Volkher Scharnhorst is part-time professor of Clinical Chemistry with the research group Chemical Biology at the department of Biomedical Engineering of Eindhoven University of Technology. His research focuses on the use of biomarkers in diagnosing and monitoring disease, with an emphasis on the improvement of analytical techniques and interpretation of test results.

In his profession as a clinical chemist Scharnhorst is committed to translating the analysis results from the laboratory into information that is of relevance to doctors in their treatment of patients. His areas of focus here are general laboratory medicine, diagnostics of blood diseases and research into biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases. Scharnhorst has performed much clinical research into the diagnosis of disorders of the cardiovascular system.

Volkher Scharnhorst obtained his MSc in Biology at Leiden University where in 2000 he received his PhD at the department of Medical Biochemistry, for research on ‘W1 proteins and their functions in growth and differentiation’. He then became a resident in clinical chemistry at Máxima Medical Centre in Veldhoven. During his time as resident, he became lecturer chemical pathology at the Fontys Hogeschool in Eindhoven. In 2004, he received admission to the registry of clinical chemists after which he became a clinical chemist at Atrium Medical Centre in Heerlen (now Zuyderland hospital). In 2006, he continued his career at the Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven. In 2007, he was appointed member of the Medical Ethics Board (METC) and became head of the clinical laboratory of Catharina Hospital. In 2012, Eindhoven University of Technology installed him as lecturer and in 2014 as part-time Professor in Clinical Chemistry at the department of Biomedical Engineering, research group Chemical Biology.