The Department of Biochemistry of Karuna Medical College was started in 2006. The Department comprises Central Clinical Chemistry Laboratory in the Hospital Building and the academic teaching facility in the Medical College Building.

The Central laboratory was initiated with one semi-autoanalyzer and a flame-photometer in 2004. In 2008, the first automated reader for Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISA) was introduced. The Department played an important role in the establishment and expansion of the Central Laboratory in the Hospital over the period of the 19 years under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Seema Devi Patil. Currently, the central laboratory has fully automated analytical instruments for chemistry parameters, immunoassays for hormones and other serum markers, dedicated analyzers for glycated hemoglobin, electrolytes and Arterial Blood Gas analysis. The laboratory is currently testing more than 50 parameters, conducting an average of 2000 tests in every 24 hours. The laboratory has introduced a Laboratory Information System (LIS) for seamless, documented, and controlled flow of samples into the laboratory and data and information out the laboratory. The laboratory has established validated assays for Internal Quality Control Assessment as per the ISO-15189-2022 standards. Furthermore, the laboratory is conducting monthly National level accredited External Quality Assessment (EQA) for clinical validation and has been continuously achieving excellent performance. The laboratory is in the pursuit of accreditation by the National Accreditation of Biological Laboratories (NABL) and proceedings are underway to achieve that by the end of the current year.

The academic teaching facility of the Department comprises an undergraduate laboratory, central research laboratory, demonstration room, and a seminar hall. The laboratories consist of reagent preparation rooms with the required reagents, semi-autoanalyzer, colorimetric devices, and other general laboratory equipment. The undergraduate training program in the department has been very active with a yearly pass percentage of more than 90% since its inception. Apart from the undergraduate training, the department regularly conducts journal club meetings, clinical chemistry discussions, quality review meetings, internal audits, and research training. The faculty members have published many research papers on fundamental biochemistry and applied clinical chemistry studies. Also, faculty members presented their studies at national and international conferences.

In order to infuse scientific thinking on evidenced based fundamental research among undergraduate medical students, many research projects have been conducted by the department.  Currently, there are five student projects are ongoing under the mentorship of various faculties in the department. The department hope to achieve excellence in biomedical research by integrating basic and translation scientific research studies to expand the current knowledge in biomedicine and health.