The Guha Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (GCGEB) has been named after the legendary Dr. Biresh Chandra Guha, one of the most celebrated teachers of Calcutta University and the father of modern Biochemistry in India. As a fitting tribute to this great visionary who laid the foundation stone for teaching and research in Biochemistry and Biotechnology in the country, Calcutta University established the Dr. B. C. Guha Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology with the unflinching support of Dr. (Mrs.) Phulrenu Guha, the illustrious wife of late Prof. Guha as well as an active social worker and an ex- Minister of Social Welfare, Govt. of India, who sold her personal properties including her residential building to donate money to the University of Calcutta for the development of the Dr. B. C. Guha Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

Dr. Biresh Chandra Guha

The M.Sc Program in Biotechnology of the Calcutta University started in a humble 1600 square feet room in the University's campus in Ballygunge (Taraknath Palit Sikhsha Prangan) on December 31, 1997.

The Centre as well its M.Sc Program in Biotechnology gradually received worldwide recognition and accolade and with that came an encouraging flow of moral and financial support both from abroad and the Government of West Bengal. This witnessed the establishment of an entirely new wing in the same campus opposite to the existing Geography Department.

The new wing, built to meet the needs of state-of-the-art research in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering was inaugurated by the Honorable Chief Minister of West Bengal, Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharya on March 22, 2005 and marked the beginning of an entirely new chapter in the history of Calcutta University and its research and teaching program in applied bioscience.