Mathilde Krim (July 9, 1926 – January 15, 2018) was an Italian-American biomedical researcher and public-health advocate best known for her leadership in early AIDS research funding and public education. Trained as a scientist and later active as a fundraiser and policy advocate, she combined laboratory experience with public engagement to change how the medical community and the public responded to the emerging AIDS crisis.
Life and career
Born in Como, Italy, to a Swiss Protestant father and an Italian Roman Catholic mother, Krim established a career that spanned laboratory research and philanthropic activism. She worked in prominent research institutions, including the Weizmann Institute, Cornell University Medical School and the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research. Her scientific background informed her approach to disease advocacy: she emphasized rigorous investigation while pressing for urgent funding and public education when new epidemics appeared.
Founding of amfAR and AIDS advocacy
In the early 1980s, as AIDS emerged as a public-health emergency, Krim became one of the most visible advocates for research, treatment access and destigmatization. She was a founding chairman of the American Foundation for AIDS Research, known as amfAR, an organization that directed private philanthropy toward basic research, clinical trials and public awareness campaigns. Through amfAR and other efforts, Krim helped build networks among scientists, clinicians, donors and policy makers that accelerated research and broadened public understanding.
Recognition and public service
Krim's work received national recognition. In August 2000 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States. Her influence extended beyond awards: she was a frequent speaker, fundraiser and interlocutor between the scientific community and the general public, arguing that compassionate policy and rigorous science must proceed together.
Roles, honors and legacy
- Founding chairman and longtime advocate for amfAR
- Research appointments at institutions including the Weizmann Institute and major U.S. medical schools
- Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2000)
Krim also drew on international experience and language skills—her name appears in Hebrew transliteration in some records (Hebrew name)—which helped her build transnational collaborations. She married Arthur B. Krim, whose own philanthropic activities complemented her work; together they supported research and cultural causes.
Mathilde Krim died at her home in Kings Point, New York, on January 15, 2018, at age 91. Her legacy is reflected in the greater visibility of AIDS research, the flow of philanthropic resources into scientific investigation, and the model she promoted of combining scientific credibility with public advocacy. Researchers, advocates and organizations continuing to address HIV/AIDS often cite the institutional and cultural changes she helped initiate as central to their ability to pursue treatment, prevention and cures.