Prominent scientists and educators stood at the origins of teaching organic and bioorganic chemistry at the university.
Professor Mikalai Prylezhaeu was among the founders of the Medical faculty of the Belarusian state university in 1921. His scientific interests were dealt mostly with oxidation processes. He studied reactions between unsaturated compounds and peroxides. in 1908, he discovered his name reaction and continued to study its intermediates and products.
Since 1930, a course in organic chemistry has been taught at the Department of Biological Chemistry, which was headed by: Professors Ryhor Derviz (1930-1932), Leanid Taranovich (1932-1933; 1935-1941), Mikalai Kazlou (1933-1935). Mikalai Kazlou is a famous organic chemist. He contributed a lot in the synthesis of new organic compounds and study of the mechanism of action of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts.
Mikalai Malionak headed the department of Organic chemistry from 1940 till 1966. In 1939 he defended his Ph.D. thesis «Condensation of phenylacetylene with acyclic aldehydes». He coordinated the elaboration of all the components of the course of Organic chemistry for medical students in Belarusian and Russian languages. A number of new acetylenic alcohols and their derivatives have been synthesized under his supervision. Methods for the synthesis of some biologically active compounds and drugs (caffeine, Disulfiram, etc.) have been developed, the processes of purification of drugs on ion-exchange resins have been studied.
In 1954 a course in physical and colloidal chemistry was transferred to the department of organic chemistry and in 1966 professor J. Novikava headed the joint department. This period was characterized with the development of scientific researches in different fields of chemistry. A lot of prominent scientists carried out their PhD thesis at the department.
Professor Aliaksandr Balaklejevski headed the Department of Organic and Physical Colloidal Chemistry since 1972 till 1982. He carried out a series of comprehensive studies of neurochemical reactions, identified the mechanisms of formation of many pathological conditions, proposed pathogenetic methods of their pharmacological correction.
From 1982 the course of Organic Chemistry was joined to other departments. In 1983 the new course of Bioorganic chemistry was introduced to medical students. Professor J. Ramanouski coordinated the process of the development of all the educational components of the new disciplines. In 2001 he headed the newly founded department of Bioorganic chemistry.
Staring from 2012 the Department has organized the new course of Organic chemistry for Pharmacy students. It influences much on the development of new areas of scientific research. Nowadays academic and scientific researches cover a broad range of interests including Organic and Bioorganic chemistry, Biochemistry and Chemistry didactics.