Pharmacology subsequently became an independent department. Biochemistry is funded through the Science Faculty but also is represented in the Faculty of Medicine. There are ten academic staff in the department in permanent positions, one temporary lecturer, eight technical staff, two laboratory staff and 40-50 postgraduate research students. The Department was first established in the Medical school of U.C.D. with the appointment of Edward J. Conway, F. R. S. as Professor of Biochemistry and Pharmacology. The Department was located at Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin.
Today there are more than fifty such departments of Biochemistry.
1960 Research activities were transferred to Belfield, as the first science department on the new campus is set up in Merville House . Merville House , built ca. 1750, was residence for the Right Hon. Anthony Foster, Baron of the Irish Exchequer. The Medical Research Council of Ireland established a Unit of Cell Metabolism at Merville with Professor Conway as Director.