Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry and LABMED

Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Faculty of Medicine

History of the institute

History of the institute has begun in 1949 when was open a branch of Medical faculty Comenius University in Kosice. The first head of the Institute for medical chemistry was charged Anton Neuwirth, M.D. The Institute was divided into two parts on June 22, 1952 by the Faculty Council. The head of the Institute of medical chemistry was Assoc. Prof. RNDr. Dezider Tomkuljak since 15.2.1954 till 1.9.1957, while in the same time the Institute of biochemistry was conducted by Assoc. Prof. Timotej Turský, Ph.D., M.D. In 1962 the Institute of biochemistry was localized in a new building of theoretical institutes of Medical Faculty at Šrobár Street. Consequences of Prague spring and Russian occupations led to reunification of both institutes under the Institute of medical chemistry. In 1986 the Institute moved to the new buildings of Medical Faculty and Faculty Hospital at Tr. SNP 1. During 1987 – 1991 the Institute changed its name to the Institute of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry and 2003 to Clinical Biochemistry.

The Institute covers teaching of medical chemistry in 1^st year and biochemistry in 2^nd year of study of general medicine and dentistry. It also participates in teaching of the same courses in English for foreign students. The Institute is involved in teaching of biochemistry for 1^st year of bachelor study of nursing, clinical biochemistry for 5^th year of general medicine.

Research activities of the Institute were established during years in the main fields: effects of environment on living organism, connections between metabolism and diseases, xenobiochemistry, application of fluorescence in study of living systems, and others. The Institute also offers its facilities for PhD. study, diploma theses and various student research activities.

For more information about the activities of the Institute (research and teaching) on our website: http://www.lf.upjs.sk/chembioch.

From	To	Institute Head of the institute
1949	15. 2. 1954	Institute of Medical Chemistry Neuwirth, M.D.
15. 2.1954	1. 9. 1957	Inst. Med. Chem. A. Prof. Tomkuljak	Inst. Biochem. A. Prof. Turský
1. 9. 1957	1. 4. 1971	A. Prof. Barna	A. Prof. Mäsiar
1. 4. 1971	1987	Institute of Medical Chemistry Prof. Barna
1987	1.10.1991	Institute of Med. Chem. and Biochemistry A. Prof. Adam
1. 10. 1991	31. 1. 2004	Department of Med. Chem., Biochem. and Clin. Biochem. A. Prof. Kušnír
1. 2. 2004	28. 2. 2012	Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry A. Prof. Guzy
1. 3. 2012		Prof. Mareková