Department of Biochemistry

and Molecular Biology Today

Facts &
Achievements

"Biochemistry brings molecular science to life"

Conten
ts

Introduction
Education and Research organizational
structure
Educational offer
National and international visibility
Resources
Research directions and activities
Our labor markets partners
Perspectives

Introductio
n
Since its establishment, 38 years ago, the Department has
contributed to the teaching of numerous generations of
undergraduate and post-graduate students in the fields of Biology.
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (DBMB)
ensures annually the training of more than 100 undergraduate
students and 40 PhD and Masters students. Our predecessors,
including the most recent Heads Prof Dr Ioan F Dumitru, Prof Dr
Dana Iordachescu - have forged a unique spirit and promoted
outstanding research. As our predecessors we continue to uphold
excellence in the Department while maintaining its strength and
competitiveness.
Mission Statement & Commitment
Our Mission Statement
Our Mission is to increase current knowledge of the biochemical
and molecular bases and to train highly qualified scientists who,
through research, teaching and service, will continue to provide
new insights into the biochemical, and molecular aspects.

Why us?
Biochemistry is a vibrant field of study that exists as a program at
the interface of Biology and Chemistry in the effort to understand
the molecular basis of life. Today, Biochemistry serves as the
dynamic interface for various fields of the Life Sciences and the
Physical Sciences in the 21st Century.

Our Commitment
To excel in Research, Teaching and Training of undergraduates,
postgraduates and postdoctoral fellows in the field of Biology,
Biochemistry specialization.

What are the objectives of the DBMB?

The prevalent objectives of the Department of Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology are:
To increase the quality level of educational process in the field of
biochemistry and molecular biology;
To offer theoretical and practical education;
To promote and implement quality in the research area;
To offer high level competence and scientific expertise;
To promote, apply for and manage research grants;
To create a climate of scientific cooperation within the academic
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community based on decisional
transparency and periodical

Education and Research

organizational structure
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology
Teaching Unit

Biochemistry and
Molecular Biology
Research Center

Research Projects
and Structural Funds
Management Unit

Quality
assurance
division
for research and
teaching

Genetic
Biodiversi
ty,
Molecular
Phyologen
y,
Genotypin
g
(Microsateli
tesDNAmt)

Molecular
characteriz
ation of
varrious
human
cancer
pathologie
s:
Dystrophino
pathies,
Aging,
Autoimmune
diseases,
Pulmonary
fibrosis

Molecular
Toxicology

Tissular
Engineeri
ng,
Biomateri
als
Biocompat
ibility

Molecular
Biotechnol
ogy

Educational
offer
The whole structure of the curricula has been translated
according to the Bologna process. According to the
University of Bucharest strategy, the education
structure offerd by DBMB meets the following rule:
three years for the undergraduate level
two years for master studies level,
three years for PhD level.
Our department has achieved the objectives of the
Bologna process, and has created an educational
structure fostering a strong research infrastructure.
The realization of these programs is achieved with the
collaboration of members of the academic and teaching
staff of the University of Bucharest or/and the
collaboration of specialists, visiting professors, research
fellows, when and if this is considered necessary,
according to the needs and the characteristics of each
course.
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
provides many opportunities for students to get
involved in research. Thus,
postgraduate students
(MSc, PhD) and outside researchers/ teachers can
participate as researchers and, in some cases, graduate
students can get involved in a project, as research
assistants.
After completing the curriculum for the 3-year Bachelor
of Science degree, qualified students can further pursue
an additional 2 years of Master of Science courses.
They will then graduate with a Master of Science
degree in Biology with specialization in Biochemistry
and can continue thier formation in the PhD program
under the superving of the two PhD coordinators. After
completing a 3-years program they will be graduate
with the PhD diploma in Biology with specialization in
Biochemistry.

Bachelor of Science
Program
The undergraduate level is a study program which
prepares students for a future career in teaching,
research and clinical field.
It was conceived as a study cycle tightly connected to
the labour market by implementing practice stages and
internships and supporting students extracurricular
activities.

Master of Science
Program
The Master of Science (MSc) degree program requires
two years of coursework, the completion of original
research and the preparation of a research based
thesis.
Our masters program was restructured according to
relevant qualifications for the European labour market
and for increasing the mobility and the flexibility of
masters graduates.
Typically, MSc students present their findings at
national meetings and publish their results in peerreviewed journals. Some continue on to advanced
graduate study, while others obtain research positions
on the market.

General and specific

skills
acquired by the
students
Professional skills acquired:
the possibility to accumulate in-depth
specific, state of the art biological and
biochemical notions;
the possibility to understand and explain
concepts, processes and mechanisms
specific to the biological systems;
the ability to utilize techniques and
instruments
of
identification
and
investigation of the biological systems.

General skills acquired:

the capacity to analyze, synthesize,
organize and plan;
the capacity to select and apply
laboratory methods;
the capacity to solve problems and
take decissions;
acquisition
of
elementary
bioinformatic skills.

PhD
Program
At PhD level, a student becomes a real researcher.
His/ her previous activity results at national and
international competitions, publications develops
into research projects which are the object of intense
activity in research centers.
Our PhD program is part of the Doctoral School of
Biology which organizes all the activities provided for
advanced academic training program, connected
with European standards.
Qualified students will be trained in advanced
research techniques and conduct scientific research
along with our M.Sc. and researchers, under the
mentorship of full-time members of the departments.
The research attachments in our well-equipped stateof-the-art laboratories offer our students many
opportunities to develop their organizing, analytical
and problem-solving skills. They will participate in
seminars and presentations aimed at developing
communication and writing skills, and present their
work via poster presentation and submission of a
research PhD thesis at the end of the project.
During their stage the PhD
students
benefit
from
scholarships and residences
in national/ international
universities with which the
Department of Biochemistry
and Molecular Biology has
partnership agreements .
Their research activities are
financed
from
research
projects which are ongoing
into the Department and are
under
the
teachers/postdoctoral
researchers coordination.
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Resource
s
Human
Resources
Depending on their activity the
represented by 3 different groups:

academic

staff

is

1. Teaching staff:
3 Professors
6 Associate professors
4 Lectures
2 Universitary assistants
Researchers staff:
1 Scientific researcher II
6 Scientific researchers III
13 Assistant researchers
Non-teaching staff :
1 Economist
Chemical engineer
5 Technical staff
Non-teaching staff is in charge with many activities or
operational area like administration and finance, education
service,
suport
activities
for
research,
teaching
organization, human resorces, universitary evaluations.

In the last years, working together, the academic staff increase

theier vizibility by publishing the research activities results in pearreview journals and poster presentation at many congresses/
conferences.
Articles publised in pear-review journals with ISI cotation
115
Articles publised in pear-review journals with CNCSIS cotation
47
Brevets (including gene sequences)
108

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Resource
s
Human
Resources
Courses and research internships for
academic staff
Courses organized by TATAA BIOCENTER
Courses organized by FEBS
Courses organized by EMBO
Courses organized by EBI Training
Quality Management courses
Project management

Research internship in the European

laboratories from:

Paris, Franta,

Padova, Italy,

Stockholm, Sweden,

Amsterdam, Holand

Budapest, Hungary

Trondheim, Norway

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Resource
s
Financial
resouces
Since 1994 our main objective was to improve the
laboratory infrastructure in order to increase the quality of
educational process and research activity.
Tempus
projects
undertaken
between
1992-1998
represented the first step in improving teacher training for
PhD and research internships, and laid the foundations of
a modern infrastructure for education and research in
biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of
Bucharest.
The open-mindedness was offered by the managerial
vision of Prof. Dr Dana Iordachescu, who sent colleagues
to specialize in the best European universities. The
determination of those who returned to the Department,
together with the belief that they can implement new
concepts in education and research conducing to an
infrastructure which allow us to increase the Department
quality and visibility. Until 2010 the academic staff have
been developed many research and infrastructure
projects financed by National Authority of Research and
Innovation, World bank and Structural Founds. In 2002
was established the "Research and training center in
molecular biology (BCUM-BM), under Prof. Dr Marieta
Costache coordination, us a self-sufficient unit with
organizing, exploitation, and utilizing autonomy of the
material and financial resources.
During years, the goals of the academic staff was to
achieve a qualitative leap in the research field in
institutions from Romania led to their striving to access
further national projects (CNCSIS, PNCDI, CEEX PNII). The
total value of investment in infrastructure is worth more
than 8,890,000 lei (1.996.575 EUR) of which 7,000,000 lei
(1.555.555 EUR) between 2005-2009.
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Resource
s
Financial
resouces
The 10 laboratories
from which 4 laboratories are
accredited ISO 17025/2005 are equipped with high tech
equipment similar to those from European laboratories
and allow us to perform research, consultancy and
services at high level.
In the field of Genomics, Proteomics and Transcriptomics,
the
Molecular
Biology
laboratories
include
infrastructure such as genetic analyzers, PCR equipments,
Real-Time PCR and microarray platforms.
Cell biology, cultures and microscopy laboratories
have dual laminar flow hoods, CO2 incubators,
microscopes,
optical
flow
cytometers,
cryotome,
microtome, direct and inverted fluorescence microscopes,
confocal, laser microdissection.
In the 3 biochemistry laboratories we undertake
qualitative and quantitative specialized analyses with UV/
VIS Spectophotometers, electrophoresis, blot, video/
photo documentation, FPLC and HPLC systems, all
belonging to the latest generation.
Research activities oriented towards epigenomic and
genomic analysis (isolation and purification, molecular
cloning, in vitro amplification, sequencing, gene
fingerprinting, methylation, SNPs analysis by DNA
Microarray and Real-Time) are interconnected with the
molecular diagnosis (LOH, MSI, MLPA).
High-performance facilities and staff specialization
allowed the orientation towards transcriptomics and
proteomics by combining modern techniques (RNA
separation and purification, Real Time RT-PCR, in vitro
transcription and translation, RNA interference, RNA
microarray, HPLC, FPLC) with the collective experience of
the research team with classical approaches (proteins and
peptides purification, enzyme kinetics, single/ twodimensional electrophoresis).
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Research directions and

activities

Knowledge is essentially the result of scientific research,

one of the most significant indicators for ranking a
university/ department in a hierarchy based on quality
and prestige.
Scientific research is meant to ensure knowledge in all
sectors of social activity. The results of such an activity
ensure economic growth and the vital knowledge
transfer between the academic and economic
environment.
We are privileged to be part of the University of
Bucharest, university of which entire research activity is
authorized, thus, enjoying considerable advantages in
developing MA and PhD programs as well in increasing
the eligibility degree for EU grants.

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Research directions and

activities
Now, we manage research grants from various
sources that are to be invested in research,
educational,
training,
and
developmental
projects, as well as other related services or
activities which contribute to the establishment
of linkages between education, research and the
production market.
A short analyses of our research activity reveals
that during 2004 212 we have been developed
a number of 114 research grants from which:

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Research directions and

activities
International research
grants:
COST 844 - Apoptosis and programmed cell death:
molecular
mechanisms
and
applications
in
biotechnology, 1999-2005
COST B19 - Molecular cytogenetics of solid tumors,
2002-2006
COST B23 - Oral facial development and regenation,
2003-2007
COST B35 - Lipid Peroxidation Associated Disorders
LPO, 2004-2010
COST TD 0901 - Hypoxia Sensing, Signalling and
Adaptation (2009 - 2013)
COST 0902 - Understanding and combating porcine
reproductive and respiratory syndrome in Europe (2009 2013)
MRE07/25 FP6 - Identification of men with genetic
predisposition to prostate cancer: targeted screening in
BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and controls (IMPACT study)
COBIL Romania Grece, 2003-2005
COBIL Romania Cypru, 2007-2009
COBIL Romania Belgium Valonne Community ,20102012
Micro and Nanotechnologies to EASTern Europe
through NETworking (MINAEAST-NET FP6), Contract
no: 510470,
EUREKA/ERA-NET 2008/030/Ro - Romania-Franta
(2008-2011):
NanoBioAll:
Advanced
Metallic
Biomaterials, nano-structured, for implantable medical
devices
Michigan
State
University
Evaluation
of
chemopreventive activities of botanical extracts and
environmental tumor promoters in rodent and human
cell lines using gap junctional intercellular comunication
(GJIC) as a key biomarker
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Research directions and

activities
Activities
Infrastructure
investments
Between 1998-2012: 8.877.302 lei, out of which
7.000.000 lei between 2005-2009 wher used for
laboratory reconstruction and modernization,
and equipment acquisition

Molecular
biology
Laboratories
Sequencer,
PCR,
Real-time PCR
Microarray Equipments

Microscopy
Laboratories
Microdissection,
Fluorescence
Confocal microscopes

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Research directions and

activities
Activities
Biochemistry
Laboratories
Cell Culture Laboratory
Laborator
Double special
laminar flow hoods
aparatur
CO2 incubators
Inverted
light
microscopes
and fluorescence microscopes
Flow-cytometer

FPLC si HPLC
Spectrophotometers
Electrophoresis and
Electroblotting
systems

Bioinformatics and
Documentation
Laboratory

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Research directions and

activities
Culture/
Apoptosis
proliferation

and

Cell

Achievements:

normal and pathological cells models :

fybroblasts, keratinocytes,chondrocytes,
osteoblasts, tumor cells
morphology, proliferation,
metaloproteinases

apoptosis:
after retinoic acide, ceramide, H2O2
treatment
in cancer
melanoma (ISH)
fish
hepatocyte cultures
apoptosis tests (ISH)
Techniques

cell cultures

PCR

RT-PCR

immunohistochemistry

Elisa

Western blot

flow-cytometry

Perspectives
expression of Bcl2, Bax, Bad, p53 proteins in
keratinocytes and fibroblasts cell cultures after
ceramides and retinoic acid treatment
expression of p53, Ki67 in colorectal cancer, ISH
expression of p53, Ki67 in breast cancer, ISH
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Research directions and

activities
Cancer pathology

Achievements

expression of tumoral markers APC, sPLA2

type IIA, -catenin, EGFR, E-cadherin, etc
in epithelial and skin cancer
o
protein expression
o
allelic
disorders
in
human
chromosomes

cell models for studying sPLA2 type IIA :

o
human cell cultures CHO
o
insect cell cultures Sf21
o
tumoral cell cultures

purification of sPLA2 type IIA:

o
cell cultures Sf21+

PGp protein expression :

o
biochemical characterization
o
molecular characterization
Techniques

immunohistochemistry

cell cultures

allelic disorders

electrophoresis

Western blot

flowcytometry

Perspectives

treatment improvement by personalized

medicine

probiotics effect on colorectal cancer.

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Research directions and

activities
Aquatic ecotoxicology

Achievements:

in vivo studies regarding apoptosis in

Carassius
auratus sp.:
the effect of Mn2+,
microscopic studies
enzymatic assay of SOD, GST, GR, CAT, LDH

cell models of studying oxidative stress in Carassius

auratus sp.:
fish hepatocytes cell culture

Techniques

histochemistry

immunohistochemistry

cell cultures

methods of enzymatic
assay

Perspectives

in vitro studies regarding pesticides action on

the oxidative status in fish hepatocyte cultures
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Research directions and

activities
Taxonomy/ Phylogeny

Achievements:

taxonomic biochemistry in different species (fish,

amphybians,invertebrates):histological
modifications,
enzymatic profile, multiple molecular forms (LDH)

transfferine polymorphism in carp

studies on the reproduction cycle in Polyodon spathula and
Cyprinidae
molecular phylogenetic studies on Cyprinidae :
DNAmt, COX I and COX II, r RNA12S and
16S, Cyt b

Techniques

histochemistry

imunohistochemistry

cell cultures

methods of enzymatic assaycell

culture

RT-PCR

sequencing

FPLC

Perspective

others genetic markers in fish

molecular modification in reproductive cycle of
Polyodon
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Research directions and

activities
Tissular
Engineering,
Biocompatibility

Biomaterials

and

Achievements:

Analyses of implant materials from:

Metal and metal alloys
Nitrogen implanted Ti and Ti alloys

Ceramics
Natural polymers

Evaluation of cellular survival

Microscopic evaluation of cell spreading and

morphology

Investigation of cell adhesion

Organization of cytoskeleton proteins

Cell proliferation potential

Promotion of cellular differentiation

Extracellular matrix turnover

Tissue engineering from stem cells

Techniques

histochemistry

imunohistochemistry

cell cultures

methods of enzymatic assay cell

culture

RT-PCR

sequencing

FPLC
Perspective

analyses of other matrix that can be used in therapy

- hydrogel
Stem cell cultivation in order to achieve a tissue
structure
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Our labor markets

partners
The graduate/ MSc/ PhD students from the department of
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology have the opportunity to
continue apply their professional skills on various companies
from market.

The graduate/ MSc students can be employed by:

Primary and High School in the field of Biology
Companies for reagents and equipments distribution
Clinical laboratories
Or, can continue their formation in prestigious universities
and research centers from Austria, Belgium, France, Italy,
Germany, Holland, Great Britain, Greece, Portugal, Spain

The researchers can by employed

by:
Other national and foreing
universities

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Research
laboratory
national institutes

from

Research
industry

from

laboratory

Perspectives

Master in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in

English for foreign students
ERASMUS-MUNDUS PROJECTS for Master Degree
and Doctoral School
Interregional and cross-border collaboration

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Contact :

University of Bucharest
Faculty of Biology
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology
91-95 Splaiul
Independenei
050095 Bucharest, 5
sector
Phone: +40
21.318.15.75
Fax:+ 40 21 318.15.72

www.bio.unibuc.ro;
www.dbbm.bio.unibuc.ro

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