Biochemistry

Established in the Year: 1925

• The Biochemistry Department, which used to be a part of the Physiology Department in all medical colleges in the past, became an independent Department in Madras Medical College only in the year 1925.
• Dr. A.S.Mannady Nair, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., was the first Professor of the Department of Biochemistry, and headed the Department for a long period of 24 years till 1949. It is of interest to note that he was the first and only Professor from the basic sciences (often called Non-clinical department) to become the Surgeon General (Head of Medical Services) of the Madras Presidency in the year 1949. The Post of Surgeon General later became the Director of Medical Services.

• Dr. A.S. Ramachandran M.B.B.S., M.Sc., became the Professor in 1949 and continued till 1954.
• Dr. NainanVerghese, M.B.B.S., M.Sc., Ph.D., held the post of Professor from 1954 to 1970.
• Dr.AmbikaShanmugam, M.B.B.S. M.Sc., headed the department from 1970 to 1977. She authored one of the earliest books on Biochemistry for Medical Students titled ‘Fundamentals of Biochemistry for Medical Students’ which is still popular and prescribed by various universities and followed by medical, dental nursing and science students all over India.
• Dr. S.Gopalakrishnan M.B.B,S F.R.CS (Edin) became the Professor in 1977. It was due his untiring efforts that the Biochemistry Department was upgraded to the status of an Institute in the year 1984, of which he became the First Director and Professor which he held till 1987.
• During his time, automation in clinical biochemistry laboratory was introduced for the first time in Madras Medical College &Govt .General Hospital with the installation of the Batch Analyser, Technicon, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer for trace element estimation, UV spectrophotometer, HPLC, flourimeter, micro cellulose acetate electrophoresis with densitometer, ABL blood gas analyzer full fledged research were taking place with the availability of the sophisticated equipments.
• Dr. SarojiniRajaram M.D, succeeded him in the year 1987 and she has the credit of the first Director with Post Graduate Degree in biochemistry (M.D. in biochemistry) and continued till 1989.
• Dr. Padma Ramamurthy, M.B.B.S., M. Sc., took over as Director in 1990 till Dr. L.Suryakurnari M.D., took over in 1994 and headed the headed the Institute till 1998. It was during her period all manual enzyme assays were shifted to semi automation with the installation of ERBA CHEM semi auto analyser
• Dr. AnandiAlagappan, M.D..succeeded her in 1999 and held the post of Director between March 1999 & August 2000.
• Dr. W.Ebenezer William, M.D., occupied the post of Director from February 2001 to January 2003,It was he who designed the present central clinical biochemistry lab in the ground floor of tower block and was instrumental in installing the first ISE NOVA electrolyte analyzer followed by another electrolyte analyser in the next year. It was also during his tenure that centralizing the sample collection services of Govt. General Hospital was planned.
• It was during the tenure of Dr.T.S. Andal from 2003 to 2006 that the biochemistry lab was shifted to its present location in the ground floor of tower block I from the college side and the first Random Access Biochemistry Analyser XL 300 with a throughput of 300 tests per hour was installed.
• Dr.A.Manamalli M.D., took over as Director in June 2006 and continued till September 2007. During her tenure, the erstwhile famous FTM room (Fractional Test Meal Room where the test to assess gastric acid output used to be measured in the biochemistry department in those days!!) was converted into a modern air- conditione seminar hall with 108 seats .She was also instrumental in fully equipping the clinical biochemistry laboratory with the 2nd Automated Random Access Biochemistry Analyser (XL 300), Automated ELISA System (Triturus), Automated Coagulation Analyser (CA1500, CA 50), Automated Electrophoresis system (Sebia).
• Dr.A.Renuka, M.D., M.N.A.M.S., Ph.D., became the Director in January 2008 which she held till October 2008.It was during her time, seeds were sown for the molecular diagnostics laboratory with planning and design of the molecular biology lab and purchase of Thermal Cycler, Refrigerated micro centrifuge, UV gel documentation system laminar air flow chamber for molecular biology related work.
• Dr.Pragna B. Dolia, M.D., took over as Director in 2009 and continued until her retirement in 2012. It was during this period maximum number of CME and workshop were organized and conducted in this department.
• Dr.R.Nagendran, M.D., held the post of Director during April 2014.
• Dr.K.Ramadevi, M.D.,Ph.D., took over as Director from November 2014 and continued till october 2023. Complete modernization of the clinical diagnostic laboratory was effected with sophisticated high end diagnostic services including integrated automated analyzers for chemistries, immunoassays, capillary electrophoresis, immunotyping and immunofixation electrophoresis. Laboratory information system was installed with all equipments interfaced, reducing turn around time and minimizing errors. It is at this time that the Pneumatic chute systems for swift transport of samples was installed.
• Dr.K.Pramila, M.D., took over as Director of institute of biochemistry from march 2024 and continuing till date .During this period HPLC was inaugurated in April 2024 for testing of Glycated Haemoglobin(HbA1C). Web Portal was inaugurated in september 2024 for viewing the reports online by the treating clinicians. Tandem Mass Spectrometry was started for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Immunosuppresants and Steroid panel.Urine drug of abuse screening was started for nine drugs. Drug of abuse testing using Biochip array Technology evidence Multistat -Randox Toxicology was initiated in june 2025.