March 15, 2021 — On March 10, 2021, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) awarded funds for research on substance abuse to the University of the Philippines Manila in virtual turn over ceremonies. 

UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita D. Padilla received the check from Usec. Earl Saavedra and Usec. Benjamin Reyes, while team members of the Drugs of Abuse Research Laboratory (DARL) and other key officials of the DDB witnessed the event. 

Dr. Padilla mentioned that the research is the contribution of the academe in looking for solutions to the problem of substance abuse in the country.

The fund will be used for the research entitled “Development and validation of a plastic based microfluidic point of care test device (ETox) used to detect intoxication with selected new psychoactive substances and pharmaceuticals.” This project will be led by Dr. Ailyn Yabes.

 Dr. Carissa Dioquino, from the College of Medicine Department of Neurosciences and DARL Project Leader, Dr. Ailyn Yabes, from the CM Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Principal Investigator for the proposed study. and Asst. Prof. Joanna Toralba, from the College of Pharmacy Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and DARL Laboratory Manager, were present during the occasion.

Published in UP Manila Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 25