In 1961, the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation recruited Dr. Frank Dixon to be director of research, asking him to develop an internationally recognized center of scientific excellence in La Jolla, California, on the shores of the Pacific. In one of his first decisions, Dr. Dixon established a biochemistry unit in the new center, hiring Frank Huennekens, a brilliant young Assistant Professor from the University of Washington, as Head. Under Dr. Huennekens' direction, the unit became famous for its outstanding programs in the areas of folate and cobalamin biochemistry, Dr. Huennekens' own interest, and mitochondrial energy production, under the leadership of Dr. Youssef Hatefi.

Dr. Huennekens retired as head of biochemistry in 1984, and was succeeded by Dr. Bernard Babior, who arrived in 1986. Dr. Babior brought new research topics to the unit, and in addition recruited new members. As a result, the interests of the unit have broadened, and now include hematopoiesis, apoptosis and other areas described in the scientific summaries presented below, as well as the original areas of folate biochemistry and mitochondria. There is also some shift of emphasis to areas related to human disease. After Dr. Babior's passing in 2004, Dr. Eric Johnson has been running the Division as the acting head.

As a component of The Scripps Research Institute, the Biochemistry Division is affiliated with one of the world's outstanding research organizations. The division itself has a superb faculty, and with the resources and collaborations available at the Institute, its members are able to carry out research at the molecular level on virtually any biological question in which they are interested. Central to the mission of the division is the development and training of future scientists. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who spend time here learn by doing. They learn to ask sharp questions, to critique their work, and to present it clearly and convincingly to the scientific community. In the course of their research, they receive broad exposure to the approaches of modern biochemistry and molecular biology. The training they receive during their sojourn here leaves them fully prepared for their next scientific challenge, whether here or at another institution.

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