ERMITA, MANILA- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will renew its partnership with the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) through the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the MD-PhD Molecular Medicine Program on 21 September 2016 at Jade Vine Restaurant. Part of the event is the recognition of Batch 6 Program Mentors.

The MD-PhD Molecular Medicine Program is a joint initiative of DOST, through the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), and UPM, 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.

“The Program also hopes to promote a self-sustaining process whereby new knowledge is continuously generated, applied, and transmitted to meet emerging and anticipated health needs,” Dr. Jaime Montoya, PCHRD Executive Director, explained. This year, 10 scholars were qualified for the program.  

Likewise, the eight faculty members who will be recognized are Dr. Francisco Heralde, Dr. Paul Mark Medina, Dr. Catherine Lynn Silao, Dr. Leslie Michelle Dalmacio, Dr. Isidro Sia, Dr. Gracia Fe Yu, Dr. Lydia Leonardo, and Dr. Salvador Eugenio Caoili.  

PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN- “Ethnic groups worldwide are not exempted from the consequences of the changing environment,” thus emphasized during the session on Indigenous Health System and Environmental Pressures last 10^th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week celebration on 10 August 2016 at Citystate Asturias Hotel.

According to Dr. Jaime Montoya, PNHRS Lead Coordinator and Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) Executive Director, ethic groups are highly dependent on natural resources for survival. They are also vital in helping to improve the resilience of our ecosystem.

“[However] several environmental pressures such as habitat change, pollution, climate change and over-exploitation of resources greatly affect their way of life, especially their health,” he said.

Speakers of the session include Dr.  Isidro Sia of Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC), Ms. April Grace Ortega-Liao of Palawan State University (PSU), Mr. Juanito Guarde of Department of Education-Naujan South District, and Atty. Erwin Caliba of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.

Sia discussed ways on “Building Resilient Indigenous People’s Health and Food Systems Through Agro-ecological Principles and Practices” through his introduction of the rich culture and biodiversity of the country and indigenous knowledge and practices of the IPs towards the environment.

“Ang pangangalaga sa kalikasan ay pangangalaga rin sa tao, sa buhay at sa kalusugan,” he emphasized.

Liao and Guarde shared their experiences on engaging with Tagbanua and Mangyan groups, respectively.

Liao discussed how Tagbanuas survived the changing environment through their health practices such as diday-diday, their habit of taking a break from working to protect their bodies. Likewise, Guarde, a Mangyan himself, stressed that they are happy and healthy people and contented with what they have.   

Caliba talked about the rights of indigenous cultural communities as stated in the 1987 Philippine constitution, citing  that ethic groups have rights to ancestral domains/lands, self-governance and empowerment, social justice, and cultural integrity. Likewise, he explained that all activities or researches to be done at the ancestral domain should have free and prior informed consent (FPIC).

PNHRS is an integrated national framework for health research which aims to promote cooperation and integration of all health research efforts and stakeholders in the country. For more information, visit its website at healthresearch.ph. n

ALABANG, Muntinlupa City- The Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (PhilAAST) will hold its 65^th Annual Convention, in conjunction with the 8th Asian Heads of Research Councils (ASIAHORCs) Joint Symposium, on 22 to 23 September 2016 at Sequoia Ballroom, Acacia Hotel Manila.

With the theme "Impact of Changing Regional Environment on Global Health," the Convention will provide a platform for discussion and interaction on the most recent findings and developments related to the impact of the changing environment on global health in order to promote and strengthen scientific and technological collaboration among Asian countries.

Highlights of the event are lectures on strengthening health resilience to climate change, increased focus on health disaster risk management, vector-borne diseases and climate change, environmental stressors in diseases and implications for human health during disasters, and promoting health while mitigating climate change.

Expected participants are PhilAAST members and ASIAHORCs delegates, educators, academe and government researchers, industry representatives, and other science and technology (S&T) practitioners.

Established in 1951, PhilASST (formerly PhilAAS) is an association of scientists and technologists in the country which aims to promote the value of science in the community. Likewise, the Asian Heads of Research Councils (ASIAHORCs), composed of ten major research funding agencies and research councils in Asia, serves to advance scientific research and further development in Asia.

For more information, download the copy of the event’s brochure at http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/phocadownload/ASIAHORCS%20Brochure.pdf. ■

Local health researches, both by students and professionals, were recognized in the recently concluded 10^th Philippine National Health Research System Week Celebration in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan last August 10-11, 2016.

The study, “Efficacy of the Mosquito Repellent Spray of the Crude Extract from the Leaves of Alpinia elegans (Tagbak) against Aedes aegypti” presented by Giselle Padilla of the Our Lady of Fatima University bagged the 1^st place award in the 2016 DOST-PCHRD-Gruppo Medica Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis in Herbal Medicine.

Student-researchers from the Western Visayas State University (WVSU) – College of Medicine earned 1^st place during the Student Research Competition for their study on the positive effects of bee venom in reducing colon cancer cells. WVSU – College of Medicine also bagged the 1^st prize in the poster category for the study, “In Vitro Evaluation of Anti-Staphylococcal, Anti-Cervical Adenocarcinoma, and Anti-Hepatocellular Carcinoma Activities of Aqueous, Butanol, and Chloroform Fractions of Durian (Durio zibethinus) Ring Methanolic Extracts.” 

The study “Detection and Sequential Enrichment of Glycopeptides and Phosphopeptides as Cancer Biomarkers by Functionalized NH2/ZIC HILIC-type Magnetic Nanoprobes” by Dr. Rey Capangpangan of Caraga State University was declared the 1^st prize winner for the Professional Research Competition. Researchers from Saint Mary’s University and University of the Philippines - Manila won 2^nd and 3^rd prizes, respectively. The University of Immaculate Concepcion - Davao city was named 1^st prize winner for the study on the HIV-1 inhibiting properties of Mentha cordifolia Opiz Buffer Crude extract. 

The Western Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium won 1^st place in the Best Consortium Poster Competition.

Here is the complete list of winners awarded during the 10^th PNHRS Closing Ceremonies last August 11, 2016: