Biochemistry

• The Department of Biochemistry is a cornerstone of scientific education and research at our institution, dedicated to exploring the molecular foundations of life. Established with a vision to integrate chemical principles with biological systems, the department offers a dynamic academic environment that fosters intellectual curiosity, innovation, and academic excellence.
• Our curriculum is designed to equip students with a deep understanding of biomolecules, metabolic pathways, enzymology, molecular biology, and genetics. Through a blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on laboratory experience, we prepare students for careers in medicine, biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, and cutting-edge biomedical research.
• Our faculty comprises experienced doctors who are educators and researchers who are committed to mentoring students and advancing scientific knowledge through impactful research. The department actively engages in interdisciplinary collaborations and encourages students to participate in seminars, workshops, and research projects to cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• With state-of-the-art laboratories, modern instrumentation, and a student-centered approach, the Department of Biochemistry continues to inspire the next generation of scientists and healthcare professionals to contribute meaningfully to science and society.

• The campus spans several acres with lush greenery, housing academic blocks, modern lecture halls, departmental laboratories (including Biochemistry), library, hostels, cafeteria, and sports facilities.
• There are air-conditioned lecture halls equipped with LCD projectors and AV systems.
• The central library spans two floors, offers physical and e‐library resources, and provides free Wi‑Fi.

LAB SPACES & TEACHING AREAS

• Practical Teaching Labs: Designed to accommodate MBBS students for hands-on biochemistry experiments—likely with workstations, reagent preparatory-rooms and storage areas.
• Demonstration Rooms: Smaller, AV-equipped spaces for group discussions and live demo classes.

EQUIPMENT & ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS

• Clinical Chemistry Analyzers (semi/fully automated)
• Electrolyte/Blood Gas Analyzers
• Spectrophotometers / Colorimeters
• ECLIA, ELISA readers, Centrifuges, pH meters, water baths, hot air ovens
• Department Support Infrastructure
• Faculty & Staff Rooms: Offices for Head of Department, faculty, and demonstration staff.
• Department Library/Seminar Room: A small reference space for Biochemistry texts, journals, and student study sessions.
• Storage & Admin Office: For reagents, consumables, records, and clerical activities.
• Clinical Services & Diagnostic Lab
• As part of the medical college hospital, the Biochemistry Lab likely supports.
• Routine tests: liver & renal function, blood sugars, lipid panels, electrolytes, ABGs, etc.
• Emergency/inpatient/OPD testing, possibly with a 24-hour lab service.
• Department Visit or Admin Inquiry: Contact the Biochemistry HOD or admin office for exact floor plan, square footage and equipment.
• Official College Website or Prospectus: Check for a detailed departmental brochure (often linked in UG and PG programme information).

The Department of Biochemistry at Government Medical College and Hospital, Thiruvallur, plays a pivotal role in delivering essential diagnostic, monitoring, and prognostic services to both inpatient and outpatient departments. Functioning as a backbone of clinical decision-making, the Biochemistry laboratory is equipped to provide a wide spectrum of investigations catering to emergency, routine, and preventive healthcare needs.

CORE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

• The laboratory offers a comprehensive panel of routine and advanced biochemical investigations, including:
• Basic Biochemical Parameters:
• Blood glucose (FBS, PPBS, RBS)
• Urea, Creatinine, Uric acid
• Electrolytes: Sodium, Potassium, Chloride
• Liver function tests (LFTs): Total/Direct bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, ALP, Total proteins, Albumin
• Renal function tests (RFTs)
• Lipid profile: Total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Triglycerides
• Special Investigations:
• HbA1c (Glycated hemoglobin)
• Thyroid profile (T3, T4, TSH)
• Cardiac markers: Troponin, CK-MB, LDH
• Enzymatic assays: Amylase, Lipase, CPK
• Serum calcium, phosphorus, magnesium
• ECLIA assays (selected): Ferritin, IL-6, VIT D, VIT B12, Insulin, HCG, PSA
• Urine metabolic screening,serum Electrophoresis.

CLINICAL SUPPORT & PATIENT CARE

The laboratory extends services to:

• Outpatient services (OPD): Daily routine testing for diabetic, hypertensive, renal, and liver disease patients
• Inpatient services (IPD): Biochemical monitoring for medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric wards
• Emergency/Casualty Lab: Rapid turnaround for critical parameters (electrolytes, RFT, LFT, glucose)
• ICU Support: Round-the-clock services for intensive care units with ABG interfacing (where available)

PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS & SCREENING SERVICES

The Biochemistry Lab is also aligned with national health programs:

• Antenatal biochemical screening (gestational diabetes, anemia)
• NCD Clinics: Routine profiling of patients with hypertension, diabetes
• RBS/FBS screening camps in collaboration with Community Medicine
• Periodic Health Checkups under CMCHIS, ESI, or state health missions

TEACHING & TRAINING SUPPORT

• Hands-on lab exposure and interpretative training for MBBS, Allied Health Sciences, and Interns
• Demonstration of clinical relevance of biochemical parameters using real-world data
• Support for UG/PG student research projects involving laboratory parameters

QUALITY ASSURANCE & LAB PRACTICES

• Internal quality control (IQC) protocols for major assays
• Participation in External Quality Assurance Programs (EQAS) – often through CMCH or TNMSC support
• Equipment maintenance and calibration schedules followed regularly
• Compliance with biomedical waste segregation, biosafety, and cold chain maintenance

VISION FOR EXPANSION

The department is progressively aligning toward:

• Automation of test platforms to improve efficiency and accuracy
• Introduction of advanced immunoassays and POCT (Point-of-care testing)
• NABL accreditation goals for standardization and recognition
• Interdepartmental integration with pathology and microbiology labs for coordinated diagnostics.
• The Biochemistry Laboratory of GMC Thiruvallur is a vital component of the hospital’s diagnostic infrastructure, combining clinical service, academic training, and public health commitment. With continual efforts toward modernization and quality enhancement, it ensures timely, accurate, and clinically relevant biochemical analysis that underpins patient care across the institution.

Department of Biochemistry conducts academic activities:

• In accordance with the National Medical Commission (NMC) and The Tamil Nadu DR. MGR Medical University guidelines and the Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum for Phase 1 MBBS students and MBBS electives posting for PHASE 3 MBBS students.
• District Residency Program Post graduates from various Government and Private medical colleges and Institutions
• Paramedicals.and allied health sciences

Key academic components include:

Competency-Based Teaching: Emphasis is placed on structured, outcome-driven teaching of biochemistry competencies, integrating clinical relevance, professionalism, and clinical biochemistry in alignment with CBME standards.

Small Group Teaching & Early Clinical Exposure (ECE): Students participate in interactive small-group discussions and ECE modules to relate biochemical knowledge to clinical practice.

Vertical and Horizontal Integration: Collaborative sessions are conducted with other pre-clinical and clinical departments to ensure a holistic and contextual approach to biochemistry learning.

Formative and Summative Assessments: Regular assessments including MCQs, OSPEs, viva-voce, and written exams are conducted as per CBME norms, ensuring continuous feedback and academic progression.

Self-Directed Learning (SDL): SDL sessions are integrated to promote independent learning and lifelong learning skills among students.

Skill Development and Attitude-Ethics-Communication (AETCOM):Basic procedural skills, along with modules on medical ethics and communication, are introduced early in the curriculum through the AETCOM component.

MBBS ELECTIVES posting- Pre final year MBBS The MBBS electives posting in Biochemistry offers undergraduate medical students a unique opportunity to explore advanced and applied aspects of biochemistry beyond the core curriculum. It typically spans 2 weeks and is designed to enhance analytical thinking, research orientation and understanding the clinically applied biochemical basis of disease

Objectives

• To bridge basic science with clinical practice.
• To provide exposure to laboratory techniques such as ELISA,ECLIA,ABG analysis electrophoresis, chromatography and PCR.
• To familiarize students with quality control, automation and biochemical diagnostics used in clinical laboratories.
• To encourage mini-projects or audits involving clinical biochemistry parameters.
• To develop research and data interpretation skills relevant to patient care.

Activities May Include:

• Helps correlate theoretical knowledge with clinical applications.
• Prepares students for postgraduate entrance and future research opportunities.
• Encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a diagnostic setting.
• This elective fosters a deeper appreciation of the molecular mechanisms underlying disease and supports a holistic understanding of medicine from bench to bedside

Academic Support and Mentoring: Faculty-guided mentoring for academic assistance, doubt clearance, and early research orientation.
The department remains committed to high-quality teaching and fostering a clinically oriented biochemistry foundation essential for future medical training and research.

Allied Health Sciences Teaching: The department provides biochemistry teaching for paramedical and allied health science programs, including certificate course for

• DMLT - LabTechnician
• Dialysis technician



From GMC, THIRUVALLUR and providing internship for private colleges near thiruvallur. Tailored academic content, seminars and practical sessions are conducted to meet the specific needs of each course, with a focus on laboratory biochemistry.

District Residency Program (DRP) for Post graduates

• As per Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations 2000 (PGMER-2000) vide notification dated 16.09.2020, Post graduate students in various Government and Private Medical Colleges in their second year are posted in New Medical colleges, District Headquarters Government Hospitals and Taluk Hospitals.
• In our Government Medical College, Thiruvallur, District Residency Program Post Graduates are regularly posted for the past two years from various Government and Private Medical Colleges. All the DRP Post graduates posted in the Department of Anatomy are trained under subject specific learning objectives.

This will be dealt with under the following headings:

• Theoretical knowledge (Cognitive domain)
• Practical and clinical skills (psychomotor domain)
• Attitudes including communication skills (Affective domain)
• Writing thesis / Reviewing Research activities (Scholarly activity)
• Training in Research Methodology (Practice based learning, Evidence based practice)
• Professionalism
• Teaching skills

ALL THE DRP PGS ARE INVOLVED IN THE FOLLOWING ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

• Case Presentation- Once a week, case collected from the ward and discussed every Monday
• Seminars- Once a week on every Saturday
• Journal club- Once a week on every Saturday
• Academic grand lab rounds- Twice a week presentation of quality control of the lab by residents and clinical biochemistry discussions Quality of training are monitored by log books, supportive supervision and continuous assessment of performance.

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