Directors Gallery
MUDr. Josef Kidery, CSc.
(1952-1957)
The first director of the Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, a prominent transfusiologist and co-founder of the Czech Society of Hematology. Under his leadership, the problems of blood substitutes were at the forefront of the Institute of Blood Culture, and immunohematology began to develop. IHBT became a centre for the development of the transfusion service, a clinical department was established and research activities in the field of coagulation, anaemias and blood malignancies were carried out. The IHBT became the seat of the departmental Subdepartment for Hematology and Transfusion Service. During its activity, a scientific library was built and the publication of the refereed journal Excerpta Haematologica was started.
Prof. MUDr. Jaroslav Hořejší, DrSc.
(1957-1976)
He was a respected internist-hepatologist, involved in laboratory complementation of clinical disciplines. He was a co-founder of clinical biochemistry and central biochemical laboratories, worked on blood plasma fractionation and developed a method for obtaining the gammaglobulin fraction. Under his leadership, laboratories dealing with the biochemistry of blood components and coagulation were established.
MUDr. Eduard Dobrý, CSc.
(1976-1984)
Dedicated to the development of the transfusion service in our country. He continued the tradition of research and development of transfusion products and supported the development of the experimental sector of the Institute of Transfusion Medicine, which dealt with this issue. He established a bank of rare blood groups. He continued the completion of the IHBT, including building modifications, and managed to include transfusiology in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.
Prof. MUDr. Karel Smetana, DrSc.
(1984-1990)
As a cytologist, he dealt with cytochemistry and ultrastructure of blood cells in relation to their physiology and pathology in various hematopoietic conditions including malignant blood diseases. Under his leadership, the bone marrow and hematopoietic cell transplantation programme was promoted at the IHBT, a programme of deep freezing of blood cells was developed with the establishment of a cryobank, and an apheresis unit was established within the transfusion department. He is the recipient of many prestigious awards, e.g. the State Prize of the Czechoslovak Republic, the Scientific Prize of the Ministry of Health, the Purkyně Medal, the Wilhelm Benhard Medal and many others.
Prof. MUDr. Jan Neuwirt, DrSc.
(1990-1993)
He was an outstanding representative of experimental and pathological physiology with a focus on hematology. He was especially famous for his studies of iron metabolism in red blood cells. The department of cytogenetics and virology was established under his leadership. He contributed significantly to the establishment of the grant agency Ministry of Health.
MUDr. Antonín Hradílek, CSc.
(1994-1996)
He was a successor and close collaborator of Prof. Neuwirth. He was interested in erythropoiesis and metabolism in red blood cells. He completed the establishment of a tissue culture laboratory for modelling physiological and pathological processes in blood cells. With his help, the construction of laboratories dealing with virology in relation to malignant diseases was completed.
MUDr. RNDr. Petr Jarolím, DrSc.
(1996-2002)
He continued the tradition of physiologists and laboratory hematologists with an orientation towards clinical hematology from the school of Professor Neuwirth. He dealt with molecular hematology of red blood cells in close connection with clinical and transfusiology. He described the molecular basis of a number of hereditary anemias and blood group antigens. During his tenure, the clinical department was rebuilt.
Prof. MUDr. Pavel Klener, DrSc.
(2002-2007)
He is a renowned internist with a focus on oncology and hematology. In 2012 he received the main National Award of the Czech Head Project for his pioneering work in introducing cancer chemotherapy into clinical practice, explaining it with modern findings of molecular biology and establishing this discipline in Czechoslovakia. During his tenure, new outpatient clinic facilities were built at the IHBT. Furthermore, the garden of the institute was reclaimed so that patients could have the opportunity to stay in a nice environment.
Prof. Ing. Jan Evangelista Dyr, DrSc.
(2007-2009)
He was interested in the structure and function of haemocoagulation proteins, including modern methodological approaches. With his collaborators, he became particularly famous for his studies of fibrinogen. He was editor of the journal Thrombosis Research. He placed great emphasis on the scientific activities of the institute including its inclusion in scientific research programs.
Prof. MUDr. Trněný, CSc.
(2009-2013)
A renowned internist and hematologist, he worked closely with diagnostic and laboratory complementary and theoretical medical disciplines. He is one of the founders of the Cooperative Lymphoma Group, which he leads. He has supported research programs on blood malignancies and has successfully worked to create the conditions for more accurate diagnosis and improved therapy, including diagnostic laboratories. During his tenure, the transfusiology section was developed, including apheresis units and a tissue cryobank. The Institute has been reaccredited by the JCI.