The history of the current Institute of Biochemistry, the first academic institution of Grodno region, has its roots in the time of emergence of a major scientific trend in the field of vitaminology, created and developed on the basis of the Department of Biochemistry of Grodno Medical Institute. There was laid the foundation for the emergence of the Grodno biochemical school - the school of Academician Yury Mikhailovich Ostrovsky and created the scientific and personnel prerequisites for the opening in Grodno of the Department of Metabolism Regulation of the Academy of Sciences of BSSR.

Together with J. M. Ostrovski a significant contribution to the training of staff of the academic institution was made by the staff of the Department of Biochemistry of the Medical Institute - docents A.I. Balakleevsky and N.K. Lukashik, assistants A.N. Razumovich, A.G. Majul, as well as the head of the problem vitaminological laboratory of CSRL of Grodno Medical Institute G.A. Dosta.

The first scientific divisions of the future institute were headed by the pupils of the chair and laboratory: V. V. Vinogradov, A.G. Moiseenok, R.V. Trebukhina, F.S. Larin and M.N. Sadovnik. The activity of the Department of Metabolism Regulation of BSSR Academy of Sciences was initiated under the decree of the BSSR Council of Ministers of August 11, 1970, No 235 and the Order of the BSSR Presidium No 374 of September 8, 1970, Prof. Yu.M. Ostrovski was appointed head of the Department and A.G. Moiseenok was appointed scientific secretary. 

Academician Yuri Mikhailovich Ostrovsky

Since 2012, the organization has been functioning as a state enterprise "Institute of Biochemistry of Biologically Active Compounds of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus".

In the structural subdivisions of the institute, research is being carried out in the field of vitaminology, biochemistry of alcohol and drug addiction, neurochemistry and pharmacology, the study of molecular mechanisms of regulation of metabolism in normal and pathological conditions, new components of medicines and biologically active additives are being developed

Main activities:

• conducting fundamental and applied research aimed at studying the mechanisms of the pathogenesis of diseases of the liver, cardiovascular and endocrine systems, alcohol dependence, pathological conditions associated with a deficiency of essential micronutrients and the effects of stress, in order to develop methods for their prevention, diagnosis and therapy;
• development of new innovative medicines, vitamin preparations, dietary supplements, as well as the development of methods for the isolation and purification of biologically active compounds from herbal medicinal raw materials, the development of their laboratory production for the needs of the pharmaceutical industry.

On the basis of modern ideas about the pathogenesis of steatohepatitis of various etiologies and liver fibrosis, the staff of the institution developed new hepatoprotective drugs. Employees of the Institute took part in the development of the drug "Bienoslim", a number of drugs are undergoing preclinical trials and studies. The Institute has developed the drug "Pandetox" to reduce the toxicity of alcohol and treat withdrawal disorders in patients with alcohol dependence. A new concept of vitamin-hormonal relationships has been formulated, vitamin compositions have been developed for the prevention and correction of endocrinopathies and diseases of the cardiovascular system. An original technology for the therapeutic and prophylactic use of pantothenic acid derivatives in neurodegenerative pathology and functional disorders of the central nervous system has been developed. A scientific and methodological base has been created for the development of new drugs based on purified celandine alkaloids for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.

Scientific schools in the field of vitaminology and biochemistry of alcoholism were formed at the Institute. New scientific schools and directions were founded.

The works of the institute staff were awarded the prize of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus (1995, 1999, 2008), received international recognition (Khorezmi Prize, Islamic Republic of Iran).