Prof. Vratislav Chromý has passed away

Prof. Vratislav Chromý

(18/02/1937 – 11/12/2022)

Prof. Ing. Vratislav Chromý, CSc began studying chemistry, with a specialisation in analytical chemistry, at the Slovak Technical University’s Faculty of Chemistry in Bratislava in 1960. He then completed an external scientific post-graduate course at the Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Brno in 1969, where he received the title of candidate of science. In 1995, he completed his habilitation at Masaryk University’s Faculty of Science and was appointed Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry. In 1997, he obtained certification from the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic in the field of ‘Investigation Methods in Instrumental Chemistry and Toxicology’, and in 2006, was appointed Professor of Analytical Chemistry at the proposal of the Scientific Council of Masaryk University in 2006.

Apart from the period between 1977 and 1981, when he worked at the Department of Clinical Biochemistry at St. Ann’s Faculty Hospital in Brno as part of the research department, Professor Chromý was a diagnostic researcher at the joint-stock company Lachema Brno. Between 1990 and 1998, he held managerial positions at Lachema Brno, first as the Director of the Diagnostics Division and then as the Technical Director of the company. During his time at Lachema, he brought several dozen test kits for the determination of analytes in body fluids into industrial production. The determination of analytes in body fluids was his lifelong professional topic, having produced over 90 professional papers and several dozen research reports on the subject. The practical implementation of his research results is exemplified by 56 Czechoslovak patents in the field of analytical methods, reagents and analytical kits for laboratory medicine.

From 1999, Professor Chromý worked at the Department of Analytical Chemistry at Masaryk University’s Faculty of Science, where he created and introduced a new stream of teaching and research, bioanalytics. In addition, he lectured on the Master’s course in Analytical Chemistry and on Quality Management in the Analytical Laboratory and led several students who successfully defended their Diploma theses focused on bioanalytical chemistry. He is the main author of the textbooks ‘Analytical Methods in Clinical Chemistry’ (MU 2000), ‘Bioanalytics - Analytical Chemistry in Laboratory Medicine’ (MU 2002) and two other publications entitled ‘Quality Management in Analytical and Clinical Chemistry’ (MU 2009) and ‘Bioanalytics - Analytical Methods in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine’ (MU 2011). He is also co-author of the textbook ‘Pathobiochemistry of Cells’ (J. Masopust et al., 2nd Faculty of Medicine UK Prague, 2003). He has also lectured as part of the ‘Postgraduate Education of Medical Laboratory Technicians’ course at the National Nursing Centre in Brno, and acted as an advisor for ‘development of diagnostic methods and kits’ for the Pliva-Lachema company in Brno and for ‘laboratory medicine’ during certification of medical laboratories according to the ISOI 9001:2000 standard. In 2003, he received the City of Brno Prize in the field of natural sciences for his scientific teaching and professional activities. For his many years of work in the field of clinical biochemistry and laboratory medicine, Professor Chromý was also given an honorary award ‘For Services to the Field of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine’ by the committee of the Czech Society of Clinical Biochemistry in 2004. In 2007, Professor Chromý was awarded honorary membership of the Czech Society of Clinical Biochemistry.

Professor Vratislav Chromý was an exceptional representative for clinical biochemistry, both within Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic. His versatile abilities were clearly visible through his successful work in basic and applied research, in the implementation of research and development results into production and medical practice, in his managerial functions and, finally, through his teaching at the university and in education of secondary school workers in the health sector. After his arrival at the Department of Analytical Chemistry, our research was enriched with the new topic of clinical biochemical analysis, and the current development of ‘point-of-care’ diagnostics has confirmed the validity of his research aims.

Vratislav was a kind person and a colleague with a sense of humour who was able to spread good mood in his surroundings and create a pleasant environment for work and play. For his original jokes and humorous stories, the name "chromophores" took hold and we all always looked forward to them. Colleagues from the former Department of Analytical Chemistry and the entire today's Department of Chemistry remember him fondly.