History
The Department of Medical Biochemistry was founded in 1947 under the name Institute of Biochemistry. The Institute initially used laboratories of the Pathophysiological Institute of the Medical Faculty. In 1948, the Institute got a laboratory for practical working and three smaller laboratories, which were concurrently used by the Institute of Bromatology of the Faculty of Pharmacy. The Institute of Biochemistry continued to operate in the same space until the Faculty of Pharmacy relocated to a new building in 1991.
During this initial period until 1955, on the initiative and with the material help of the Pharmaceutical Society of the PR Serbia, the Institute organized several courses for clinical biochemists. In addition, several military cadets specialized at the Institute. The Institute actively participated in the work of the Section for Sanitary Chemistry and maintained close connections with clinical biochemists, who provided materials needed for students’ exercises. Close contacts with medical biochemists employed in healthcare institutions across the country have been maintained until today.
The first Head of the Institute of Biochemistry was Prof. Dr. Pavle Trpinac. From its founding until 1960, the Heads of Institute were Prof. Trpinac and Assist. Prof. Dr. Radmila Avramov. In 1960, the principalbecameProf. Dr. Ivan Berkeš, who held this position until his retirement in 1978. His engagement significantly contributed to the improvement of the teaching process, development of specialization in medical biochemistry, education of teaching staff and the advancement of the scientific research. From 1978 until today, the Department was led byProf. Dr. Borivoje Kapetanović, Prof. Dr. Jovanka Rosić, Prof. Dr. Nada Majkić-Singh, Prof. emeritus Dr. Slavica Spasić. Prof. emeritus Dr. Zorana Jelić-Ivanović, Prof. Dr. Vesna Spasojević-Kalimanovska and the current Head of the Department, Prof. Dr Nataša Bogavac-Stanojević.
Since its founding, the Department has been engaged in conducting and improving undergraduate and postgraduate studies in field of medical biochemistry. The teaching has been continuously developing thanks to the commitment and enthusiasm of numerous teachers and associates who have participated in it since the establishment of the Department until today. Special attention has always been paid to the organization and realization of postgraduate master and doctoral studies, which is reflected in the fruitful scientific research work that continues to this day, as well as in numerous defended master theses and doctoral dissertations under the mentorship of our professors. The Department of Medical Biochemistry has implemented and is still implementing numerous scientific research projects funded by the national authorities. International scientific cooperation with related national and international institutions has been intensive during the entire development of the Department. The specialization in medical biochemistry has been performed since 1953, and in 1960 it was regulated by law as a healthcare specialization. Theacademic specialist studies of Biochemical diagnostics have been conducted since 2012.
* Data on the history of the Department are taken and adapted from the book: Majkić-Singh N, Đurđević J, Kavarić J. Development of medical biochemistry in Yugoslavia. Publisher: Society of Medical Biochemists of Yugoslavia, 289 p. , 1998, ID - 49393932