BIOCHEMISTRY

Department of Biochemistry

Department of Biochemistry




About the Department:

Biochemistry as a course in post graduation was introduced in Osmania University in 1963 in united Andhra Pradesh as part of the Chemistry department. A full-fledged independent,Department of Biochemistry was established in 1971 with founderhead as Prof. L.K. Ramachandran, a renowned Biochemist.

The department offers courses in Biochemistry leading to M.Sc. and Ph.D. The department was served by some of the well-known biochemists like Prof. Shiva Rama Sastry and Prof. S.L.N. Rao. Research work of department facultyinvarious areas such as Lathyrism, Metal toxicities, Neurosporacrassa, Protein chemistry, Thyroid hormones, Hemoglobinopathies, Hypoxia, Aflatoxins, Epigenetics, Cancer, Endometriosis and Gynaecological disorders, Diabetes, Cardiomyopathy, Natural products and currently in the area of Nanobiocomposites and Natural Nanoparticles etc., have contributed to more than 100 Ph.D. degrees and greater than 250 research publications in National and international peer reviewed impact factor journals.Many of the departmental faculty obtained postdoctoral training overseas and numerous distinguished scientists and Alumni visited the department as exchange visitors.

In promotion of teaching and research, the department obtained financial assistance from several central government research agencies such as UGC under COSIST programme at the level of DRS (2001 – 2006), UGC SAP-DRS III, UGC-CPEPA, DST-FIST level I and II, and DST-PURSE (I & II), CARS from DRDO and several individual research projects by the faculty from Government of India, including UGC, DBT, CSIR, DAE, BRNS, ICMR, ICAR and private LSRB organizations. Reputed international organizations such as the FAO, Rome, Australian centre for international agriculture research, Canberra and ICRISAT, as well as National Research agencies such as CPRI, DRDO and IIMR have also collaboratedwith the department faculty. At present the teaching faculty strength is (3+1) including two Associate Professors, one Assistant Professor and one Assistant Professor under UGC-FRP. The No. of non-teaching staff is 9. The department has supported several post-doctoral fellows, Research associates and DST Women Scientists actively. Apart from campus activities the department is involved in undergraduate Biochemistry course structuring in all Osmania University affiliated degree and PG colleges. The department is also the parent and mentor for B.Sc. and M.Sc. Nutrition courses in the affiliated colleges. The Ph.D. program (Biochemistry and Nutrition) offered by the department is benefitting several research institutions around campus such as NIN and other private hospitals and Medical Colleges. The department has a central instrumentation facility sponsored under DST-PURSE and UGC-SAP programmes. The infrastructure facilities include many scientific instruments including: Spectrophotometers, spectrofluorometer, HPLC, Lyophillyzer, PCR, Bioanalyzer, Gel documentation system, Nano particle analyzer, Flow cytometer, Micro plate reader, ELISA readers, Rotary evaporator and Cell culture facility. A well-furnished library facility with earliest to latest editions of subject specific and interdisciplinary books, is available for reference of course students and research scholars and faculty. The department regularly organized Workshops, Seminars and Conferences (National and International).A Two Day International Webinar on – Recent Developments in Covid Biology and Challengeswas also organized in 2021. The department actively participated in the Open Day Celebrations (Osmania Taksh 2022) and also initiated the ALUMNI Association registrations. A refresher course on “Nanobiochemistry and Bioinformatics” approved by the UGC-HRDC, has also been introduced by the department in this current academic year.

Biochemistry department attracted several foreign students to pursue both M.Sc. and Ph.D. programmes.

ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES OFFERED

M. Sc. Biochemistry 2 Years 25 Seats
Ph. D. Biochemistry 4 Years

Objectives of the Department:

  1. To impart fundamental principles of Biochemistry and in depth knowledge of subject to the M.Sc. students and to hone their practical skills on par with the advanced technology.
  2. To prepare students for the junior research fellowships (UGC, CSIR, ICMR, DBTetc.).
  3. To guide Ph.D. students and aim for publications in peer reviewed journals
  4. To apply for Research grants to National funding agencies.