Biochemistry at UCD

Biochemistry aims to understand the structure and function of all living things at the molecular level.

Biochemistry provides an understanding of

• how living things are constructed
• what they contain
• how they function and communicate
• how they use food to obtain the building blocks and energy for growth
• how genetic information is stored, expressed and passed on to the next generation
• how enzymes catalyse reactions and
• how the cell's chemistry is co-ordinated and controlled.

Any aspect of living tissue that can be studied in terms of chemical and physical principles is a subject for biochemical investigation.
 
   

About Biochemistry at UCD

The Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology in UCD was established in 1934 with the appointment of Professor E.J. Conway, FRS. Pharmacology subsequently became an independent department. In September 2005 the Biochemistry department along with the Pharmacology department and Industrial microbiology department formed the School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Sciences.

The new Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, which opened in August 2003, has been named in honour of Professor E.J. Conway

Science degree courses began in 1945 and at present the Biochemistry caters for Science undergraduates, medical students and Physiotherapy students.

There are eleven academic staff in the department in permanent positions, eight technical and laboratory staff,  and 40-50 postgraduate research students.
 

Some Dates of Interest
2005 The Biochemistry department along with the Pharmacology department and Industrial Microbiology department formed the School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Sciences.Dr Gethin McBean is appointed Head of Subject for Biochemistry.

2003 The Department of BIochemistry is re-housed in the Conway Institute building, Belfield Campus

2002 J. Paul. G. Malthouse is appointed Head of Department.
 

1994 Paul C. Engel is appointed Professor of Biochemistry and Head of Department.
 

1993 Stephen G. Mayhew was appointed Head of Department.
 

1993 Michael G. Harrington retired as Head of Department.
 

1973 The Department hosted the special meeting of The Federation of European Biochemical Societies on "Industrial Aspects of Biochemistry" with over 900 delegates.
 

1965 The Science Faculty of the College was transferred to the Belfield Campus.

Prefabricated teaching laboratory units for Biochemistry were built at Merville House. These teaching laboratories were officially opened by the Minister for Education, Mr. Donogh O'Malley, T. D., in 1967.
 

1964 Michael G. Harrington was appointed Professor of Biochemistry and Head of Department.
 

1960 The Medical Research Council of Ireland established a Unit of Cell Metabolism at Merville with Professor Conway as Director.

 Laboratory classes continued in Earlsfort Terrace and later transferred to the College of Science in Merrion Street, Dublin. This building has since been refurbished to accomodate the Department of An Taoiseach .
 

1960 Research activities were transferred to Belfield, as the first science department on the new campus is set up in Merville House . Merville House, built ca. 1750, was residence for the Right Hon. Anthony Foster, Baron of the Irish Exchequer.
 

1932 The Department was first established in the Medical school of U.C.D. with the appointment of Edward J. Conway, F. R. S. as Professor of Biochemistry and Pharmacology. The Department was located at Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin.

 It was the fifth Department to be established in Britain or Ireland - following Liverpool (1902), London (1912), Cambridge (1924) and Queen's (1924).

Today there are more than fifty such departments of Biochemistry.