IN MEMORIAM

Stuart M. Krassner, ScD, PsyD 1935-2022

Professor Emeritus Stuart Krassner’s name is synonymous with the history of UCI and the Department of Developmental and Cell Biology. As one of the founding faculty members, he was present when UCI first opened for classes on October 4, 1965. During his four-decade career at UCI, Professor Krassner studied disease-causing hemoflagellates and sought to understand the mechanisms by which primitive parasitic protozoa transform within each host. One such organism, Trypanosoma cruzi, was of particular interest, as it causes Chagas disease, which is the primary cause of heart disease in Central and South America. His global work in infectious diseases led him to India, Brazil and Switzerland, where he lived to study and conduct research. As an expert in parasitology, he taught courses on the subject at the School of Biological Sciences. He also held a joint appointment in the School of Medicine, where he taught Medical Parasitology to medical students and served on the Medical School Admissions Committee.

In addition to his research and teaching, Professor Krassner was instrumental in developing the original FDA and NIH compliance procedures for UCI-sponsored human clinical trials, organized UCI’s first Institutional Review Board, and was the campus officer responsible for all UCI-related contract and grant activities from 1985 to 1990. Following his retirement in 2005, Professor Krassner remained active with the UCI Emeriti Association. Outside of the university, Professor Krassner’s scientific and regulatory expertise was highly sought after, and he conducted work as a consultant for numerous public and private organizations until 2019.

Professor Krassner is survived by his wife, Liza, and three sons, David, Mark and Joseph. He will be greatly missed.