The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) celebrated its 42nd Anniversary on March 25, 2024 with the theme “Forging the future @42: Strengthening Health Research Capacities through Dynamic Partnerships.” The event was held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) and showcased a steadfast commitment to enhancing health research capacities through collaborative endeavors.
During the event, UP Manila Vice Chancellor for Research Dr. Leslie Michelle Dalmacio lauded PCHRD’s
support to UP Manila’s graduate degree scholars. Since 2010, 111 have received their MD-PhD degrees through the help of PCHRD.
“Notably, research funded by PCHRD constitutes 25% of UP Manila’s research activity. This enduring partnership has enhanced technical capacity and expanded research horizons both locally and internationally. Benchmarking efforts have led to continuous improvement in curriculum and research quality,” she said during the event.
“To date, the MD-PhD Program has yielded over 293 research publications. Furthermore, the program has been instrumental in providing Health Technology Assessment (HTA) training courses to other institutions and facilitating innovation through hands-on support,” Dr. Dalmacio added in her speech.
Also in the open forum, Dr. Dalmacio said members of the academe must maintain a presence in various fora on health research and continue to support our mentors to sustain programs.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jaime Montoya, Executive Director III of DOST-PCHRD, thanked the presence of the participating institutions and urged them to continue their passion for research to improve health outcomes in the country.
“In celebrating 42 years of dedication to health research, we recognize the invaluable support of our partners and stakeholders. None of our achievements would have been possible without their unwavering commitment. Together, we forge the future of health research, with a heart for the Filipino people,” he said in his welcome remarks.
Hon. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., DOST Secretary, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the council’s commitment to innovation and partnership.
“The commitment of PCHRD to drive innovation for health stood out, along with its strong thrust for building partnerships to achieve its goals. I believe these are strengths that enabled the PCHRD to reach significant breakthroughs all through the years,” Solidum said.
The collaboration has also yielded other significant outcomes including the PhD and sandwich programs, which have seen Filipino scholars immersed in research at the University of Trieste under Dr. Tiribelli’s guidance. The impact of these programs is evident in the remarkable publication output of Filipino scholars, totaling 23 peer-reviewed papers with impressive impact factors.
Looking ahead, Dr. Tiribelli outlined ambitious plans to expand educational programs, establish a nationwide Filipino Liver Network, and develop a Filipino Liver Biobank. These initiatives aim to
harness the country’s diverse genetic landscape for scientific research while optimizing patient care.
UP Manila was recognized during the anniversary celebration as a recipient of the Level 3 Research Ethics Board Award, received by Dr. Jacinto Blas Mantaring III, Chair of the UP Manila Research Ethics Board (UPMREB). A certificate of recognition was awarded as well to the UP Manila – Discovery and Innovation Hub.
Panel discussions were moderated by Dr. Doralyn S. Dalisay, Director of the Center for Chemical Biology and Biotechnology at the University of San Agustin.
The discussions featured esteemed speakers from various sectors. They are Dr. Dalmacio, Karen Ann I. Hipol, Science Diplomacy Adviser from the UK Science & Innovation Network in the Philippines, Dr. Francis A. Aldrine Uy, President of Usher Technologies, Dr. Exuperia B. Sabalberino, Chair of the Eastern Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium, and Dir. Anthony B. Cu, Director IV, Bureau of Local Health Systems, Development, Department of Health.
Text by: Erlyn Pareja
Photos by: DOST-PCHRD
