Mathilde Krim facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mathilde Krim
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Krim in 1987
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| Born |
Mathilde Galland
July 9, 1926 |
| Died | January 15, 2018 (aged 91) |
| Alma mater | University of Geneva, Ph.D., 1953 |
| Occupation | Medical researcher |
| Employer | Weizmann Institute of Science, Cornell University Medical School, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research |
| Known for | Founding chairman of amfAR, an association for AIDS research |
| Movement | Irgun |
| Spouse(s) |
David Danon
(m. 1948, divorced)Arthur B. Krim
(m. 1958; died 1994) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | 16 doctorates honoris causa, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Jefferson Awards Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged |
Mathilde Krim (Hebrew: מתילדה קרים; born Galland; July 9, 1926 – January 15, 2018) was an important medical researcher. She was also the person who started and led amfAR, which stands for the American Foundation for AIDS Research.
Contents
About Mathilde Krim's Life
Mathilde Galland was born in Como, Italy. Her father was Swiss and Protestant, and her mother was Italian and Roman Catholic. She earned her PhD in Biology from the University of Geneva, Switzerland, in 1953.
Early Life and Moving to Israel
In 1948, Mathilde married David Danon. He was an Israeli man she met at the University of Geneva. She became Jewish before they got married. They had a daughter and soon after, they moved to Israel.
While she lived in Switzerland, Mathilde helped members of a group called the Irgun. This group was working to buy weapons from former French resistance fighters. This was before Israel became an independent country. After moving to the United States, she also worked hard to collect money to help Israel.
Mathilde Krim's Research Career
From 1953 to 1959, Mathilde Krim worked at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. She studied cytogenetics, which is the study of cells and genes. She also researched viruses that can cause cancer. She was part of a team that found a way to figure out a baby's gender before birth.
Moving to New York and New Research
After her divorce, Mathilde moved to New York. In 1958, she married Arthur B. Krim. He was a lawyer in New York and led a movie company called United Artists. He also helped Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Jimmy Carter.
Arthur and Mathilde Krim were very active in helping others. They supported the American civil rights movement. They also worked for independence in countries like Rhodesia and South Africa. They helped the gay rights movement and many other groups fighting for fairness and human rights.
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In 1962, Krim became a research scientist at the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research. From 1981 to 1985, she was in charge of their lab that studied interferon. Interferon is a substance that helps the body fight viruses. She also taught public health at Columbia University for many years.
Fighting Against AIDS
In 1981, doctors started seeing the first cases of a new disease. This disease was later called AIDS. Mathilde Krim quickly understood that AIDS was a very serious problem. She knew it would cause big scientific and social challenges.
She decided to dedicate herself to helping people understand AIDS. She wanted to find out what caused it, how it spread, and how it affected people.
To help fight AIDS, she started the AIDS Medical Foundation in 1983. Later, this foundation joined with another group. They became the American Foundation for AIDS Research, or AmfAR. Mathilde Krim worked with actress Elizabeth Taylor to create AmfAR. She gave a lot of her own money and used her skills to raise awareness about AIDS. She also helped raise money for AIDS research. She continued to work for AIDS awareness through AmfAR for the rest of her life.
Awards and Special Recognition
Mathilde Krim received many honors for her work. She was given 16 honorary doctorates, which are special degrees. In August 2000, President Bill Clinton gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award a civilian can receive in the United States. She received it for her "extraordinary compassion and commitment."
In 2003, she also received an award from the Jefferson Awards for Public Service. This award is given each year to people who do great public service to help those who are disadvantaged.
Her Final Years
Mathilde Krim passed away at her home in Kings Point, New York, on January 15, 2018. She was 91 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Mathilde Krim para niños
