department of biochemistry school of life sciences …naac reaccreditation - evaluative report...

Department of BiochemistrySchool of Life Sciences

University of Madras

10. Number of teaching posts sanctioned, filled and actual

Professors/Asst. Professors/others) Sanctioned

Professor Associate Professors Asst. Professors Others

1 Name of the Department 2 Year of establishment

3 Is the Department part of a School/Faculty of the university?

4 Names of programmes offered (UG, PG, M.Phil., Ph.D., Integrated Masters; Integrated Ph.D., D.Sc., D.Litt., etc.)

5 Interdisciplinary programmes and departments involved

6 Courses in collaboration with other universities, industries, foreign institutions, etc.

7 Details of programmes discontinued, if any, with reasons

8 Examination System: Annual/ Semester/ Trimester/Choice Based Credit System

9 Participation of the department in the courses offered by other departments

NAAC Reaccreditation - Evaluative ReportSchool of Life

Department of Biochemistry

268

Biochemistry Life Sciences

University of Madras

Number of teaching posts sanctioned, filled and actual (Professors/Associate Professors/Asst. Professors/others)

Sanctioned Filled Actual (including CAS & MPS)1 - 2 2 1 1 4 3 3 - - -

Name of the Department Biochemistry

1933

Is the Department part of a School/Faculty of the university?

Yes, School of Life Sciences

Names of programmes offered (UG, PG, M.Phil., Ph.D., Integrated Masters; Integrated Ph.D., D.Sc.,

· M.Sc Advanced Biochemistry· M.Sc Bioinformatics · M.Phil Biochemistry · PhD (Biochemistry)

Interdisciplinary programmes and

· UGC-CPEPA (Biochemistry, Zoology, Botany and Biotechnology),

· UPE II “Drug Development” (Zoology, Medical Biochemistry, Endocrinology)

Courses in collaboration with other universities, industries, foreign

Nil

Details of programmes discontinued, if any, with reasons

Nil

Examination System: Annual/ Semester/ Trimester/Choice Based

Choice Based Credit System

Participation of the department in the courses offered by other

· PG diploma in molecular cell biology and stem cell technology

· PG diploma in Immunotechnology

Evaluative Report School of Life Sciences


(Professors/Associate

Actual (including CAS & MPS)

M.Sc Advanced Biochemistry

CPEPA (Biochemistry, Zoology, Botany and Biotechnology),

UPE II “Drug Development” (Zoology, Medical Biochemistry, Endocrinology)

PG diploma in molecular cell biology and stem cell technology

mmunotechnology

NAAC Reaccreditation - Evaluative Report School of Life Sciences


269

11. Faculty profile with name, qualification, designation, area of specialization, experience and research under guidance

12 . List of senior Visiting Fellows, adjunct faculty, emeritus professors

S.No Name & Qualification Designation Major Area of specialization

Duration of Appointment

1 Dr Gowri Chandrakasan M.Sc;PhD

Sesquicentennial Emeritus Professor

Clinical Biochemistry, Wound healing,

2007-2012

13 Percentage of classes taken by temporary faculty – programme-wise information

M.Sc Advanced Biochemistry : Nil M.Sc Bioinformatics : 50% M.Phil Biochemistry : Nil

14 Programme-wise Student Teacher Ratio M.Sc Advanced Biochemistry: 3 : 1 M.Sc Bioinformatics: 5 : 1 M.Phil Biochemistry : 3: 1

Name Qualification/ year

Specialization No. of years experience

No.of PhD/M.Phil Awarded last 4 years

S.Niranjali Devaraj

M.Sc (1977) M.Phil (1979) PhD (1981)

Glycobiology, Cancer biology, molecular cardiology

28 PhD: 11 M.Phil:16

T.Devaki M.Sc (1980) M.Phil (1982) PhD (1998)

Cancer biology, biochemical toxicology

30 PhD :08 M.Phil:10

Elangovan.V M.Sc (1990) M.Phil(1991) PhD(1996)

Molecular Cardiology 07 PhD:1 M.Phil:10

S.Subramanian M.Sc (1982) M.Phil (1983) PhD (1987)

Diabetology Clinical Biochemistry

12 PhD: 07 M.Phil:20

Sudhandiran.G M.Sc (1994) M.Phil (1995) PhD(2001)

Cancer Biology Neurobiology

08 PhD :07 M.Phil:10

Vanisree A.J M.Sc (1993) M.Phil(1994) PhD(1999)

Cancer Biology Neurobiology

08 PhD:01 M.Phil:10



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15. Number of academic support staff (technical) and administrative staff: sanctioned, filled and actual

Designation Sanctioned Existing A.S.O 1 1 A.T.O (Special Grade) 2 2 Attender 2 1 Electrician 1 - Animal house attender 1 -

16. Research thrust areas as recognized by major funding agencies

a) Cell signaling in cancer, cardiovascular diseases, gastro-intestinal and respiratory infections

b) Glycobiology and Glycotechnology- Structure – function relationships of epithelial mucins, regulation of their expression in cancer & gastrointestinal diseases

c) Molecular Cardiology-Cardiac hypertrophy, ischemic-reperfusion injury, atherosclerosis

d) Neurodegenerative diseases-Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, glioma

e) Diabetetology-antidiabetic therapy f) Drug development from medicinal plants

17. Number of faculty with ongoing projects from a) national b) international

funding agencies and c) Total grants received. Give the names of the funding

agencies, project title and grants received project-wise.

Name of faculty Title of Project Funding Agency

Amount Date of sanction and Duration

S.Niranjali Devaraj “Bioactivity based screening of medicinal plants in South India for inflammation-associated cancer”

AYUSH 46 lakhs 2009-2012 extended till 2013 March

S.Niranjali Devaraj Molecular signal interventional approach to improve ovarian maturation and spawning in commercial brooders of P. monodon – studies in alternate regulation of gene expression to initiate the activation of maturation promoting factor (MPF) in shrimps.

DBT 62.39 lakhs

2010-2013



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S.Niranjali Devaraj Screening, isolation and characterization of antiviral compounds from various species of Phyllanthus

UGC CPEPA

6.26 lakhs 2012-2015

S.Niranjali Devaraj Screening, isolation and characterization of antiviral compounds from marine organisms

UGC CPEPA

6.26 lakhs 2012-2015

T.Devaki Cellular and molecular mechanism underlying the anticarcinogenic effect of chrysin in experimentally induced hepatocellular carcinoma

UGC 12 lakhs 2011-2013

T.Devaki Magnetic Nanoparticles for Effective target Drug Delivery of Carvacrol against Liver Carcinogenesis –A Molecular Approach

ICMR adhoc project

21 lakhs 2012-2014

Elangovan.V Design and synthesis of biodegradable nanoparticle for effective delivery siRNA in the heart....Natriuretic Peptide Receptor-C

ICMR 25 lakhs 2012-2015

Subramanian.S “Modulatory effects of resveratrol, a naturally occurring phytoalexin, on the expression of GLUT-4,PI3 kinase, PEPCK, PPARgamma and related key regulatory enzymes in rat L6 skeletal muscle cells”

UGC 10.27 lakhs

2010-2013

Sudhandiran G Fisetin, a bioflavanoid exhibits antileishmanial activity through modulating the ERK and JAK- STAT signaling cascades: A mechanistic approach to combat leishmania survival inside macrophage.

UGC 8.5 lakhs 2010-2013

Sudhandiran G NCNSNT Role of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate as nano chemopreventive agent in lung cancer cells:Elucidation of TGF-� mediated CLIC4/Schnuri signaling cascade.

NCNSNT 7.5 lakhs 2011-2014

Sudhandiran G Critical role of Autophagic pathway in Alzheimer’s disease: Regulating the autophagy through PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Nrf2 signaling cascades

DST 41 lakhs 2011-2014



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Sudhandiran G Protease activated receptors 1 and 2 as a novel therapeutic target in bleomycin-induced experimental pulmonary fibrosis: Enancement of Phase II enzymes by garlic derivatives, Diallyl sulfide and S-allyl cysteine, through Nrf2-Keap1 signaling.

ICMR 17.25 lakhs

2012-2015

Sudhandiran G Screening, isolation and characterization of antiviral compounds from various species of Phyllanthus

UGC CPEPA

6.26 lakhs 2012-2015

Sudhandiran G Screening, isolation and characterization of antiviral compounds from marine organisms

UGC CPEPA

6.26 lakhs 2012-2015

Vanisree AJ Targeting…glioma ICMR 12.08 lakhs 2010-2013 Vanisree AJ Evaluation of neuroprotection by

Noni in rats WNRF 11 lakhs 2011-2013

18. Inter-institutional collaborative projects and associated grants received

a) National collaboration - Collaboration with Dr.B.S.Lakshmi, Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University. Title : Isolation and characterization of anti-diabetic and anti-adipogenic molecules from medicinal plants and evaluation of its mechanistic action using in vitro and db/db mice model Funded by DBT : Rs 42 lakhs, 2012-2015

b) International collaboration – Nil

19. Departmental projects funded by DST-FIST; UGC-SAP/CAS, DPE; DBT,

ICSSR, AICTE, etc.; total grants received.

DST-FIST : 45 lakhs

UGC-SAP: 38 lakhs

UGC-Infrastructure development: 40 lakhs

UGC-CPEPA:24 lakhs (first two years)

UPE I : 14.5 lakhs

UPE II: 37 lakhs (first two years)

20. Research facility / centre with -

· State recognition

· National recognition : Centre with Potential for Excellence in a Particular Area

(CPEPA) : Antiviral compounds from Phyllanthus and marine sources-UGC-

funded

· International recognition : Nil



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21. Special research laboratories sponsored by / created by industry or corporate

bodies - Nil

22. Publications:

* Number of papers published in peer reviewed journals (national / international)

: 146

* Monographs : Nil

* Chapters in Books : Two

* Edited Books : Nil

* Books with ISBN with details of publishers : Nil

* Number listed in International Database (For e.g. Web of Science, Scopus,

Humanities International Complete, Dare Database - International Social

Sciences Directory, EBSCO host, etc.) : Nil

* Citation Index – range / average : 39 to 650 ; Average : 299

* SNIP : Range : 0.877 to 1.389 (2011)

* SJR : Range: 0.414 to 3.673 (2011)

* Impact Factor – range / average : Range : 0.878 to 6.73

* h-index : Range: 3-14 ; Average: 10

23. Details of patents and income generated -

A novel compound useful for the treatment and prevention of ischemic heart disease from the plant, Crataegus oxycantha and aprocess for preparation”- through the University of Madras. “A novel compound useful for the treatment and prevention of athersclerosis from the plant Trigonella foenum-graecum and a process for its preparation”-through the University of Madras

24. Areas of consultancy and income generated -

World Noni Research Foundation project grant : Total 20 lakhs

Avigna Pharmeuticals: Project grant Rs 3.8 lakhs

Income: Nil

25. Faculty selected nationally / internationally to visit other laboratories /

institutions / industries in India and abroad

Dr.G.Sudhandiran, selected to visit Molecular Structural Biology Division at CDRI,

Lucknow and worked on Plasmodium falciparum gene expression



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26. Faculty serving in

S.Niranjali Devaraj: · Member of UGC expert committee in Biochemistry to select

major research project proposals: Feb 2010 ,Oct 2011,Oct 2012 & Feb 2013

· UGC expert committee member to examine proposals received under the scheme of instrumentation maintenance facility

· Member of UGC expert committee to select women scientists for post doctoral

fellowships

· UGC expert to select Indo-US-post doctoral Fellows (2012)

· Expert committee member of UGC-CAS in Life Sciences of the University of Hyderabad (2008-2013)

· Expert committee member of UGC-CAS in Biochemistry of the University

of Calcutta (2008-2013)

· TNPSC- Reviewer of question papers in the subject Biochemistry · Chairman of syllabus committee for revision of syllabus and text books in

Biochemistry for StdXI and XII, appointed by the State Council of Educational Research and Training, Tamilnadu (Sept 2012)

T.Devaki

· UGC nominee of building committee of Dhanraj Baid College of Pharmacy · TNPSC- Setting of question paper in the subject Biochemistry S.Subramanian: TNPSC- Setting of question papers in the subject Biochemistry

G.Sudhandiran : TNPSC- Setting of question papers in the subject Biochemistry

27. Faculty recharging strategies (UGC, ASC, Refresher / orientation programs,

workshops, training programs and similar programs).

S.No

Name & Dates of the Conference / Seminar Nature (National / International, etc.)

Funding Agency

1 EDUSAT-UGC Countrywide class room –lecture on cloning vectors

National UGC

2 Science Awareness Programme- In collaboration with Science City-hands-on training workshop and lecture 6th to 13th August 2007.

Regional Science City & Govt of Tamilnadu



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3 TANSCHE-Academic Staff College “Orientation programme-Chemistry/Biochemistry batch of newly recruited teachers, 2009 & 2010

Regional UGC-Academic Staff College & TANSCHE

4 Refresher course in , Bioinformatics: Batch I & II, 2007 & 2008

Regional UGC-Academic Staff College

28. Student projects

· percentage of students who have done in-house projects including inter-

departmental projects – 50%

· percentage of students doing projects in collaboration with other universities /

industry / institute – 50%

29. Awards / recognitions received at the national and international level by

· Faculty –

G.Sudhandiran:

· INSA-Summer Research Fellowship

S.Subramanian:

· Nominated as Fellow of Indian

Association of Biomedical

Scientists

T.Devaki:

· UGC-BSR Scheme one time grant

S.Niranjali Devaraj :

· UGC-BSR one time grant

· INSA-Royal Society of London visiting scientist to University of Leicester, UK

· DBT-overseas associateship to visit Hershey Medical Centre, US

· Nominated as Fellow of Madras Science Foundation

· Elected as President of Society for Biotechnologists, India

· Doctoral / post doctoral fellows - Dr. S.Bharathi Raja: DST-INSPIRE Faculty

award

· Dr.N.Vidya: UGC-post doc award

· Dr. K.Vijayamohan : UGC post-doc

· Dr Sangeetha: UGC-Kothari Post Doc award

· Dr Gisha Sivan: UGC-Kothari Post Doc award

· Dr G.Vani: CSIR-Post Doc award



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· Dr.V. Praveenkumar: DBT Post Doc-IISC

· Post doctoral fellowships - Sweden: Dr. V.Sivaramakrishnan,

Dr.Naveenkumar,Dr.S.Kamraj

· Post doctoral fellowship-USA: Dr. N. Sriram, Dr. S. Karthikeyan,

Dr Umadevi, Dr Nagendraprabhu, Dr Gnanaprakasam, Dr .Jagan,

Dr Augustine Tito, Dr Ramakrishnan, Dr R.Prakash, Dr S.Sivakumar

Dr Palsamy

· Post doctoral fellowship-Malaysia: Dr M.R.Murali, Dr P.N.Shilpa

· Dr. S. Kalayarasan: Post Doc- CCMB

· Ms.Vettrichelvi: DST-INSPIRE-JRF

· Ms.Shalini:DBT-JRF

· Ms Neethu Singh, Ms. Krishnapriya & Mr Santhanasabapathy,Ms Anjali: CSIR-

JRF

· Mr.Parthasarathy , Mrs Shalini, Ms Sakeena CSIR-Lecturership (NET)

· Mr.P.Ashok Kumar , Mr.S.Bharathiraja, Mr.S.Jagan: Ms Nathiya, CSIR-SRF, Mr

Nirmal, Mr Naveenkumar, Ms Santhalakshmi : CSIR-SRF

· Mr.K.Gopinath: Lady Tata Memorial Trust (LTMT) JRF

· Mr.P.Madhankumar, Ms Gayathri , Mr Thamiliniyan : LTMT-SRF

· Mr.S.Kamaraj , Mr.V.Sivaramakrishnan, Mr Jayakumar,Mr Ashok kumar :

ICMR-SRF

· UGC-BSR Meritorious fellowships: Ms Santhalakshmi, Ms Daisy Glory, Mr

Jayachandran,Ms Saratha,Mr Gopinath,Mr

Naveenkumar,MrRaja,MrChandrasekar,Mr Sriram,Mr Saiprasad,Ms

Chitra,MsAnjana,Mr Navin,Ms Sathyadevi

· Students -

· Mr. V. Sivaramakrishnan: Best poster award: International conference on New

developments in drug discovery from natural plants ant traditional medicine.16-20

November-2008.

· Mr. S. Kamaraj: Best Poster award: International conference on advances in free

radical research: Natural Products, antioxidants and radioprotectoirs. March 19-

21. 2009.

· Ms. Sathyapriya: M.Sc II year Bioinformatics- second prize for poster

presentation at MOTIF,2008 (organized by Bharathiar University)



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· Ms. S.Priya : M.Sc II year Bioinformatics -First prize for oral presentation at

SBTI 2008 (Organized by Society for Biotechnologists, India)

· Ms. Shalini : M.Sc Advanced Biochemistry- First prize for poster presentation at

SBTI 2008 (Organized by Society for Biotechnologists, India)

· All students: Science City-Science Festival-Best Stall prize for “Journey through

the Cell and Stem Cell technology”

· Mrs.Uma Ramesh: “Young Algologist Award” : First prize for paper presentation

in National Conference on Recent Advances in Algal Biotechnology NCRAAB

2012

· Ms.Simna: Best Poster Award : 10th CMC Winter Symposium,5th-7th Jan 2012

· Mr.Anbarasu: Third prize for Poster Presentation at ISGCON 2011

· Mr.K.Gopinath: Awarded travel grant to attend Conference (Indian Academy of

Neuroscience)

30. Seminars/ Conferences/Workshops organized and the source of funding

(national / international) with details of outstanding participants, if any.

(Details furnished in Appendix II)

31. Code of ethics for research followed by the departments -

UGC regulations on minimum standard and procedure for the award of

M.Phil/Ph.D. degree – 2009 are followed.

32. Student profile programme-wise:

Name of the Programme (refer to question no. 4)

Applications received 2011-12

Selected Male Female

Pass percentage Male Female


2009-2010: 260 2010-2011 : 133 2011-2012 : 68 2012-2013 : 207

3 17 4 16 3 17 7 13

100 100 75 100 100 100 - -

M.Sc Bioinformatics 2009-2010: 68 2010-2011: 45 2011-2012: 37 2012-2013: 10

4 10 7 11 9 11 1 3

100 100 100 90.9 100 100

- -

2009-2010: 130 2010-2011 : 122 2011-2012 : 78 2012-2013 : 73

4 16 3 19 5 15 8 12

100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100



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33. Diversity of students

Name of the Programme

(refer to question no. 4)

% of students from the

same university

% of students from other universities within the

State

% of students from

universities outside the

State

% of students from other countries


2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013

68.42 70.83 85.71 80.95

15.78 12.50 9.52 9.52

15.78 16.66 4.76 4.76

Nil Nil Nil 4.76

M.Sc Bioinformatics

2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013

92.30 44.44 15.0 50.0

7.69 27.77 20.0 50.0

Nil 22.22 65.0 Nil

Nil 5.55 Nil Nil

M.Phil Biochemistry

2009-2010: 2010-2011 : 2011-2012 : 2012-2013:

73.68 68.18 55.55 45.0

21.05 22.72 38.88 45.0

5.26 9.09 5.55 10.0

Nil Nil Nil Nil

34. How many students have cleared Civil Services and Defence Services

examinations, NET, SET, GATE and other competitive examinations? Give

details category-wise.

NET: 7 , SET : 1

35. Student progression

Student progression Percentage against enrolled UG to PG NA PG to M.Phil. 10% PG to Ph.D. 22% Ph.D. to Post-Doctoral 40% Employed · Campus selection · Other than campus recruitment

40% -

40% Entrepreneurs



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36. Diversity of staff Percentage of faculty who are graduates of the same university 100% from other universities within the State Nil from universities from other States Nil from universities outside the country Nil

37. Number of faculty who were awarded M.Phil., Ph.D., D.Sc. and D.Litt. during

the assessment period : Nil

38. Present details of departmental infrastructural facilities with regard to

a) Library - ERB Shanmugasundaram Library : 452 books

b) Internet facilities for staff and students - WIFI facility to all students and faculty

c) Total number of class rooms - 03

d) Class rooms with ICT facility - Nil

e) Students’ laboratories - 02

f) Research laboratories - 07

39. List of doctoral, post-doctoral students and Research Associates :

a) from the host institution/university – Ph.D : 29 post-doc: 02

b) from other institutions/universities – Ph.D: 47 + 1 (foreign) post-doc : 02

40. Number of post graduate students getting financial assistance from the

university. - Madras University Free Education Scheme: 2 (2012)

Merit Scholarship : 1 (2012)

Endowment scholarships: 64 (2007-2012)

BC/MBC/SC/ST scholarships : 122 (2007-2012)

41. Was any need assessment exercise undertaken before the development of new

programme(s)? If so, highlight the methodology. NA

42. Does the department obtain feedback from

a. Faculty on curriculum as well as teaching-learning-evaluation? If yes, how

does the department utilize the feedback?

Yes. Feedback received from the faculties is placed before the Departmental

Committee to revise the curriculum.



280

b. Students on staff, curriculum and teaching-learning-evaluation and how

does the department utilize the feedback?

Students on staff – every academic year feedback is obtained by the IQAC and

the findings are communicated to the faculty individually every year. The

feedback is taken into account for confirmation/ promotion.

c. Alumni and employers on the programmes offered and how does the

department utilize the feedback?

YES – Representation from Industries are members of the Board of Studies

43. List the distinguished alumni of the department (maximum 10)

· Dr.M.Damodaran D.Sc (Lon),FRIC (Founder)

· Dr.P.S.Sarma (HOD , Former HOD IISc)

· Dr.ERB Shanmugasundaram (HOD, produced 72 PhD scholars)

· Dr.Radha Shanmugasundaram: (Former HOD, Medical Biochemistry, Madras

University)

· Dr L.K.Ramachandran (Former HOD, Osmania University)

· Dr.N.R.Moudgal; FNA (Former HOD, IISc Bangalore)

· Dr.P.Kaliraj(Vice Chancellor, Anna University)

· Dr. Arun Balakrishnan (Vice-Chairman, Nicolus Piramal Life Sciences

Ltd,Mumbai)

· Dr.P.Narayanan (Former Director, Tuberculosis Research Center)

· Dr.S.Sadasivam (Former Director,TN Agriculture University)

44. Give details of student enrichment programmes (special lectures / workshops /

seminar) involving external experts.

S.No Seminar/special lecture/workshop Speakers 1 “Decision to Live or Die. The

Evolution of Cell Death”. 23rd June 2009.

Dr. Chandrima Shaha, Director,NII-New Delhi

2 “Good Riddance to Neurotransmitters: New Insights into the Regulation, and Neuropsychiatric Disorders” , Dec 9, 2007

Professor S. Ramamoorthy, Director, Neuroscience Graduate Program, Department of Neurosciences, Medical University of South Carolina, USA,

3 “Bioinformatics “Oct 23rd , 2007)

Aravind Ramakrishnan of Cognizant Technology Solutions India Pvt Ltd



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4 “Lead Toxicity” gave a popular lecture on lead toxicity, Aug 7, 2007.

Dr. T .Bhooma, Toxicologist in USEPA, Chicago, USA

5 “Health is Wealth”, 28March2011

Dr Kamali Sripal,

6 Promethean curse to tower of Babel…..future of heart care”,29th March 2011

Dr. M.P. Nareshkumar, MS . Mch. FRCS (EDIN). Cardiologist, Harvey Heart Hospital, Chennai

7 “Bioinformatics-opportunities and challenges”29th March 2011

Dr V.Subramanian, Scientist E , CLRI

8 “Statistical Analysis using SPSS”, 2012 March

Dr.R.Ravanan , Associate Professor, Department of Statistics Presidency College

9 “Wound healing in leprosy patients”, 2012, March

Dr.Gunasekaran., Director, King Institute, Chennai

10 “Breast cancer awareness” March 2012

Dr Sridevi, Surgical Oncologist, Cancer Institute

11 “Beta3 integrin-mediated cardioprotective signaling in pressure-overloaded myocardium”,28th Jan 2010

Dr Dhandapani Kuppuswamy, Associate Professor of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, USA.

12 “Modern evidence for ancient wisdom on diet and disease”, 2011

Dr.Jairam Vanamala, Director of Bioactives and Probiotics for the Health Laboratory , Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, USA

13 “Genomic mutation in guanylyl cyclase-natriuretic peptide receptor A-defines protective role in cardiovascular regulation”,Dec 11,2008

Dr.Kailash N.Pandey,Professor & Vice-Chairof Medical Research,Dept of Physiology,Tulane School of Medicine,USA

45. List the teaching methods adopted by the faculty for different programmes.

The teaching methods include lectures, group discussions, seminars, tutorials and power point presentation.

46. How does the department ensure that programme objectives are constantly met

and learning outcomes are monitored?

By periodical sessional tests, assignment, quiz, tutorials and counseling.

47. Highlight the participation of students and faculty in extension activities.

Students and faculty involve themselves in organizing seminars, workshops,

conferences, clinical diagnostics (free of charge for teaching, non-teaching staff and

students)



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48. Give details of “beyond syllabus scholarly activities” of the department.

Awareness programmes in Cancer, Genetic engineering were conducted by the

Department

Participation and presentations in National conferences

49. State whether the programme/ department is accredited/ graded by other

agencies? If yes, give details.

No

50. Briefly highlight the contributions of the department in generating new

knowledge, basic or applied.

A new post- graduate course: Bioinformatics and Clinical trial management was

started in affiliated colleges .The syllabus was framed by the Department. to provide

students with a theoretical understanding of the issues involved in the design, analysis

and interpretation of clinical trials, besides imparting knowledge on the scientific,

regulatory and ethical aspects in clinical trials. This will help students to meet the

demands of the industry and expand the avenues for job opportunities

Our research is proceeding from the laboratory to the bed-side: Clinical trials are

being done on cancer patients, obesity patients and diabetics.

51. Detail five major Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Challenges

(SWOC) of the department.

Strengths:

· Strong and established research programmes

· Quality teaching by a majority of the faculty

· Productive in terms of publications

· Strong research potential with proven records of good quality research

· Excellent, teacher-teacher and student-teacher relationship

Weaknesses:

· Shortage of staff

Opportunities:

With available facilities and being a part of the UGC-CPEPA, DST-PURSE and

UGC-UPEII programmes and in view of the scope in the future for being selected

under DBT-BUILDER programme - the Department is poised to become a leader in

this field.



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Challenges:

The decline in the number of students applying for M.Sc Biochemistry is a matter of

concern and we are looking at ways to meet this challenge

Department has made commendable progress in biochemical teaching and research.

However, running 4 programmes with a limited faculty of six is a major challenge

52. Future plans of the department.

The Department has identified Glycobiology, molecular cardiology and cancer

biology as its major research areas and would strive to achieve excellence in these

challenging thrust areas.

department of biochemistry school of life sciences …naac reaccreditation - evaluative report...

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