The mission of Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry is to discover and transfer new knowledge about the molecular basis of life through basic molecular science research, biotechnology and cross-disciplinary research and training, while enhancing quality teaching and maintaining a collegial environment. The departmental vision is to be a place where fundamental change occurs through scientific discoveries, innovative education, cutting-edge molecular life science research that creates knowledge and solves real-life problems in our students, ourselves, our environment and in the way we understand life at a molecular level.
The Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, formerly known as the Department of Biochemistry, is one of the seven departments under the Faculty of Science. The Department offers seven postgraduate programs and six undergraduate programs. The Department has nine active research laboratories which covers areas in Natural product and Biochemical Pharmacology, Molecular biology and Biotechnology, Immunology, Infectious and Non-Communicable Diseases, Nutraceuticals, Bioinformatics and Genomics. Biotechnology and Biochemistry also offers various courses tailor made for medical students as a fundamental to their programs.
Chairperson
Dr Farisai Chidzwondo
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Research activities in Biotechnology and Biochemistry
- Consultancy work to agricultural, educational, industrial, and medical sectors through both services and research
- Validation of heritage-based herbs for the treatment of various ailments such as meningitis and diabetes, cancer, and skin infections
- Formulation of creams using plant derived bioactive compounds for the treatment of skin infections
- Immunological validation of neglected tropical diseases, identification of disease susceptibility markers and mass drug administration and vaccination
- Development and utility of rapid field tests for infectious diseases like malaria
- Development of transgenic crops with superior traits such as virus resistant crops
- Isolation of microbial strains for industrial processes such as brewing and bio-fertilisers and the use of biotechnology to scale up the production of natural products so that their production is efficient
Contact Details
Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry
Building Number B064
University of Zimbabwe
P.O. Box MP167
Mount Pleasant
Harare
ZIMBABWE