PCHRD News

: Lemuel Basierto; Latest News; 10 January 2019; Hits: 154

The ASEAN Secretariat is looking for suitable candidates to fill the various positions listed below:

Position	Deadline of Application
Director, Political & Security Directorate	18 January 2019
Assistant Director Competition, Consumer Protection & IPR Division	6 January 2019
Assistant Director Finance Integration Division	4 January 2018
Assistant Director ICT & Tourism Division	13 January 2019
Assistant Director Energy & Minerals	13 January 2019
Senior Officer Executive Support Division	13 January 2019
Senior Officer IAI & NDG Division	31 December 2018
Senior Officer Services	4 January 2019
Senior Officer Minerals	13 January 2019
Senior Officer Maritime Transport	13 January 2019
Senior Officer Science & Technology Division	13 January 2019
Senior Officer Trade Facilitation Division	13 January 2019
Senior Officer Tourism	13 January 2019
Senior Officer Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance Division	13 January 2019
Senior Officer Poverty Eradication and Gender Division	13 January 2019
Senior Officer Conference Services, Protocol & Formalities Division	13 January 2019

For reference and further information on the vacancies, visit http://www.asean.org/opportunities/vacancies-asec

: Lemuel Basierto; Latest News; 28 December 2018; Hits: 160

In the 1st International Symposium on Science and Technology, organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in partnership with the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), sir Richard Roberts narrated how his love for Science was nurtured and his journey to winning the Nobel Prize in the Field of Physiology or Medicine.

Even at a young age, Roberts demonstrated an inquisitive nature, which his parents fostered and supported. His father gave him a book entitled “How I Became a Detective” and also helped build a makeshift chemistry lab for Sir Roberts. His mother on the other hand tutored him at a very young age that made him a passionate reader especially books in chemistry. His school’s headmaster at the City of Bath Boys’ School would also give him little mathematical puzzles which started his lifelong love of logic and mathematics.

Aside from supportive parents, Sir Richard Roberts was fortunate in meeting good mentors. During his time at Sheffield University, Sir Roberts met Kazu Kurosawa, a post doctorate from Japan, who helped him to finish his thesis in one year. This freed up his schedule to learn more and explore the world. After finishing the book, The Thread of Life by John Kendrew, he knew he found his calling in molecular biology that fueled his drive to pursue the field. He explained that we should never limit ourselves to our curriculum and never worry about changing fields. Sir Roberts advised the audience, “Follow your heart; if you find something you love, you can always make a career out of it.”

When the time came to do his postdoctorate, Sir Roberts applied to different labs but only Jack Strominger, who worked as a professor in Wisconsin took him in. At first, Roberts thought he was going to Wisconsin but after Strominger was appointed a professor at Harvard, it led to his fruitful stint at Harvard where he expanded his knowledge in ribonucleic acid sequencing.

After finishing his postdoctorate fellow in Harvard, he began working at the Cold Spring Laboratory in New York where he found his new passion in nucleic tie sequences. His expertise on the matter led him in discovering something that only he and one other scientist, Philip A. Sharp of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), saw in 1977. Their discovery on split genes landed them both the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1993.

When asked what are his secrets in becoming a Nobel knight, Sir Richard Roberts, , would humbly say that he’s just got lucky for winning the award. Sir Roberts is a firm believer that people make their own luck by being prepared when an opportunity arises. The harder you work and prepare for such opportunities, the more you realize that you have luck on your side.

Sir Roberts revealed an incident where he lost a big snooker tournament to a man who would later become a good friend who told him, “when you have a piece of luck and you don’t take advantage of it, you’re a fool. Everybody has luck and you shouldn’t be afraid to take advantage and make the most of it.” These events helped shape a life of love for science and an appreciation of luck. Sir Roberts encouraged everyone to take advantage of luck; otherwise, what then would be the point of having it in the first place? Furthermore, he revealed that having interest in science at an early stage, obtaining good mentorship throughout his career, putting in hard work, and taking advantage of luck is what ultimately landed him the Nobel Prize.

The first International Symposium on Science and Technology is a post activity of the 14th National Biotechnology Week 2018 last 19 November 2018 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City.

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Written by Catherine Joy C. Dimailig
Created: 28 December 2018

: Lemuel Basierto; Latest News; 28 December 2018; Hits: 162

To fully reap the benefits of innovations from biotechnology, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV urged for creation of more policies to support biotech discoveries, development, and commercialization during his keynote speech at the 14th National Biotechnology Week on 13 November 2018 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City. He was represented by Ms. Paola Deles, Policy Head of the Office of Sen. Bam Aquino.

Sen. Aquino, the Chair of the Science and Technology Committee, affirms the significant contributions of biotechnology in solving the country’s problems. According to Senator Aquino products of biotechnology have helped in fighting diseases through development of new methods and products to detect and treat them, feeding the hungry through boosting agricultural crop yield, and improving the environment through generation of clean energy, among others.

In particular, the Senator mentioned one of the researches funded by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCHRD) which deals with the decoding of leptospirosis and sepsis gene activities to improve present-day diagnosis and treatment methods of these two diseases. Leptospirosis and sepsis remain to be the most neglected infectious diseases in the country that needs to be addressed. Senator Aquino said, “Projects such as this is very promising because we can also apply the success of this research to find solutions in treating and diagnosing other diseases in the country.”

Despite the benefits of biotechnology, our country still faces the challenge of how research and investment can prosper, thus, a supportive research and regulatory environment should be created. Senator Aquino said, “Challenges in biotechnology must be seen as an opportunity to craft more policies and initiate more programs that would advance biotechnology’s ultimate goal of developing life-saving and sustainable technologies for every Filipino.” The Senator envisions an enabling research and policy environment where the government, academe, and private sector can work together to use their resources – knowledge, capital, commercialization expertise, to discover and bring to the Filipino people the products of government researches. The Senator also mentioned the importance of the newly passed, Balik Scientist Law, for the improvement of biotechnology researches. He explained that the law provides powerful incentives to Filipino scientists abroad who would like to return to the country to share their knowledge and expertise in different fields of Science. “With the help of the Balik Scientists, we can produce world class researches that could support policy making crucial to our national development agenda,” said Senator Aquino.

Right now, the Senator Bam Aquino and his colleague are currently working with the approval of the Senate Bill No. 1211 or the Philippine Space Act. This Act would be responsible for developing space science technology policies, implementing research and education programs, establishing industry linkages between private and public sector stakeholders, protection of national territory, natural resources accounting, and capacity building for telecommunications.

In the end, the Senator expresses his full support to DOST. “Let us build on the scope of what we have already achieved to realize a world at that is healthy and sustainable for future generations,” He said.

The National Biotechnology Week celebration is observed by virtue of Proclamation No. 1414 signed by Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 9 November 2007. Among the other participating agencies include the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

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Written by Catherine Joy C. Dimailig
Created: 28 December 2018

: Lemuel Basierto; Latest News; 21 November 2018; Hits: 447

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology Development (AJSTD) is published by the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology (COST) in cooperation with the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia. It includes original research and policy articles covering the main areas of activities of ASEAN COST, namely: (1) Biotechnology; (2) Sustainable Energy Research; (3) Materials Science and Technology; (4) Marine Science; (5) Meteorology and Geophysics; (6) Food Science and Technology; (7) Microelectronics and Information Technology; (8) Space Technology and Applications; and (9) Science and Technology Policy; and (10) Infrastructure and Resource Development.

The journal accepts original research articles, technical notes and communications, and analyses of S&T policy with relevance to Southeast Asia. Also encouraged are original works with novel solutions to modern technological challenges faced by ASEAN and have the potential to affect policy change. Submitted papers will be featured in their December 2018 and June 2019 issues.

Submissions are open year-round, without charges for publication in the journal. Attached, for your reference, is the communication from the ASEAN Secretariat. You may also visit their website at https://ajstd.org/index.php/ajstd/about. For further inquiries, you may contact the Secretariat at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Manuscripts/papers may be submitted online to AJSTD through http://ajstd.org/index.php/ajstd/about/submissions.

: Lemuel Basierto; Latest News; 14 November 2018; Hits: 241

The 2nd Biennial Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB) Conference to be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on November 27-28, 2018 is organized by the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board in collaboration with the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD). The theme of the Conference is “Addressing Current Challenges in Health Research Ethics”.

Plenary and parallel sessions will be held during the two-day conference to provide all stakeholders the opportunity to focus on specific areas from their own perspective and experiences.

STEP 1: Registration:

For request of individual letters of invitation, kindly provide the following details at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.:

1. Complete name (with title if Dr., Atty., etc.)
2. Position
3. Department/Division
4. Institution
5. E-mail address
6. Contact No.

STEP 2: Payment:
To pay for the registration fee, please take note of the following details:

Account Name: PCHRD
Account Number: 1822-1032-07 (LANDBANK OF THE PHILIPPINES)
Registration fee
• Professional: PHP 6,000.00
• Undergraduate Student: PHP 3,000.00

Mode of Payment
• Bank Deposit (Over the Counter) – one deposit slip per person only

STEP 3: Confirmation:

To confirm your registration, please do the following:

Step 1: Upload scanned image of your validated deposit slip with full name of the attendee and school ID (for undergraduate students only) in the link that will be sent to you by PCHRD Events Invitation.

Step 2: Bring your validated deposit slip during the conference to claim your acknowledgement receipt.

Kindly pay and confirm on or before 16 November 2018. This is to give us enough time to prepare for your meals and kits.

For more information, kindly contact Ms. Joyce Cordon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.ethics.healthresearch.ph.

: Lemuel Basierto; Latest News; 22 October 2018; Hits: 275

Pasay City, METRO MANILA- Heads up biotech community!

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in partnership with six executive departments of the government, will hold the 14^thNational Biotechnology Week celebration on 13-17 November 2018 at the World Trade Center Hall D, Pasay City. The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) will lead DOST as the host of the celebration.

With the theme “Bioteknolohiya: Pambansang Hamon, Pambansang Solusyon,” the 14^th NBW celebration will highlight the valuable role and potential benefits of biotechnology to agriculture and food security, nutrition and health, sustainable environment, and economic growth.

According to PCHRD Executive Director and 14^th NBW Chair Jaime Montoya, the event will also recognize how biotechnology is both a challenge and solution to our nation’s pressing problems.

The celebration is observed by virtue of Proclamation No. 1414 signed by Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on 9 November 2007. Among the other participating agencies include the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

“I would like to invite everyone to visit the weeklong exhibit to learn the biotechnology programs of the government as well as the benefits of biotechnology studies, products, and services. I would also like to encourage everyone to share the news by using the event’s official hashtag #PinoyBiotech2018,” Dr. Montoya announced during the unfurling of the event at the DOST Flag Ceremony.

The National Biotechnology Week’s registration is free! For more information and updates, visit the event’s official facebook page (@nbwphilippines)!

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Written by Ladylove May B. Baurile
Created: 22 October 2018

: Lemuel Basierto; Latest News; 15 October 2018; Hits: 278

September 26, 2018 - Swinburne University of Technology (SUT) of Melbourne, Australia signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) for scientific and technological collaboration specifically in the fields of biomedical devices and digital health. Representing the Philippines in the signing ceremony was PCHRD Executive Director, Dr. Jaime Montoya, while representing the SUT was Dr. Janet Hiller, Dean of Health Sciences.

The MoU aims to develop cooperation and collaboration between the two institutions to accelerate development in S&T through collaborative activities and contribute to the attainment of the national health goals.

Under the MOU, SUT and DOST-PCHRD will work together on joint researches, capacity building such as research training, scholarships, exchange programs, and curricular development, and knowledge and expertise sharing.

Dr. Janet Hiller, addressing on this occasion, stressed that the collaboration reflects a strong commitment of using the power of data science and digital technology to improve the health of the communities. Given the challenge in size and demographics of Australia and the Philippines, the collaboration hopes to find solutions aiming to providing equitable, safe, and effective health services across very dispersed populations.

Likewise, DOST-PCHRD Executive Director, Dr. Montoya assured SUT representatives of the Council’s full support in this collaboration.

The SUT delegation also visited higher education institutes, University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines, and De La Salle University to discuss their initiatives on data science and biomedical devices innovation offered by their institution and met with the Department of Health for possible collaboration on health technology assessment.

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Written by Reuben Andrew R. Razal
Created: 01 October 2018

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