Dr.C.W. Chacko born at Pallom near Kottayam in 1912 had joined the Indian Army, shortly after his graduation from Madras Medical college and served in India and abroad with great distinction for six years. After obtaining Diploma in Tropical medicine he served at the King Institute of Preventive Medicine at Guindy, Madras. He was the first to set up Treponema Pallida Immobilisation Test for Syphilis at the Institute of London and he was awarded the Ph.D of London University in 1952. The British authorities wished to retain his services there, but he came back to Madras to organise the laboratory at the Institute of Venereolgy, Madras. This laboratory under his leadership became an outstanding Institution first of its kind in India and indeed in Asia. It gained an International reputation and Dr.Chacko was frequently asked by the W H O to assist in the development of similar work in other countries.
While on one such deputation by WHO to Burma and Bangladesh he met with a premature death, being one of the victims of an air crash on 31st May 1973.
His contributions to the advancement of knowledge in laboratory science of Immunology and Serology have been impressive.
Dr.C.W.Chacko had to his credit the discovery of :
1) Chacko strain of Yaws
2) Chacko-Nair medium for gonococcus culture
3) Treponema Pallida Immobilisation Test for Syphilis.
In recognition of the excellent services rendered by Late Dr.C.W.Chacko to the speciality, IASSTD & AIDS resolved to conduct “Dr.C.W.Chacko Endowment Lecture”, once in two years, to be delivered by eminent non clinician in the field of STD/HIV. We record with appreciation the contribution made by his family members for this cause.
The following are those who have delivered the Dr.C.W.Chacko Endowment Lecture since its inception:
| Year | Venue | Speaker |
| 1999 | Chennai | Dr.Ravi(Bangalore) |
| 2000 | Chennai | Dr.Sowmya Swaminathan (Chennai) |
| 2002 | Chennai | Dr.G.Sridharan(Vellore) |
| 2004 | Chennai | Dr.S.Shantha(Chennai) |
| 2010 | Chennai | Dr.G.Sumathy (Chennai) |
| 2012 | Chennai | Dr.Mohamed Meeran (Chennai) |
| 2014 | Chennai | Dr.Sumathi Muralidhar(New Delhi) |
| 2016 | Chennai | Dr.S.Dhanapaul |
| 2018 | Chennai | Dr. K.G.Murugavel (YRG Care,Chennai) |