A Champion of Science and Cherished Member of the Academy Community
The New York Academy of Sciences is deeply saddened by the passing of Steven S. Gross, PhD, a longtime member, colleague, and friend who contributed immeasurably to our community and to the broader scientific world.
Published September 25, 2025
By Melanie Brickman Borchard, PhD, MSc
Prof. Gross became a member of The New York Academy of Sciences in 2004 and for nearly two decades served as a guiding force within the Biochemical Pharmacology Discussion Group Steering Committee, helping to shape and strengthen countless scientific conferences. He was also a founding member of the Academy’s Cancer Metabolism and Signaling conference series, which for more than a decade has convened leading voices to advance research at the interface of cancer biology and metabolism.
Beyond his contributions to the Academy, Prof. Gross made pioneering advances in the field of nitric oxide (NO) biology. As Professor of Pharmacology and Director of the Mass Spectrometry Core Facility at Weill Cornell Medicine, his groundbreaking research established that L-arginine is the precursor of NO in blood vessels and that inhibiting nitric oxide synthase (NOS) elevates blood pressure in animals—work that illuminated NO’s central physiological role in vascular health. His career was devoted to unraveling the mechanisms regulating NO synthesis, with discoveries that laid the foundation for therapeutic innovation, including the creation of ArgiNOx Inc., a biotechnology company developing NO-based drugs.
Prof. Gross authored or coauthored more than 90 research publications and 40 book chapters, reviews, and books on NO biology. His leadership extended to service on NIH Study Sections and to the founding of the Nitric Oxide Society, where he also served as Board Director, fostering global collaboration and advancing the field through major international conferences and a dedicated peer-reviewed journal. He earned his Ph.D. in Biomedical Science from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
He is remembered not only for his brilliant scientific contributions but also for his generosity, collegiality, and infectious enthusiasm for discovery. His legacy endures in the science he advanced, the communities he nurtured, and the many colleagues, students, and friends who were fortunate to learn from and alongside him.
Prof. Gross was more than a member of the Academy, a steering committee leader, or a scientific organizing committee member—he was a true champion of science. Alongside his own impactful research at Weill Cornell Medicine, he generously gave his time to the Academy community and rarely missed an evening event, driven by his deep curiosity and love of learning across all areas of science. He was also a joy to be around—warm, engaging, and fun. In Prof. Gross, we have lost someone truly extraordinary.
Also read: Prof. Gross’s Obituary from Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel
