GUIDELINES

Purpose

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).

Objective

The Best Mentor Award recognizes excellence in mentorship that instills passion among researchers, redounding to enhanced relevance and productivity 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. at least a holder of master’s degree degree
3. actively involved in mentoring researchers/students or colleagues for at least 5 years
4. has a good track record as a researcher in terms of 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 health research activities 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.

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 paper for the list of addresses)

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

For the qualified nominees

The requirements below should be submitted 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, 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

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.

Schedule of Selection and Awarding

The award is given every two years.

Announcement of Winners and Prizes

• All qualified nominees will receive certificates of recognition.
• Each Cluster Winner from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and National Capital Region will receive a cash prize of P100,000.00 and a plaque of recognition.
• The National Winner will receive an additional cash prize of P200,000.00 and trophy during the PNHRS Week Celebration.

DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION
Consortium: January 13, 2017
DOST-PCHRD: January 20, 2017

To download the complete guidelines and the Recommendation Form, click HERE.

QUEZON CITY, Metro Manila- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), along with other government agencies, will celebrate the 2016 National Biotechnology Week (NBW) on 21-25 November 2016 at the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), Department of Agriculture.

With the overall theme “Bioteknolohiya: Kaagapay ng Mamamayan sa Kaunlaran, Yakapin ang pagbabago, Biotek na tayo!,” NBW highlights the use of modern biotechnology as one of several means to achieve and sustain food security, equitable access to health services, and sustainable and safe environment.

As part of the celebration, the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), in partnership with the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), will conduct the Health Forum 2016 on 24 November 2016 to discuss the latest developments in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), drug discovery and development, genomics, and nutrition.

Expected speakers are Dr. Edsel Maurice Salvana, University of the Philippines (UP) Manila Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Director, Prof. Gisela Padilla-Concepcion, UP Diliman Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Ms. Mildred Udarbe, and FNRI experts.

A weeklong exhibit of programs, projects, and technologies on biotechnology will also be held.

Other participating agencies for this year’s NBW celebration are Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Interested to attend the Health Forum 2016? Please contact Ms. Ladylove May Baurile at 837-0031 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..■

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) hosted the e-Asia Project Implementation Workshop on Pulmonary Diseases induced/associated with Influenza and Tuberculosis in Asia last 17-18 October 2016.

The two-day workshop commenced with project visits organized by the Philippine Influenza and Tuberculosis teams led by Dr. Marilla Lucero of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and Dr. Jaime C. Montoya of PCHRD, respectively. Project teams from Japan and Viet Nam were able to observe the project developments of studies conducted at RITM and at the Tuberculosis - Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (TB-DOTS) Center in San Juan, Batangas through the research collaboration.

Member-countries presented their respective project progress reports and research outcomes during the second-day of the workshop. On behalf of Dr. Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development, DOST Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation, Dr. Leah Buendia delivered a message of support to the goal of the project – improving health outcomes in East Asia, particularly on influenza- and TB-induced diseases mitigation. “With the e-Asia project, we are closer to the time when tuberculosis and influenza will no longer be a public threat… I am very positive that all our research efforts will lead to a better health status for the East Asian region, particularly in alleviating influenza and tuberculosis prevalence,” she quoted.

e-Asia Project Leader Dr. Kazuo Suzuki of Teikyo University presented the research activities conducted by the teams since the project launched. Through the e-Asia project, member-countries were able to assess the rate of influenza and tuberculosis prevalence in their country. Detection of different strains of the viruses was also improved.

Japan tuberculosis team member, Dr. Naoto Keicho of the Research Institute of Tuberculosis JATA Tokyo, introduced some latest advancements in TB research – advanced spoligotyping softwares and next generation sequencer. Viet Nam influenza team leader, Dr. Phung Thi Bich Thuy, also shared how the e-Asia project promoted capacity building for the Viet Nam Children's Hospital staff in the detection and culture of the influenza virus. 

 As of September 2016, the Philippine influenza team reported that more consultations/admissions were reported in public health centers (66%) than in hospitals i.e. UP-Philippine General Hospital (26%) and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (8%). Meanwhile, Dr. Anna Maria Lena Lopez of the University of the Philippines reported the findings of the Philippine tuberculosis team and reported a low prevalence of TB in children in San Juan, Batangas. The annualized TB notification rate for the disease has also gone up from 170 to 210 per 100,000 population. The surveillance study also led to the commencement of a TB study on children from San Juan, Batangas to Los Banos, Laguna

The e-Asia project on pulmonary infectious diseases is set to end this 2016. Future plans of the project teams include request to continue researches on influenza and TB mitigation as well as the addition of new diseases that needs to be addressed in the East Asian region e.g. non-communicable diseases, cancer, and lifestyle diseases.

METRO MANILA- The first batch of scholars of the MD-PhD in Molecular Medicine Program passed the recent physician board exam held 10 September 2016. 

Results from Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) last 21 September 2016 showed that Maria Llaine Callanta, Maragaille Capiroso, Fresthel Monica Climacosa, Ruby Anne King, John Carlo Malabad, Jonnel Poblete, Bobbie Marie Santos, Charles Patrick Uy, and Pia Regina Fatima Zamora, all MD-PhD scholars, passed the board exam.

The MD-PhD Molecular Medicine Program is a joint initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through PCHRD, and UP Manila, through the College of Medicine, to train aspiring physician-scientists for careers dedicated to the advancement of health through biomedical research.

Being the first and pioneering degree program in the country which offers dual MD-PhD course, the MD-PhD Molecular Medicine Program prepares scholars to assume key leadership roles within the academic community and mentor physician-scientists in training.

Recently, PCHRD and UP Manila renewed their partnership through the signing of another MOA for the MD-PhD Molecular Medicine Program. The 7^th batch of the program also inked agreement with the Council.