Cornell Appoints Dr. Gary Koretzky as Vice Provost for Research

Dr. Gary Koretzky, a 1978 alumnus of Cornell University, has been officially appointed as the vice provost for research, overseeing the university’s Ithaca, Cornell Tech, and AgriTech campuses. His new role will take effect on December 15, 2025. Koretzky previously returned from retirement in February 2025 to serve as the interim vice provost for research, where he focused on enhancing Cornell’s research portfolio during a challenging period.

Provost Kavita Bala praised Koretzky’s commitment, stating, “Over this last year, Gary has worked tirelessly to sustain and advance Cornell’s research excellence in countless ways through a time of significant unpredictability in our relations with the federal government.” She expressed gratitude for his extensive experience and steady guidance, emphasizing the importance of his continued leadership.

Koretzky holds the title of professor emeritus of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and has also taught microbiology and immunology at the College of Veterinary Medicine. He served as vice provost for academic integration from 2017 until 2024, during which he played a pivotal role in fostering collaborations between the Weill Cornell and Ithaca campuses and guiding the university through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reflecting on his new position, Koretzky noted, “I was honored when Provost Bala asked me to fill in as the interim vice provost for research and am thrilled now to take this on in a permanent capacity.” He highlighted the quality of research at Cornell and commended the dedication of the Office of the Vice Provost for Research staff who support the university’s investigators.

Koretzky’s responsibilities will include overseeing research administration across the Ithaca, Roosevelt Island, and Geneva campuses, which encompass more than 30 multidisciplinary research facilities and institutes. In his interim capacity, he collaborated with faculty and university leaders to address challenges posed by the evolving landscape of governmental research funding.

Under his leadership, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research initiated programs aimed at helping faculty diversify their research funding sources. Notably, in the summer of 2025, he facilitated the renewal of a significant ten-year, $10 million grant from the Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). Additionally, he supported a new multi-investigator research program linking artificial intelligence and materials sciences, funded by the National Science Foundation, in collaboration with Cornell’s AI Initiative.

Koretzky has also worked with the Graduate School to expand the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, which is set to launch in January 2025. His previous roles include serving as the dean of the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences and vice dean of research for Weill Cornell Medicine.

After relocating to Ithaca, Koretzky implemented programs that secured over $50 million in funding for partnerships between the Ithaca campus and Weill Cornell Medicine researchers. He is also credited with founding the Cornell Center for Immunology, which fosters collaboration among researchers across both the Ithaca and New York City campuses.

Koretzky earned his medical degree and doctorate in immunology in 1984 from the University of Pennsylvania. Following his residency and fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, he spent eight years on the faculty at the University of Iowa. From 1999 onwards, he was a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine, also serving as vice chair for research.

His contributions to the field have garnered recognition, as Koretzky served as president of the American Association of Immunologists from 2021 to 2022 and received its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024. He has also held the presidency of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, as well as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

As he embarks on this new chapter, Koretzky aims to ensure that the Office of the Vice Provost for Research continues to excel in promoting research across the diverse disciplines at Cornell, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to advancing knowledge and innovation.