ON THE 110TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF ACADEMICIAN OF THE ACADEMY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES OF THE USSR A.M. CHERNUKH

Abstract

              March 23, 2026 marks the 110th anniversary of the birth of Alexei Mikhailovich Chernukh, an outstanding world—class scientist, academician of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, Vice-President of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences. Since 1965, A.M. Chernukh headed the Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences (since 1974 – the Institute of General Pathology and Pathological Physiology). The whole scientific life of A.M. Chernukha is associated with an in-depth study of the pathogenesis of typical pathological processes, in particular inflammation, starting with his doctoral dissertation "Nervous irritation in the process of inflammation" and ending with the latest monograph "Inflammation". A.M. Chernukh was one of the founders of the field of microcirculation research. He developed original methods for studying microvessels in living organisms, which allowed him to obtain new data on the structure and functioning of the microcirculatory bed. Work in this area has significantly changed the understanding of microvessel innervation, the unsynaptic type of their innervation has been discovered, the ability to actively contract endothelial cells has been proven, and changes in vascular wall permeability under the influence of vasoactive substances have been characterized. The result of these studies was the concept of the "functional element" of the organ put forward and justified by A.M. Chernukh. The role of the "functional element", which combines blood supply, innervation and metabolism into an integral structure, is to ensure the normal and pathological functioning of a specialized cell, the main structural unit of any organ. This approach is still used today in the study of various pathological processes. The work of A.M. Chernukh and his school not only created a fundamental basis for the study of microcirculation, but also outlined ways for further research in this area. In 1977, for a series of scientific papers on microcirculation, together with V.V. Kupriyanov, A.M. Chernukh was awarded the USSR State Prize. The international recognition of A.M. Chernukh's scientific contribution is evidenced by his election as Vice-president of the European Association for Microcirculation and his participation in the editorial boards of international journals such as Microcirculation, Microvascular Research and Biochemistry and Experimental Biology. Colleagues remember Alexey Mikhailovich as an intelligent and friendly person, a brilliant scientist, an excellent leader and organizer of science. As Vice-president of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, he did a lot of work on planning the development of medical science in our country and coordinating scientific research with a number of foreign countries.  Chernukh was active in public work: he was Chairman of the All-Union Scientific Society of Pathophysiologists, Vice-chairman of the All-Union Society Znanie, was a member of the editorial board of the Bolshoi Medical Encyclopedia and leading Russian journals: Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine, Pathological Physiology and Experimental Therapy. A.M. Chernukh is the author of 5 monographs and numerous scientific publications in Russian and foreign journals. For his fruitful scientific and social activities, A.M. Chernukh was awarded the Orders of V.I. Lenin, the Red Banner of Labor, the Badge of Honor, the medals For Valiant Labor in the Great Patriotic War, For Valiant Labor, and the medal In Commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin.