Department of Biochemistry was amongst the first few departments that was started at the inception of the institution in 1963 with Dr Govind D Kalyankar as the Head of department. Subsequently, department was headed by Dr G Y N Iyyar, Dr P K Joseph, Dr T Venkatesh, Dr Sheila Uthappa, Dr Sultana Furruqh, Dr Anita R Bijoor, and Dr Anitha Devanath. Dr Jayakumari S is the current head of the department.

Teaching Program: Department has been teaching MBBS undergraduate students from its inception. PhD program was introduced in the early 70s while MD Biochemistry was introduced in 1992.

A. Undergraduate: MBBS, 3-year course for BSc Medical laboratory technology, Bachelor of Physiotherapy, BSc, and PC BSc nursing stream.
B. Postgraduate: MD Biochemistry, PhD, MSc Medical Laboratory Technology (MSc MLT)
C. Number Rajiv Gandhi University recognised guides:
     a. PhD guides:2
     b. MD Biochemistry: 5
     c. MSc MLT: 3

Special teaching activities:
● Participation of faculty in problem-based sessions.
● Participation in foundation course for first year MBBS undergraduates
● Mentorship program for undergraduates
● Mock preparation exams for postgraduate students

Division of Clinical Biochemistry
It was a part of central diagnostic facility at its inception as a part of hospital services. Central diagnostic facility was headed by Dr John Thomas, Dr S N Kothare, Dr Arun Kumar, Dr Prema Damodar and Dr Karuna Rameshkumar prior to attaining the status of an independent division. Dr Vijay Bhat, Dr Elizabeth Zacharaiah, Dr Geraldine Menezes, Dr Sultana Furruqh and Dr Anitha Devanath served as Lab In charge of this division. Later, it was amalgamated with Department of Biochemistry, St John’s Medical College. The supervision of the laboratory is now centralised under the head of department of Biochemistry and all the teaching staff form a part of services of Clinical Biochemistry.

At its inception, Clinical Biochemistry division started with manual methods and semi-automated equipment with a handful of 8 technicians. Automated equipment was introduced for chemistry in 1994 and it has progressed to state-of- the art, completely automated analyser that is commensurate with the scope of its services. Lab is manned by qualified, well-trained technicians with equally dedicated, enthusiastic support staff under the direct supervision of qualified, well trained, competent authorised signatories.

Key milestones
● 1995: 21 st Annual Conference of Association of Clinical Biochemists of India.
● 2000: 1 st International Conference conducted on ‘Nutrition management in heavy metal poisoning in women and children’.
● 2002: National Referral centre of Lead poisoning established in the department.
● 2005: 2 nd International conference on ‘antioxidants and free radicals in health-nutrition and radio protectors’ jointly organised by the department and SFRR.
● 2007: NABL accreditation of all the laboratories in the institute spearheaded by the department.
● 2021: 7 th State level Conference of Association of Medical Biochemists Karnataka Chapter (AMBKCCON 2021) on ‘Paediatric laboratory Medicine’. It was the first online conference.
● 2022: Co-hosted 29th Annual Conference of Association of Medical Biochemists of India (AMBICON 2022) along with AMBI.