The Department of Biochemistry was created in 1957.

Since 1958 it was led by associate professor Zenta Zhanivna Hude.

Chief of Biochemistry Department(1958 - 1982)

prof. Z.Zh. Hude

She was a skilled lecturer, a talented teacher, repeatedly noted as the best lecturer of the institute. She created a friendly team of scientists and educators. In 1966 Z.Zh. Hude made her DSc thesis entitled: “The relationship of thiamine and microelements”. In 1968 she received the academic rank of professor.

The field of scientific interest of the department was the investigation of the relationship between vitamins C, B1, A, D and microelements; the impact of high doses of vitamins on specific biochemical processes in animals. The department developed new methods of quantitative determination of Copper, Manganese and Zinc in biological objects.

Prof. Z.Zh. Hude was a scientific supervisor for 2 DSc and 18 PhD thesis and implemented more than 115 publications. She was the chief of Ternopil department of Ukrainian biochemical society. Prof. Z.Zh. Hude was awarded with the medal “Sign of honor”, “For valorous work”, “For excellent success in work”.

During the formation of the Biochemistry Department the staff was composed ofassociated professors - H.V. Shyba, P.P. Bachynskyi, assistants – R.O. Diachenko, A.K.Vrublevskyi, O.P. Bahan, laboratory assistants – M.L. Polna, O.A. Pekarieva, N.F. Rutkovska, L.F. Honchuk, A.M. Paslavska. Since 1962 the department obtained two new staff workers – L.M. Rubina and I.V. Chubata. The first PhD students at the department were H.H. Shershun and N.P.Saiuk (1967). In 1968 A.O. Kyiashko started her work.

Professor Z.Zh. Hude and associate professor A.O. Kyiashko started the new direction of scientific work of the department – the problem of pathochemistry of burns and the development of new pathogenetic methods for its treatment. PhD thesis of A.O. Borysenko and M.P. Hariyan were dedicated to biochemical aspects of this pathology.

In 1971 H.P. Hryvenko became the assistant at the department (from 1981 to 1991 – senior lecturer, from 1991 to 2003 – associated professor). He led the Central Research Laboratory for a long time.

From 1982 to 1985 the Chief of Biochemistry Department was associated professor A.O. Kyiashko.

In 1985 the department was led by professor Ya. I. Honskyiwho moved to Ternopil from Ivano-Frankivsk Medical Institute. Under his leadership the department followed the research concerned to burns.

prof. Ya. I.Honskyi, MD, PhD, DSc

Chief of Biochemistry Department(1985 - 2001)

In the end of 80s the research was implemented concerned to the properties of carbon spherical sorbent and benzene polymer sorbent “Oxysorb” and submitted recommendations for its practical application. The research about its usage in animals with experimental models of hepatitis, dysentery and nitric intoxication was done. The conclusion was to use it in case of acute toxemia. The research was implemented by senior research fellow L.S. Fira, junior research fellow O.I. Kalyniak-Ostrivka, senior laboratory assistants I.M. Klishch and L.S. Kalinovska, PhD student M.M. Korda.

In 1990s the department started the research concerned to pathogenesis of chemical damage of liver, the influence of xenobiotics on oxidative and protective processes of organism. The department introduced methods of toxic hepatitis with the usage of tetrachlormethane, galactosamine,hydrazine; studied the nitric and cadmium intoxication and the influence of X-ray on animals. ProfessorYa.I. Honskyi developed natural enterosorbents “Fibrosorb” and “Fibrabet” which are widely used in treatment of infectious diseases, gastroenterology and neuropathology.

In 1992 department staff published the “Guide for practical classes of Biological Chemistry”. The department regularly held conferences about biochemical problems and the role of Ukrainian scientists in the development of biochemical science.

From January 1, 1998 the Department of Medical Biochemistry was created by consolidation of 2 departments – Biochemistry and General Chemistry.

In 2001 professor Ya.I. Honskyi published the book “Human Biochemistry”. The staff members of the department supplemented and republished the book “Biological chemistry. Laboratory practice”, created new methodical instructions on biological, colloid and bioorganic chemistry in Ukrainian, Russian and English languages, created CD on biochemistry.

From September 2002 the Chief of Medical Biochemistry Department was professor M.M. Korda. The department staff continued researching on microsomal, lipoperoxide, oxidative processes in terms of toxic liver damage and methods of treatment with antioxidative therapy, membrane stabilizers, immunomodulatory drugs, enterosorbents. 15 PhD and 3 DSc thesis, 15 patents, 34 innovative offers, 14 informative letter, 585 publications were made concerned to these issues.

In 2004 professor Ya. I. Honskyi wrote and published the monograph “I.Ya. Horbachevskyi in memories and correspondence”.

Department staff in 2005

In January, 2007 at the Department of Medical Biochemistry was created a course of clinical biochemistry and laboratory diagnostics which was led by I.Ya. Krynytska.

In May, 2011 there were created 2 separate departments – Department of Medical Biochemistry and Department of Clinical and Laboratory Diagnostics which was led by professor I.M. Klishch.

Prof. M.M.Korda, MD, PhD, DSc

Chief of Medical Biochemistry Department (2007-2014)

From 2007 to 2014 the Department of Medical Biochemistry was led by professor M.M. Korda

Department staff

Since September 2014 the Department of Medical Biochemistry is led by professor S.R. Pidruchna.

The Staff of Department of Medical Biochemistry includes: 3 professors (M.M.Korda, Ya.I. Honskyi, S.R. Pidruchna), 8 associate professors (N.A.Vasylyshyn, A.Ye. Mudra, O.I. Ostrivka, O.Z. Yaremchuk, M.I. Kulitska, I.P.Kuzmak, T.Ya.Yaroshenko, P.H. Lykhatskyi), 1 senior lecturer (H.H. Shershun), 1 assistant (L.M. Palytsia), 2 senior laboratory assistants (L.S. Kalinovska, N.Ya.Letniak), 2 PhD students (I.A. Bandas, I.I. Hudan-Tsilio).

Medical Biochemistry is studied by the students of 4 faculties:

• Medical faculty
• Faculty of Dentistry
• Pharmaceutical faculty
• Institute of Nursing

The students learn the subject in Ukrainian, Russian and English. The department also provides the studying process for distant learning program for Bachelor students from the United States in Russian and English languages.

Main scientific achievements of the department

• explored the mechanisms of interaction of vitamins and microelements in organism in terms of various pathological conditions;
• developed new models of burns and suggested new effective pathogenetic methods for treatment;
• comprehensively investigated the role of free-radical processes and microsomal oxidation in the mechanisms of liver damage by different toxicants; justified the use of antioxidants in terms of hepatitis of various etiology;
• explored the molecular mechanisms and effects of enterosorbents in case of toxic liver damage; developed and patented new enterosorbent “Fibrabet”;
• explored the effectiveness of phosphatide choline liposomes and antioxidants, included in liposomes in case of toxic hepatitis;
• implemented methods of leakage of isolated hepatocytes and showed the effectiveness of its’ transplantation in case of acute toxic hepatitis;
• proved the possible role of leptin in the development of endothelial dysfunction in terms of adiposity; explored the role of nitric oxide in the mechanisms of the effect of beta-blockers and ACE;
• explored the molecular aspects of the corticosteroid influence on the metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids and the homocysteine concentration in blood.