Alexander Victor Kachur

Alexander V. Kachur, a resident of Media, PA, died Saturday, February 18, 2023, after a short illness.  He was 63.

  Born in Tal'ne, Ukraine, Alex was the son of the late Victor and Nona (Cherepenko) Kachur.  He graduated from Kyiv National 'T.H. Shevchenko' University with a Ph.D. in Philosophy and a B.S. in Chemistry.  In Ukraine he held Physical Chemistry labs (1982-1992) for undergraduate students and Crystallography, X-Ray diffraction, and Electron Microscopy (1984-1992) for graduate students. 

  He emigrated to the United States in 1993 and was employed as a Senior Researcher at the University of Pennsylvania for over 24 years; he developed 18F PET agents for in vivo hypoxia study [18F]-EF1 and [18F]-EF5 (current on several human trials at UPENN), and 18F-labeled Cerenkov optical imaging probes (two dozen of new compounds for in vivo investigation of pH and cell viability) and led investigation of free radical processes in cancer-related biosystems.  His research revealed the role of trace metals (Fe, Cu) in cell damage through formation of hydroxyl radicals.  He was also a visiting assistant professor at University of the Sciences for 21 years and recently taught organic chemistry at Thomas Jefferson University.  He held General Chemistry lectures (2001-2017), Principles of Chemistry labs (2005-2017), Survey of Chemistry lectures (2003-2009) for undergraduate, and Biochemistry lectures/labs (2000) for graduate students. 

  He is survived by his wife Halyna (Stakhyra) Kachur and his son Bohdan Kachur.

  Alexander's viewing will be held on Saturday at 9 AM at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral.  Requiem Liturgy will be celebrated at 10 AM.  Burial will take place at Soborne Municipal Cemtery in Soborne, Ukraine. 

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