University of Philippines Manila

UP Manila Secures Fourth Consecutive IPOPHL Platinum Award

In a momentous triumph for innovation and excellence, UP Manila has once again clinched the prestigious Platinum Award from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) for the fourth time during the 2024 President’s Summit  themed “ITSO: Celebrating Collaboration, Cultivating Innovation” at Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City, on March 18, 2024. 

From left: Engr. Jimmy S. Reynoso, Jr., Business Development Officer, Engr. Julian S. De Lara, Technology Transfer Officer, Dr. Lourdes Marie S. Tejero, Director TTBDO, Dr. Micheal L. Tee, UP Manila Chancellor, Dr. Leslie Michelle M. Dalmacio, Vice Chancellor for Research, Michael Viccil B. Junsay, IPOPHL ITSO Account Manager, and Stephen Chelben A. Lim, Technology Transfer Officer, received the ITSO Platinum Award.

“We are exerting our effort, doing our best in UP Manila TTBDO to protect the inventions of our researchers and innovators of UP Manila to utilize and have this be available to the intended beneficiaries through utilization processes and commercialization. Ultimately, we aim at contributing to better health outcomes and better health to Filipinos here and also abroad,” said Dr. Lourdes Marie S. Tejero, Dr. Tejero, director of the UP Manila’s Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (TTBDO) during the event.

TTBDO played a pivotal role in the university’s resounding success, spearheading a series of initiatives aimed at promoting intellectual property awareness and facilitating technology transfer. Noteworthy among these initiatives were seven Fundamentals of IP Seminars (FIPS) and 52 IP consultations. Additionally, the office organized two Patent Search Courses and a Patent Drafting Course, equipping innovators with vital knowledge and skills in intellectual property management.

Furthermore, UP Manila TTBDO’s efforts yielded fruitful results with the filing of seven patents, covering a diverse range of groundbreaking inventions. These patents, along with their lead investigators, include:

  1. An immersive gamification technology system (ImGTS) for managing patients with cerebral palsy and dementia, developed by Veeda Michelle M. Anlacan and Dean Maria Eliza R. Aguila and their team.
  1. The use of Harmine as an active ingredient in a pharmaceutical formulation for treatment of post-myocardial infarction heart failure, researched by Dr. Jose B. Nevado, Jr. and his team.
  1. A support stand for a camera system designed for Anatomy instruction in laboratories and classrooms., designed by Dr. Rafael C. Bundoc and his team.
  1. A camera system for projecting an anatomical subject, developed by Dr. Rafael C. Bundoc and his team.
  1. A modular and adjustable retractor for exposing a body cavity during a medical procedure, designed by Dr. Philip B. Fullante and Dr. Miguel Sandino O. Aljibe, .
  1. A device for measuring jugular venous pressure (JVP). Using the electronic JVP device, a clinician can measure the JVP height using only one device, developed by Eugenio B. Reyes and his team.
  1. A medical device system designed with lightweight and durable clamps that can be easily attached and detached during orthopedic surgeries, developed by Dr. Emmanuel P. Estrella and his team.

In a significant milestone, UP Manila TTBDO also facilitated the commercialization of a technology through a signed licensing agreement with an industry partner, underscoring the tangible impact of university-industry collaboration in driving innovation forward.

New Technology Licensing:

1. Biomarkers for Response to Cardiovascular Therapy 

2. Dissection In-Situ Submersible Ergonomic Cadaver Table (DISSECT)

Renewed Technology Licensing:

1. Lagundi Tablet and Syrup for cough of non-bacterial origin, bronchitis, and asthma

Platinum Award, the highest clustering distinction granted to Innovation and Technology Support Offices (ITSO) nationwide, recognizes UP Manila’s consistent dedication to advancing the frontiers of technology and intellectual property.

The President’s Summit united participants from across the Philippines to celebrate collaboration and innovation in intellectual property. ITSO members’ achievements were highlighted emphasizing intellectual property’s vital role in fostering innovation and economic growth. UP Manila has received the Platinum Award in 2020, 2021, and in 2022. The consecutive attainment of the Platinum Award by UP Manila for 2023 not only underscores the university’s competence in innovation but also highlights its pivotal role in advancing the nation’s intellectual property landscape. 

Text by: Charmaine A. Lingdas