When the MCU College of Medicine was founded in 1947, the combined Departments of Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Physiology were under the chairmanship of Dr. Alfredo P. Navato. In 1950, Dr. Processo Arenas took over the combined departments as chairperson, a position he held until Dr. Cesar Laguno took over as OIC for two years. By that time Biochemistry had been separated as a single department. Dr. Veronico Agatep was appointed to head the department from1968 to 1970 and Dr. Carmen Sitco-Malit was acting head from 1971 to 1972. Dr. Teresa Cordero held the position from 1972 to 1973.
Dr. Amelia Maniquis was appointed Chairperson from 1974 to 1989. During this time the faculty staff started attending Philippine Biochemical Society Meetings and Conventions. Additional faculty members were hired. New equipment were acquired. The curriculum was revised to make room for innovations like the introduction of problem set discussions, clinical games sand mini-researches. While the first semester emphasized basic biochemistry, the second semester dealt with its clinical correlation. Nutrition was also introduced in the curriculum during her term as chairperson.
Dr. Lita C. Britanico was appointed Chairperson in 1989 to assist Dr. Maniquis, who, although, was still an active lecturer, started to deload her teaching units because of health reasons. The faculty staff was now filled up to a complement of eight to enable the formation of small group discussions.
It was during the term of Dr. Britanico that the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC) urged the revival of the Philippine Association of Academic Biochemists which had been inactive for many years. MCU-FDTMF was elected member of the board and produced the PAAB Newsletter for two years. A biochemistry curriculum produced by the PAAB in agreement with other medical schools was immediately implemented in MCU-FDTMF.
In 1991 and 1992 the Department, with the support of the administration, was able to acquire additional equipment consisting of another spectrophotometer and a modem electrophoresis machine. An experiment on "Alloxan Induced Diabetes Mellitus in Mice" was introduced, an interesting departure from what was otherwise considered a boring subject.
In 1990, the Department revised its laboratory manual. The following year the faculty staff embarked on a serious research project using first year volunteer subjects. The research on these of Sucrose as a Substitute for Glucose" with main author Dr. Lita C. Britanico and co-authors, Dr. Lourdes Balcueva, Sui Hoc Ferrer, Rosalina Magnaye, Jan Carbajal Giron, Vergel Dijamco and Ms. Clarita Centeno won first prize in the first Consultants' Research Paper Contest and received a twenty thousand cash award.
In 1993, the administration provided the department with a computer, a black and white monitor and an Epson Printer. Prior to the acquisition of the computer, the department had the foresight of hiring a computer graduate as its secretary. Two members of the faculty staff, Dr. Sui Hoc Ferrer and Dr. Dijamco, were sent out for advanced computer lessons. Dr. Lita Britanico, the department chairperson, enrolled on her own in a crash course to be computer literate. With the computer, the department was able to facilitate faster computation of grades and preparation of test papers. Members of the staff were also able to improve their audio-visual aids. They were encouraged to have tutorial lessons with the secretary for their own improvement.
The department bravely ventured to offer its first yearly Biochemistry Seminar at MCU on May, 1993. All members of the faculty were assigned topics to lecture during the seminar. This provided faculty members additional training not only in delivering lectures but also in organizing seminars.
On July 1995, with the cash generated by its small income from various projects, the department voted to acquire another computer and a colored monitor to accommodate the load and the work the department had been doing. With a colored computer the department was able to produce its own slides and come up with better AV materials to improve its teaching effectiveness.
On August 1, 1995 , Dr. Lourdes Balcueva, a pediatric geneticist, was appointed chairperson. She succeeded to the position vacated by Dr. Lita C. Britanico who was appointed College Secretary. Dr. Balcueva played an important role in curriculum planning and implementation of the PBL She helped integrate the biochemistry topics into the PBL syllabus. Dr.Sul Ferrer, the department coordinator assisted her in the different projects of the department.
The biochemistry faculty staff looks forward to the full implementation of PBL not only in the first year but also in the higher year levels. The department plans to play an active role in integrating the biochemistry included in the curriculum. Meanwhile, the staff is working on several research proposals.
With the implementation of the innovative curriculum, the department is responsible for the Nutrition Block.
