Max Samter

Max Samter (March 8, 1909 – February 9, 1999) was a German-American immunologist who first extensively studied the triad between asthma, aspirin allergy, and nasal polyps that became known as Samter's triad, now aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease. After fleeing Nazi occupation in Germany, Samter had a long career in medical research in the United States. Samter founded The Max Samter Institute for Immunology Research at Grant Hospital in Chicago (now closed), and after his death it was renamed in his honor.

Early life Samter was born in what is now the eastern part of Berlin in 1908. During Hitler's Regime, Jewish doctors were no longer allowed to work in major Universities. He then spent the last 28 years of his career working there in a variety of positions. He found that people with one or more of these three factors are inclined to develop the others. This condition is called Samter's Triad, Samter's Syndrome, or, most commonly, aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease. While the first publication discussing the link between asthma, nasal polyps and aspirin sensitivity was made by Georges-Fernand Widal in 1922, it was Samter who fully characterized the condition and brought widespread study and acknowledgement. It is a chronic disease meaning it has no known cure and does not go away. As evidenced by its wide range of symptoms and status as a chronic disease, Samter's Syndrome impacts quality of life, and can be life-threatening. He is survived by his three children, all of whom followed in his footsteps and became doctors.