INTRODUCTION

The Department of Biochemistry is actively involved in the teaching of MBBS students since the joining of the first Batch at AIIMS Gorakhpur in September 2019. Biochemistry deals with the chemical processes occurring in living organisms, and is involved in both health and disease. Biochemistry forms the molecular basics of every branch of biomedical sciences. The Department stands to impart subject knowledge to the students, and also actively supports the Clinical Departments of the Institute in patient care by providing diagnostic facilities. The Biochemistry Department aims to develop into a centre of excellence in education, research, and patient care.

The session began with a 15-day Foundation Course conducted by all faculty of the Institute to make the students familiar with medical teaching and practices. Regular teaching is carried out by conventional and unconventional methods. The conventional methods include interactive lectures, tutorials, demonstrations, and practical classes, and seminars, while unconventional methods included Integrated Teaching with horizontal, vertical, and spiral involvement of other departments, Biomodule Exhibition, Early Clinical Exposure, and Case-Based Discussions. The faculty are meticulous in their teaching and assessment efforts.

The Biomodule Exhibition was planned and organized by Dr Indu Saxena with help from all faculty of the Department. The two-hour event, held on 5th March, 2020, was attended by almost all employees of the Institute, and was widely appreciated. The faculty of the other departments tested the students regarding their subject knowledge and also monitored the interaction of students with the other employees of the Institute.

The faculty of the Department have been actively involved in lectures, tutorials, demonstrations, seminars, integrated teaching schedules, routine assignments, and practical classes of MBBS students. Teaching was shifted from the department to the homes of the students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Online lectures, assignments, revisions, and tests have been held regularly.

FACILITIES

The department is equipped with state of art instruments for research and diagnosis including gradient and RT-PCR, ELISA, microplate reader, Microscopes (fluorescence and inverted) CO2 incubator, laminar flows, electrophoresis and chromatography apparatus, spectrophotometer, automated analysers, electrolyte analysers, immunoassay analysers, etc. Some of the equipment (lyophilizer, Western Blot apparatus, transilluminator, HPLC-based automated analyser for detection of glycated hemoglobin and hemoglobinopathies, chemiluminescence immunoassay analyser, nanospectrophotometer, etc) have been ordered and will soon be delivered.

GOALS

• Train students in terms of latest developments, tools, and techniques in the field. Provide quality education to the students to make them independent
  scholars with curious minds, ethical attitudes, and practical skills
• Develop excellent laboratory service that aid diagnosis and prognosis
• Produce original and high quality research that will benefit humanity

FUTURE VISION

We aim to promote a culture of accountability, independent thought, compassion, integrity, honesty, and teamwork in the Department. We are committed to lifelong learning and have undertaken to follow the principles of ethics in education, research, and patientcare.
The Department aims to become one of the best centres of Biochemistry Education in the country, at both undergraduate as well as post-graduate levels of teaching. All faculty keep abreast of the current knowledge and are committed to making lectures more informative, effective, and interesting by incorporating new innovations. The MD course shall be started soon, and the faculty are developing syllabus and teaching schedules related to that also.
Biochemistry and laboratory diagnostics are closely associated with all departments, and we hope to integrate with the clinical departments in producing good quality research that will benefit science and will also aid early diagnosis of disease.

OTHER INFORMATION

COURSES

Currently the Institute has only the MBBS Course, but after the required period we intend to begin MD Biochemistry, MSc Medical Biochemistry, and PhD.
Any other courses that the Institute plans to begin like BSc Nursing will have our full support.