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Wayne State recognizes longtime Indian American donors
Singdi and Pushpa Sastry were honored for advancing Parkinson’s research.
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Bhavana P - Fri, 06, Jun 2025
- 14:45 EDT
- 21
Singdi Dattu Sastry, Ph.D., and Pushpa Sastry generously contributed to the Sastry Foundation Endowed Chair for Parkinson’s Disease Research in Neurology, building upon their tremendous philanthropy to Wayne State University and the School of Medicine, support that spans decades. / Wayne State University
Wayne State University formally recognized Indian-American philanthropists Singdi Dattu Sastry and Pushpa Sastry for their decades-long dedication to advancing medical research and education through their charitable efforts under the Sastry Foundation.
In December 2024, the Sastrys made a significant contribution to the establishment of the Sastry Foundation Endowed Chair for Parkinson’s Disease Research in Neurology at Wayne State’s School of Medicine. This endowed chair, originally created in 2018, has played a crucial role in recruiting physician-scientists focused on accelerating research into Parkinson’s disease.
Also read: Indian American couple Bharat and Neerja join Gates-Buffett Giving Pledge
University officials acknowledged that the Sastrys’ generosity has greatly enhanced the Department of Neurology’s research capabilities.
The Sastrys’ philanthropic relationship with Wayne State dates back to the 1990s. They have established several scholarships, including the Sri Yalgurdrao and Ganga Kulkarni Endowed Scholarship and the Shivappa V. Hulbanni, M.D., Endowed Scholarship, in honor of family and friends.
In 2012, following Dr. Sastry’s diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease, they created the Sastry Foundation Clinical Neuroscience Endowed Research Fund.
Maysaa Basha, chair of the Department of Neurology, emphasized the importance of the gift, stating, “This support will allow researchers within the Department of Neurology to ask bold questions and pursue answers that have the potential to improve the lives of patients living with Parkinson's disease. We are deeply grateful for the generosity and trust of the Sastry family.”
Peter LeWitt, the current holder of the Sastry Foundation endowed chair, noted that the endowment has funded clinical trials, fundamental neuroscience research, and the development of improved diagnostic methodologies.
Originally from India, the couple immigrated to the United States fifty years ago with just eight dollars and Dr. Sastry’s doctorate in chemistry. They built a successful flavoring enterprise, Jogue Inc., expanding operations across Michigan, California, and Florida. Their commitment to philanthropy extends beyond medicine to supporting education broadly. They have supported students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and recently endowed a scholarship at Wayne State’s Law School to honor Mrs. Sastry’s parents.
Their family ties to the university remain strong, with both sons being alumni: Ashok Dattu Sastry, M.D. ’01, currently practicing nephrology in Florida, and Anil Dattu Sastry, J.D. ’03, serving as CEO of Jogue Inc.
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