Cell culture pioneer Jaroslav Cinatl—the pursuit and defence of truth

Here, we present an obituary for Jaroslav Cinatl (1929–2025), a cell culture pioneer, who defended the truth and stood firm by his convictions in socialist Czechoslovakia at a high personal cost. At a time when scientific discourse faces renewed challenges, Jaroslav Cinatl's life offers a rallying counterpoint. His commitment to scientific integrity and method, pursued under threat and duress, is a beacon for the importance of scientific independence, reminding us that truth in science is not only to be discovered, but also defended.