AIRI Founder Marcus Krupp, MD

Growing up in El Paso, Texas, Dr. Marcus Krupp always dreamed of attending Stanford and becoming a doctor. He made that dream a reality and was completing his residency in internal medicine when World War II broke out.

Dr. Krupp's first real introduction to laboratory medicine came during World War 11, when he was assigned to the clinical laboratory at Letterman Hospital in San Francisco. He served at several military hospitals, including a brief stint in the Philippines. After the war, he was named chief of clinical pathology at the VA Hospital in San Francisco. After four years at the VA, Dr. Russel Lee recruited him to become director of research and supervisor of laboratories in Palo Alto.

Dr. Krupp's recruited investigators conducted biomedical research of national and international significance in many areas, including immunology, heart muscle function, microbiology, genetics, coronary artery disease and medical economics.

In 1961, he saw the need for a national organization to advance the cause of independent research organizations and founded the Association of Independent Research Institutes. (AIRI) He invited the directors and managers of 20 organizations to meet in Palo Alto in November of 1962. The institutions who participated in the first meeting were, the Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, Jackson Memorial Laboratories (The Jackson Laboratory), Lovelace Foundation, Palo Alto Medical Research Foundation, The Pasadena Foundation (Huntington Medical Research Institutes), Waldmar Medical Research Foundation, and the Worcester Foundation. Dr. Krupp wanted the "institution" to be the member of the association, not individuals from an institute.

Above photos left-to-right: AIRI's 1st Annual Meeting in 1962; AIRI's 50th Annual Meeting in 2011; President Kim Witmer presenting Dr. Krupp with award in 2011. 

Dr. Krupp taught for 50 years on the faculty at Stanford Medical School. He retired as a Research Director in 1986 after 36 years. Dr. Krupp spent much time gardening with his wife Donna and driving around in their "famous Cadillac".

Dr. Krupp attended the AIRI 40th Anniversary in 2001 and the 50th Anniversary in 2011. Dr. Krupp passed in 2014 at the age of 100.

Photos left-to-right: Donna Krupp (wife), David Issing (AIRI Executive Director), and Dr. Krupp in 2011; President Ron Erickson standing next to Dr. Krupp as he shares stories at AIRI 2006; President Jane Sheehan introducing Dr. Krupp in 2001 at the annual meeting.

Photos left-to-right: Dr. Krupp with past presidents in 2001, 2006, and 2011. Photos courtesy of David Issing.