The department was started 1985. It got a boost-up in academic activities after the joining of Dr S. Ramakrishnan in May 1991 as Professor and Head of the Department, with a substantial contribution from Dr Smt. KN. Sulochana who joined as Lecturer and later Reader in Biochemistry. These two teacher-scientists with the assistance of Mr. M. Rajesh, Ms K. Coral Miriam Magdalene, Mrs. R. Selvi, Ms AV.Saijyothi and other Jr. Scientists, Mrs. R. Punitham Jr. Executive, (now Sr. executive) technicians and post-graduate students have made notable contributions especially to basic and clinical Research in Biochemistry which have obtained national and international recognition for the quality and quantity of Research done in Biochemistry Research Department.

Dr. S. Ramakrishnan and Dr. K.N. Sulochana received the prestigious Medical Council of India - B.C. Roy National Award - Fund – Silver Jubilee Award for Aid or Assistance to Research in 1996 . Dr. N. Angayarkanni with a rich experience of PG teaching and Research has joined the department as Lecturer in the year 2002 in place of Dr. KN. Sulochana who left on personal grounds.. She has now become Reader in Biochemistry. Presently Dr. Venil N Sumantran with her rich experience in Cell Biology Research in University of Michigan-USA, Bhartiya Vidyapeeth Deemed University-Pune, India and has also joined as Reader in Biochemistry.

The department has contributed substantially towards understanding biochemical mechanisms of cataractogenesis and retinal diseases . It has to its credit many outstanding research contributions ( vide publications ) such as:

•  the role of cadmium in the causation of early cataract in tobacco-smokers and chewers, discovery of a new enzyme dipeptidase in human lens,

•  association of polysaccharides with congenital cataract,

•  pregnancy exaggerated galactosemia and

•  new functions of inositol in eye lens.

•  the importance of antioxidants in Eales' disease (a sight-threatening condition affecting the retina), which is more common in the Asian population.

•  A very interesting finding from the dept. is the evaluation of homocysteine levels in blood in various eye diseases like ARMD, CRVO and Congenital cataract.

The ongoing funded projects include:

•  Therapeutic measures of administration of antioxidants like Vitamin E ,C in Eales' disease,

•  Mechanism of action of Amino acids as anti-glycating agent / promoting increased Glucose uptake - Cell culture (CHO cells and bovine retinal capillary endothelial cells) and clinical studies in NIDDM patients

•  Changes in the collagen cross-linking enzyme namely lysyl oxidase in the bovine RPE /ARPE cultures exposed to various invitro stress and its clinical relevance.

•  The department is also currently involved in studies on tear proteomics.

These and other discoveries have brought worldwide recognition to the Dept and Institution.

Mr. Rajesh, Junior Scientist qualified for Ph.D. (Biological sciences) BITS, Pilani for his thesis entitled “ Eales' Disease: Identification, Purification and Characterization of a New 88 kD glycoprotein and the Role of Oxidative Stress in the Pathogenesis of Retinal Inflammation and Neovascularization ” He has presently taken up a postdoctoral assignment under John Hopkins University at Singapore and has now moved to NIH, USA.

Diagnostics: In addition to the routine clinical biochemistry, the department also does special investigations for the diagnostics including HPLC analysis of amino acids in plasma and urine and HPLC analysis of Vitamin A, C and E. Angiotensin converting enzyme, ornithine, homocysteine are the other investigations done. Most of the clinical biochemistry and some of the special investigations are NABL accreditated.

Complete projects (2007-2008) : 2

Ongoing projects : 5

On going Ph.D programme : 4

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