The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Health (DOH) will support a research which will look into the possibility of mixing and matching different COVID-19 vaccine brands and platforms through a study involving 3,000 Filipino participants starting June 2021.

“Ideally, an individual should complete two doses of vaccine using the same vaccine product. However, we cannot ignore the existing shortage in the global vaccine supply, which may interfere with the vaccine distribution and administration in the Philippines. It is urgently needed to ascertain the interchangeability of COVID-19 vaccines, as administering the second dose of vaccines with a two-dose regimen is vital in inducing the needed level of protection against the virus,” said DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña.

Aiming to determine the safety and analyze the immune response of individuals whose first dose is followed by a second dose of a different vaccine platform, the mixed-dose study will offer clinical data that will provide basis for the DOH in developing guidelines on the vaccination rollout, and on which vaccine regimen may be applied for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) during situations of limited vaccine supply.

Pending approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and health research ethics board, the study expects to enroll participants aged 18 years or older situated in eight priority areas for vaccine rollout following DOH allocation and the COVAX facility guidelines.

Secretary de la Peña further emphasized that the mixed-dose approach, if proven safe and effective, will help address possible shortage of vaccine products as interchangeable use of vaccine brands or platforms will offer flexibility in the vaccination rollout.

While there are similar studies being conducted in other countries, this study will specifically make use of vaccines being used in the country’s COVID-19 vaccination program and generate data from the Filipino people mixing COVID-19 vaccines after the first Sinovac vaccine dose which uses the inactivated virus platform. To be implemented by the Philippine Society for Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (PSAAI), with Dr. Michelle De Vera as the lead, the study will run for 18 months in conjunction with the vaccination rollout using the available vaccine supply in the Philippines.#

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) recognizes the vital role of the research mentor who selflessly shares knowledge and skills, instills values and attitudes, and inspires those involved in the research process, thereby creating an enabling environment and contributing to capacity-building in research. 

The Best Mentor Award is offered biennially to recognize and reward mentors in health research who have built the capacities of researchers in the health sector and, in the process, propelled significant advances in the Philippine National Health Research System’s (PNHRS) thrusts as identified in the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA).

Awardees will be selected per cluster (Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and NCR) and categorized according to their mentees (Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students and Junior/Early Career Researchers). Also, national winners will be chosen for each category who will be awarded during the PNHRS Week Celebration.

OBJECTIVE

Best Mentor Award recognizes excellence in mentorship that results in productivity of mentees in health research.

ELIGIBILITY

A. Who can nominate

The nominating party may be any of the following:

• head of the nominee’s institution or immediate supervisor
• colleague/s 
• trainee/s 
• student/advisee

Self-nomination is not allowed.

B. Who can be nominated

1. must be a Filipino citizen
2. must be with appropriate or relevant academic qualifications 
3. must be actively involved in mentoring researchers/students or colleagues for at least 3 years 
4. has a good track record as a researcher in terms of any of the following: publication, product development or policy formulation 
5. professionally involved in health research activities either as a research program/project leader, principal and co-principal investigator, mentor/adviser/trainer, or author/co-author 
6. actively involved in any health research activities in the last 5 years such as conduct of research training and extension work, paper presentations, fund generation, research promotion and networking, research agenda setting, and capacity-building activities

*Winners are ineligible for subsequent nominations, while non-winners are still eligible for nominations if they submit a new set of documents but not for consecutive calls of nomination

HOW TO NOMINATE

Submit the recommendation form (either personally delivered, by courier, or thru email) for initial screening to the regional consortium secretariat. (Please refer to the attached list of regional consortia and contact information)

For completed DOST-PCHRD and ASTHRDP scholars, submit entries to DOST-PCHRD for screening and endorsement of the PCHRD Scholar’s Society (PSS).

A. For the qualified nominees

The requirements below should be submitted strictly within the deadline 

1. Five (5) hard copies of the following documents:

1.1. Accomplished curriculum vitae of the nominee using the prescribed format for Best Mentor Award  

1.2. A narrative description (1,000-1,500 words) of the nominee’s mentoring activities using the guide questions provided, accompanied by supporting documents, e.g.  photos and other relevant documentation. 

1.3. Description of other achievements attained related to health research for the last 5 years, including supporting documents e.g., photocopy of certificates of recognition/awards/honors received by the nominee, which are relevant to the nominee’s eligibility criteria in Section IV. B Who can be nominated.

2. Cite names of 5 mentees, their achievements in research, and a narrative description of the nominee’s contribution to the success of each mentored research. 

To be submitted in a folder with proper tabbing and table of contents. Supplemental documents and/or verifications may be required as deemed necessary. 

B. Selection Criteria

There will be a review of nominations by the Cluster/National Selection Committee based on the following criteria:

• Quantitative Indicators – refer to the no. of research mentees guided, advised or mentored by the candidate; also includes the nominee’s years of experience in mentoring. 
• Qualitative indicators – to be decided by the evaluators; may include extent, quality/result of the research guidance/mentoring done e.g., awards and other forms of recognition received by the mentor and/or other mentees

c.2.2.  Track Record in Research              21%              

• Publications refer to peer-reviewed journals during the last 5 years: 

• Awards received refer to recognition received for the research completed as:

• Paper presented refers to the number of times the nominee presented the research work/paper in conference, workshop by recognized organization (either oral or poster)
• Completed research covers completed unpublished researches over the last 5 years 

c.2.3.   Dedication in promoting research     20%                                                                                 

• Types of active involvement in five years

• Quality of active involvement within 5 years as:

• Providing research opportunities as:

 c.2.5. Other Criteria as agreed by the Evaluators 5%   

This may include awards/recognition received by mentees/advisees/students of the nominee or any agreed criteria; impact of R&D in terms of patenting, commercialization, and/or utilization of research results into policies and actions such as training modules developed, teaching manuals, community modules, contribution to national health development/equity and/or relevance of research results in health care delivery; etc

ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS AND PRIZES

• All qualified nominees will receive certificates of recognition. 

• Cluster Winners from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and National Capital Region will receive respective cash prizes and plaques of recognition. 

                   Mentors of Undergraduate Students -               P50,000.00
                   Mentors of Graduate Students -                        P50,000.00
                   Mentors of Junior/Early Career Researchers -  P100,000.00

• National Winners for each category will receive respective additional cash prizes and trophies which will be awarded during the PNHRS Week Celebration.

TIMETABLE

The DOST-PCHRD Undergraduate Thesis Grant in Natural Products provides fund support to all undergraduate students who will conduct their thesis on natural products. The program aims to sustain a research culture in natural products to increase the number of research and later on build a pool of researchers/experts specializing in the field. The program supports the Tuklas Lunas (Drug Discovery and Development) program of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) which aims to develop safe, effective, and affordable alternative drugs from the country’s natural resources.

Thesis grants will be given to two (2) undergraduate entries per region (subject to availability of funds). After completion of the project, a competition will be held for selected qualified students to recognize their innovative work on natural products.

Who can apply?

All undergraduate students of Pharmacy, Chemistry, Nursing, and Health and Allied Sciences who have thesis proposals on natural products may apply. The proposed thesis study must use plants indigenous in the region. The project must be completed a year after receiving the grant.

How to apply?

Applicants should submit the following documents to the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium (RHRDC):

1. Duly accomplished prescribed research proposal form with college seal
2. Endorsement letter from the institution signed by the head of the university and the college dean
3. Soft copy of the proposal (word format)
4. Hard copy of the proposal using A4 paper (3 copies)
5. Certificate of plant authentication
6. Appropriate clearances: 
   • Bureau of Animal Industry clearance for studies involving animal subjects
   • Biosafety Clearance for studies involving genetic engineering and pathogenic organisms
   • National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Clearance for studies involving Indigenous Peoples
   • Gratuitous Permit from Biodiversity Management Bureau for studies involving collection of flora and fauna from DENR Protected Areas
   • Ethical clearance for studies involving human subjects
7. Curriculum vitae of the students and adviser

Selection Criteria

The research proposals will be rated based on the following criteria:

1. Technical merit
       • Objectives are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound
       • The study design supports the objectives
       • The study sample and methodology are appropriate
2.  Data management
       • The plan for data collection is clearly described
       • Quality control procedures for data collection are in place
       • Statistical analysis is well described
3.  Relevance/Significance
       • The study addresses an important health problem
       • The study contributes to the advancement of scientific knowledge
4. Proponent/institution’s capacity
       • The investigators are qualified and appropriately trained to carry out the study
       • The proposed study is appropriate to the experience level of the investigators
       • The implementing/cooperating institution is capable of carrying out the proposed study

Thesis Grant 

• Two (2) thesis proposals will be selected in each region. Researchers will receive a grant amounting to a maximum of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00).
• The thesis grant will be deposited to the bank account of the thesis adviser and will be liquidated after the completion of the study
• A Memorandum of Agreement will be signed between the students, adviser, head of the institution, and DOST-PCHRD
• The grant must be expended as allocated in the approved line-item budget

Cash Award

Six (6) grantees will be selected as finalists to present their studies during the Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) week celebration. The top three (3) presentors will receive the following prizes:

Finalists will receive a plaque of recognition.


Schedule of Activities