The first woman to earn a PhD in biology from the University of Geneva, Mathilde Krim transitioned from pioneering cytogenetic research into a significant figure in global AIDS activism. Born in Como in 1926, she built a career spanning the Weizmann Institute of Science, Cornell University, and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, ultimately receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Early Academic and Scientific Foundations
Mathilde Krim, born Mathilde Galland, initially pursued her education at the University of Geneva despite her father’s preference for secretarial training. She earned her PhD in biology there in 1953, marking a milestone for women at the institution. Shortly after graduating, she relocated to Israel, where she joined the Weizmann Institute of Science. During her tenure there, she contributed to the team that successfully developed the amniocentesis technique for prenatal gender determination, establishing her early expertise in genetics.
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Following her marriage to American film executive and attorney Arthur B. Krim in 1958, she moved to New York City. She joined the research staff at Cornell Medical College before moving to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute in 1962. There, she focused on virology and the study of cancer-causing viruses. She served as the director of the institution's interferon laboratory from 1981 to 1985. Alongside her scientific output, she maintained an academic appointment as an Adjunct Professor of Public Health and Management at Columbia University until 2015.
Activism and Public Legacy
Krim was a vocal proponent of scientific freedom and social justice, collaborating with her husband on numerous philanthropic causes, including the NAACP and the African American Institute. Her transition into HIV/AIDS advocacy was immediate following the initial identification of the disease in 1981. She became the founding chairman of the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), leveraging her background as a physician and geneticist to influence public health policy. Her contributions were formally recognized in 1994 with the AAAS Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility.
Fast facts
- Born: 1926, Como
- Died: 2018, Kings Point
- PhD: 1953, University of Geneva
- Citizenship: United States
- Key Role: Founding chairman of amfAR
- Presidential Medal of Freedom: 2000
- Academic appointments: Cornell University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Columbia University
Questions readers ask
What was Mathilde Krim's primary scientific achievement before her AIDS work?
She was part of the team at the Weizmann Institute of Science that developed the amniocentesis technique to determine a fetus's gender.
What honors did she receive for her scientific and social contributions?
She was awarded the AAAS Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility in 1994 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000.
Achievements
- Presidential Medal of Freedom — 2000
- Affiliated with Cornell University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Columbia University
- Educated at University of Geneva
- Worked as geneticist and physician
