Introduction
The Department of Biochemistry was up graded after the formation of separate Chhattisgarh state. On 15 th February 2004.
 

Facilities
The following facilities are currently available in the department :
1. Teaching facility for 100 M.B.B.S. students, 100 BDS students, 50 BPT students, 50 Nursing students & 10 MBT (M.Sc. Medical Biotechnology) students.
2. Diagnostics facility for routine & special biochemical tests of the hospital patients.
3. Molecular diagnostic tests for the patients.
4. Routine Sickle cell screening of the hospital OPD patients.
5. On going Sickle Cell Project of C.G. govt & Morbidity Pattern in Sickle Cell..
6. Research facility in biochemical & molecular biology for U.G. & P.G. students & research scholars.
 

Achievements & Research
IIn November 2004, a three day National Conference of Association of Medical Biochemists of India was organised by the Department with the theme “Role of Biochemists in Hemoglobinopathies and Cancer”.
On 25 th July 2005, M.Sc. Medical Biotechnology course was started by Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh inaugurated the laboratory in the presence of Hon’ble Health Minister Dr. K. M. Bandhi. It is for the first time in the country that any state government funded medical college has started this specialized course. Ten students being admitted every year and the first batch has passed out on 2007.

To celebrate the foundation day every year, the Department organizes National Symposium and Work shop to orient and train the students and aspirants in scientific research.
The theme for symposium organised on the occasion of first foundation day on 25th July 2006 was Biotechnology in Future Medicine and six days Hands on Workshop for on Diagnostic PCR followed.
The Genetic laboratory in the Department is actively involved in routine diagnosis of the patients, organizing diagnostic camps, training Medical and Technicians and in research related to Sickle cell disease.The Government of Chhattisgarh has started Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Regional Centre for Genetic Diseases and Molecular Biology in the Department to facilitate the diagnostic and research work.

Recent scientific works on stem cells have shown promising results for the patients of Sickle cell disease which is highly prevalent in the region and therefore it was planned to celebrate the 2nd foundation day (25th July 2007) by organizing symposium on the theme “Stem cells-in Future Medicine” This was followed by five day Hands on Workshop on Flowcytometry.

This year (25th July 2008) another national symposium with the theme "Trends in Regenerative & Molecular Medicine" was convened followed by 6 days workshop on HPLC techniques and Real-time PCR.

The Department of Biochemistry convened these national symposium to hear from leading scientists engaged in stem cell research and from policymakers, ethicists and legal experts to discuss the scientific and public policy concerns that present both opportunities and barriers to progress in this field. This symposium deliberated on a wide range of topics dealing with the recent developments in stem cell research in India and abroad.

Research work on sickle cell disease (The Head of the Department, Dr. P.K. Patra is presently the Principal Investigator of two projects; one sanctioned by the Government of India (DBT) and another by the state Government on Sickle cell Disease)along with interventional studies to exploit the stem cells for the benefit of the sickle cell patients is among the priorities of the Department. PhD in Biochemistry has been started, soon to be followed by Ph.D in Medical Biotechnology and MD in Biochemistry.

 Future plans:

• Cytogenetic Facilities.

• Prenatal/Neonatal screening for sickle cell disease.

• Stem cell therapy for sickle cell disease.

• Proteomic research on sickle cell disease.

• Full fledged sickle treatment unit and day care centre.

Courses

Following courses are teaching in the department
1. M.B.B.S.
2. M.Sc. Medical Biotechnology

SYMPOSIUMS/ SEMINARS:

• Annual National Conference of Association of Medical Biochemists of India “Role of Biochemists in Hemoglobinopathies and Cancer". November 5 - 7, 2004 followed by five days hands-on workshop on Variant Hemoglobin Testing by HPLC.

• National Symposium on "Biotechnology in Future Medicine" 25th July 2006 and six days Hands on Workshop for on Diagnostic PCR.

• National Symposium on “Stem cells-in Future Medicine” 25th July 2007 and six days Hands on Workshop for on Flowcytometry.

• National symposium with the theme "Trends in Regenerative & Molecular Medicine" 25th July 2008 followed by 6 days workshop on Real-time PCR, Karyotyping & HPLC techniques.

Head of Department