to transform patient care.
Learn more via CUMC’s “Four VP&S Physician-Scientists Named Gerstner Scholars” published on June 10, 2026
Columbia Neurosurgery is proud to announce that Brian J. A. Gill, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, has been named a 2026 Gerstner Scholar by Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.
The prestigious Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Scholars Program supports outstanding early-career physician-scientists pursuing innovative, high-impact research with the potential to transform patient care. Established in 2008, the program provides up to three years of funding to help investigators generate the foundational discoveries needed to advance biomedical science and compete successfully for federal research support.
Dr. Gill is one of four physician-scientists selected as part of the 2026 Gerstner Scholars cohort, joining an accomplished group of investigators whose work spans neuroscience, cancer biology, metabolism, and translational medicine.
As a neurosurgeon-scientist and member of the Columbia Brain Tumor Center, Dr. Gill's research seeks to better understand the biology of brain tumors and identify new therapeutic opportunities for patients with glioblastoma and other aggressive cancers. His work integrates molecular biology, genomics, and translational neuroscience to uncover vulnerabilities within tumors that may ultimately lead to more effective, personalized treatments.
The Gerstner Scholars Program has become one of Columbia's premier faculty development initiatives, supporting emerging physician-scientists as they build independent research programs. Since its inception, the program has named more than 70 scholars, many of whom have gone on to secure substantial NIH funding and establish themselves as leaders in their respective fields.
Dr. Gill's selection recognizes both his growing contributions to neuro-oncology research and Columbia Neurosurgery's longstanding commitment to advancing discoveries that improve outcomes for patients with brain tumors.
Congratulations to Dr. Gill on this well-deserved honor and exciting milestone in his career as a physician-scientist.
About the Gerstner Scholars Program
The Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Scholars Program was established at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons to support exceptional junior physician-scientists pursuing innovative translational research. Each scholar receives dedicated funding to accelerate discoveries that have the potential to improve human health and advance the future of medicine.
