The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology was established in 1960 and is affiliated with the first-level discipline of biology within the School of Basic Medical Sciences. It is an authorized institution for doctoral and master's degree programs, recognized by the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council. The department has attracted talent from both domestic and international backgrounds, including recipients of the Ministry of Education's New Century Excellent Talents program, Outstanding Returned Overseas Students awards in Beijing, and the Beijing Science and Technology New Stars, serving as academic leaders and foundational members of the faculty. In recent years, significant advancements have been made in the development of both the discipline and the department. Past department heads include Tang Hanfen, Xu Yufang, Huang Rubin, Chen Rui, Jia Hongti, He Junqi, Ding Wei, and Li Binghui.

The department's faculty consists of 24 members, including 8 professors and 10 associate professors. This distinguished faculty includes 3 individuals recognized at the national level and 4 at the provincial/ministerial level. All faculty members possess doctoral degrees, achieving a 100% coverage in this regard. Annually, the department admits 10 to 20 master's students and 5 to 10 doctoral students.

Biochemistry and molecular biology are foundational disciplines within the life sciences and are critical components of basic medical education. The teaching responsibilities of our department encompass nearly all major student populations at the university. Courses offered include Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Medical Biological Experiments, and Introduction to Function for undergraduate and long-term medical students, as well as various junior college students. Core courses for postgraduate students include Research Advances in Molecular Biology and Principles and Experimental Techniques of Molecular Biology. Numerous faculty members have led or participated in the development of teaching materials and curriculum projects organized by the Ministry of Health. The course "Medical Biochemistry" has received recognition as an Excellent Course in Biochemistry in Beijing.

The department is a major contributor and supporting unit for the "Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Invasion and Metastasis Mechanism Research." Our research is primarily focused on three main areas: 1) tumor studies, encompassing tumor epigenetics, gene transcription regulation, tumor invasion and metastasis mechanisms, tumor signal transduction pathways, and the development of natural small-molecule anti-cancer drugs, with a specific emphasis on translational medical research related to tumor genetics and molecular oncology; 2) the investigation of neuronal aging, neuroprotection, and immune regulation in central nervous system diseases; and 3) research on cardiovascular diseases. The department has secured funding from over 50 projects, including the 973 Program, the 863 Program, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Beijing Natural Science Foundation. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), faculty members from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology are leading significant research initiatives, including the Ministry of Science and Technology's "Active Health and Aging Response" program, as well as several general projects from the National Natural Science Foundation. They have published over 80 impactful papers in prestigious journals, including Nature Cell Biology, Advanced Science, Cell Death & Differentiation, and Nucleic Acids Research.