“Health and health research remain among the foremost concerns of government leaders,” said House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez in his keynote speech delivered by Atty. Mark Stephen Reyes during the 16th Philippines National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week Opening Ceremonies last 10 August 2023, at the Summit Hotel, Tacloban City. 

Aligned with the theme of the 16th PNHRS Week, “Sustainable Development: Resilience through Health Resilience,” Speaker Romualdez extended the support of the House of Representatives towards building resilient health systems and inclusive healthcare. In his address, the Speaker underscored the vital role of research in the recovery from the pandemic, and shared some legislations pursued in the House that contribute to better health for Filipinos. 

Speaker Romualdez cited House Bill 6522 or the Philippine Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) Act, which supports the establishment of the Philippine CDC, an institution dedicated to strengthening the country’s capacities in disease control, prevention, and response. According to the Speaker, the bill has been approved by the House on its third and final reading. 

The bill assigns the Philippine CDC as the “technical authority forecasting, analysis, strategy, formulation, and standards development for the prevention and control of all diseases” to help manage public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He also highlighted the support of the current administration for healthcare, with approximately  150 billion pesos allotted to improve health systems and health care in its 2024 proposed expenditure program. Other legislations mentioned by Speaker Romualdez are bills strengthening basic research including research on health, institutionalizing a research and development Council that monitors proposals for government funding, and creating health facilities across regions in the country. 

Further, the Speaker recognized the efforts of the PNHRS in forwarding health research and encouraged the System to take on more opportunities, “By all means, please do continue in your noble endeavor of promoting health research that is attuned and responds to the needs of our health system,” he said through Atty. Reyes.  

Tacloban City Mayor Alfred S. Romualdez, who delivered his message through Tacloban City Councilor Dr. Maria Elvira G. Casal, also expressed support for health research and the PNHRS. “It is through collaborative efforts like the Philippine National Health Research System that we can transform knowledge to action, bridging the gap between research and impact,” he said.

This year’s PNHRS Week was hosted by the Eastern Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (EVHRDC). The four-day celebration featured plenary sessions, capacity-building activities, and competitions that gathered Filipino health researchers across the regions. Also, a highlight of the event was the launching of the updated National Unified Health Research Agenda 2023-2028. 

To watch a virtual replay of the main conference sessions, visit the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) Facebook page at facebook.com/dostpchrd.

Aiming to enhance the capabilities of scholars in reviewing and evaluating health research proposals, the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) in partnership with the PCHRD Scholars’ Society (PSS) conducted a four-day Online Workshop on Critiquing Research Proposals on July 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2022 via Zoom.

A total of 42 participants joined the online workshop which covered didactic and skills development activities on the technical review of health research protocols including topics on research and sampling designs, methods of data collection, and statistical analysis, among others.

Facilitated by Dr. Ophelia M. Mendoza, Director of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning and Adapting (MERLA) Unit of the USAID ReachHealth Project, the participants’ final outputs are the group and individual evaluations of research proposals following the PCHRD format.

“This workshop has long been advocated by PCHRD in collaboration with PSS. It is designed to enhance the skills of research evaluators to make them aware of the study protocol requirements and expected outcomes of the Council. This activity will also be the reference in selecting PCHRD’s evaluators,” says Dr. Bella G. Panlilio, PSS President.

The PSS, launched on 17 March 2007 during the PCHRD’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, is composed of PCHRD Scholars who partners with PCHRD in developing human resources for health research through capacity building and in creating an enabling environment for career in research. The Society aims to promote research productivity among the new graduates and provide a forum for the PCHRD Scholars to exchange health research information and develop networking and partnerships. 

The Eastern Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (EVHRDC) will host the prestigious 16th Philippine National Health Research (PNHRS) Week Celebration on 8-11 August 2023, at the Summit Hotel, Tacloban City.

Anchored on the theme, "Sustainable Development: Resilience through Health Research," the face-to-face gathering aims to emphasize the critical role of health research and innovation in driving sustainable development, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era. The event will also serve as a platform for showcasing groundbreaking research initiatives that contribute to achieving the nation's sustainable development goals.

Expecting participation of 450 guests, including members from Regional Health Research and Development Consortia (RHRDC), esteemed officials from the PNHRS, and representatives from both national and local government units, the event promises to be an extraordinary gathering of bright minds and influential figures in the field of health research.

Aiming to foster collaboration and synergy among various health research endeavors, the week-long event will feature a series of competitions, press conference, meetings, and plenary sessions. 

The PNHRS framework, which extends to all 17 regions across the country through the RHRDC, is driven by the Regional Unified Health Research Agenda (RUHRA). This strategic agenda is uniquely tailored to address the distinct health research priorities of each region, ensuring that the nation's efforts are focused on the most pressing issues.

The Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) is a collaborative network of institutions and individuals engaged in health research and development activities in the Philippines. It aims to strengthen the country's health research capability, promote the utilization of research findings, and foster partnerships among stakeholders to address the nation's health needs effectively.

Stay updated with the latest information and developments by visiting the official social media channels and websites: DOST-PCHRD Facebook page, EVHRDC Website, EVHRDC Facebook Page, PNHRS Website, and the 16th PNHRS Week Event Website.

Eight new scholars formally join the MD-PhD in Molecular Medicine program through a memorandum of agreement signing ceremony last 23 August 2022 held via Zoom. The group is the 13th batch of scholars under the program since its inception in 2010.  

The MD-PhD in Molecular Medicine scholarship is an eight-year program implemented by the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) in partnership with the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM). It was designed to build a local pool of physician-scientists with expertise in biomedical research to advance healthcare in the country.

On its 12th year of implementation, the program welcomed the following scholars:

1.   Jirov A. Advincula (University of the Philippines Manila)
2.   Mary Ann F. Cabrera (University of the Philippines Manila)
3.   Sean Philippe L. Chua (University of the Philippines Diliman)
4.   Claire Abigail A. Collantes (University of the Philippines Manila)
5.   Von Novi O. De Leon (University of Santo Tomas)
6.   Khevin Jade B. Gumaru (University of the Philippines Manila)
7.   Harley M. Rodriguez (University of Eastern Philippines, Catarman Northern Samar)
8.   Fred Lawrence D. Samante (St. Scholastica’s College, Tacloban, Leyte)

The scholarship covers tuition and other school fees, book allowance, transportation allowance, monthly stipend, insurance coverage, and thesis grants. They may also avail of the Student Research Support Fund for the conduct and dissemination of research outputs.  Other activities that may be supported upon approval of the DOST-PCHRD and UPM are presentations in international research conferences/fora, journal publications, and participation in the DOST-PCHRD’s Research Enrichment Program and DOST Summer Immersion Program.

DOST-PCHRD Executive Director Dr. Jaime Montoya shared his insights on how the MD-PhD program can benefit Filipinos. “I believe that this program is an initiative that we can leverage to strengthen our health systems and make us better prepared for future health challenges,” said Dr. Montoya. He also cited the MD-PhD Colloquium held in May 2022 as a proof of the program’s contributions in generating significant research-based health solutions for Filipinos. In the activity, ongoing scholars presented their research studies conducted under the program.

Similarly, DOST Secretary Dr. Renato Solidum, Jr. also looks forward to positive outcomes for the program, “With major health R&D initiatives such as the establishment of the Virology and Vaccine of the Philippines on the way, I am certain of a fruitful journey ahead of you,” he said.

To date, the program has produced  21 graduates, with 84 ongoing scholars.