Department of Biochemistry

Guntur Medical College was established on 22-6-1946. The first batch of studednts consisting of 50 were admitted in July 1946.

            The department of biochemistry started functioning from janurary 1948.

            Mr. M.C. Warrier, M.Sc., A.R.I.C., was posted as lecturer and head of the department. He organised the laboratory as well as the teaching programme. In 1955, Mr. V. Brahmaiah Sastry. M.Sc., took over charge as lecturer. Then Dr. I. Ranga Brahmananda Rao improved the department.

            Dr. B. Naganna, D.Sc., F.R.I.C.,  was popsted as Professor of Biochemistry in Febrary 1956. He was considered as the doyen of Biochemistry. The thesis submitted by him for his doctorate of Science (D.Sc., ) won a high praise from outstanding biochemists like  Conway, Dodds, and king.

            It was indeed a great credit to the Department that it was the first in the college to start a Postgraduate Course in 1956. Drs. C.Sita Devi, A.V.S.S. Rama Rao, K.R. Venkaiah, M.A. Padmanabha Rao, D. Bala Sundaram and K. Vasudeva Rao all were his Postgraduate students. Under theguidance of Dr. B. Naganna, dr. Joseph successfully completed his Ph.D., in Physiology.

            Dr. B. Naganna visited  U.K. in 1961 at the invitation of the British council. The proceedings of his research work  were published in various International Journals and standard text books of Biochemistry (eg :- Review of Physiological Chemistry by harold. A. Harper; Clinical Chemistry, Principles and Technics by R.J. Henry).

            He was transferred to Andhra Medical College, Visakhaptnam in December 1970. Subsequently Dr. d. Balasundraram, Dr. K. Ranganath Rao (who wrote a text book of biochemistry ) and Dr. K.R. Venkaiah headed the Department.

            Dr. K. Vasudeva Rao, M.D., was promoted and posted as Professor of Biochemistry 1-2-1975. He trained Drs. M. Adisesha Reddy, B. Paparaya, Choudary, N.V.S. Choudary, K. Rama kumar, D. Madhavan and G. Girija Sankar for their P.G. Degrees. He was deputed to Siddhartha Medical College as Vice-Principal and Professor in March 1981. He returned to Guntur Medical College, Guntur April 1983 and Proceeded abroad in May1984.

            Dr. N.S. Das, M.D., contributed much to introduce new methods, new instruments and programmes. He visited U.S.A. Under the sponsorship of Rotary Iinternational in 1977. At Present he is the Registrar, University of health Sciences. A.P.

            The post of Additional Professor was sanctioned in 19798. Dr. P.A. Bhaskar, M.D., joined the Department as Additional Professor in 1979 and he became Head of the Departfment in in 1981. Dr. P. Sundari Devi, Dr. D. Suryanarayana, MD., and Dr. M. Sarswathi worked as Additional Professors of Biochemistry. Dr. (Mrs.)L. Vasantha, MD., Ph.D., was  posted as Additional professor on 1-8-81. She was Head of the Department from 1-6-84 to24-8-84. She took active interest in research.

            Dr. G. Sree Rama Murthy, M.., Was posted  as  Additional professor on 14-7-1986 and he Became H.O.D., in March 1988. He organised and streamlined the teaching programme on very sound scientific lines resulting in 100% success of students in the University Examinations in 1988. He trained Dr. Kasi Babu, Dr. Salam and Dr. M. Joji Reddy for their M.d., (Biochem) Degree.

            Dr. B. Paparaya Choudary was posted as Head of the Department on 2-8-1991 and worked in the department on 2-8-1991 and worked in the department till his retirement in sept. 1995. He trained Dr. K. Prabhakar Rao, Dr. K. Vijaya Kumari Successfully to get their M.d. Degree. He was also examiner for Ph.d., in Madras University. He contnues to be the U.P.S.C., Examiner for civil Services in Mkedical Specialities ever after his retirement> He guided two candidateds for their post doctoral research of I.C.M.R.

            A small wing of the department was established in the Govt. General Hospital in 1963. This facilitated a better report with the clinicians.

            Prize examination in biochemistry has been annual event since 1960. Dr. A.S.R. Murthy, Professor of physiology, donated the prize. Dr. Subrahmanyam Karuturi , the Webmaster of GMC.ac.in is indeed the recipient of Biochemistry Gold Medal.

            The Department was always adequately represented at the annual conference of Association of clinical Biochemists of India. The department of Biochemistry always played akey role in various Medical and Health Exhibitions. It catered to the training of a large number of laboratory technicians. It promoted interdisciplinary discussions.

            Significant contribution towards teachiong anfd clinical investigatons has been made by staff members like Drs. K. Rama Kumar, T. Radha Krishna Murthy, K. Sreenivasa Murthy M.L.K. Prasad, T. Mastanamma, Satyavathi, Mohan Kumar,  M. Joji Reddy, M.s.V.S. Sastry, T. Ranga Rao, M.A. Salam, K. Prabhakar Rao and K. Vijaya Kumari and no-medical staff members like R. Ramaiah, D. Rukmini, A. Bhaskar Rao Rahimunnisa Begum, K. Sarveswara Rao M.Sc., A.I.C., (N.M.A. Gazetted), V. Nirmala, ch. Bharathi, P. Saraswathi, M.Sc., (Biochem), Dr. M.V. Raghavendra Rao, M.Sc., Ph.D., M.S.V. Chalam, B.Sc., and Shaik Ibrahuim, B.Sc., M.A., A.I.c.