DOST-PCHRD Undergraduate Thesis Grant on Natural Products

PURPOSE

 The DOST-PCHRD Undergraduate Thesis Grant in Natural Products provides fund support to all undergraduate students who will conduct their thesis on natural products. The program aims to promote a research culture in natural products to increase the number of research and later on build a pool of researchers/experts specializing in the field. The program supports the Drug Discovery and Development program of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) which aims to develop safe, effective and affordable alternative drugs from the country’s natural resources.

 Thesis grants will be given to 2 undergraduate students per region. After completion of the project, a competition will be held to selected qualified students to recognize innovative work on natural products.

 NOMINATION PROCEDURES

 Who can apply

 All undergraduate students of Pharmacy, Chemistry, Nursing and Arts and Sciences who have thesis proposals on natural products may apply. The proposed thesis study must be completed within the current school year.

 How to apply

 Applicants should submit the following documents to the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium (RHRDC): 

1. Duly accomplished prescribed research proposal form with college seal
2. Endorsement letter from the institution signed by the head of the university college dean
3. Soft copy of the proposal (word format)
4. Hard copy of the proposal using A4 paper (3 copies)
5. Certificate of plant authentication
6. BAI clearance (required for animal subjects)
7. Ethical clearance (required for human subjects)
8. Curriculum vitae of the students using the prescribed form
9. Deadline of submission is on May 25, 2020

 SELECTION CRITERIA

 The research proposals will be rated based on the following criteria:

 Proposal evaluation 

1. Technical merit

• Objectives are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound
• The study design supports the objectives
• The study sample and methodology are appropriate 

2. Data management

• The plan for data collection is clearly described
• Quality control procedures for data collection are in place
• Statistical analysis is well described

3. Relevance/Significance

• The study addresses an important health problem
• The study contributes to the advancement of scientific knowledge

4. Feasibility

• Proposed budget is appropriate to the proposed work
• The proposed study can be completed within the school year 

Oral Presentation (for the selected six finalists) 

1. Relevance (25%)

• Addresses a nationwide health problem or top 10 cause of morbidity or mortality
• Scientifically validates that the plant drug material is effective and safe to use
• Adds information to what is already known in the literature
• Contributes to the promotion of proper and wise use of Philippine medicinal plants
• Fills in a medical need or therapeutic gap 

2. Potential for practical application or commercialization of results (20%)
   • The herbal medicine is less costly than commercial preparations. Projected cost of the drug product is competitive with available drugs in the market
   • Commercial use of the plant material will not contribute to the destruction of the plant and is environment friendly.
   • Plant material is readily available and easy to propagate
   • Results of the study showed continuity of previous researches such that practical application is evaluated further
   • Research has the potential for present and future utilization by health service. 

3. Creativity and originality of research work (20%)
   • The research process design is new and innovative
   • A new and effective drug product is reported
   • A novel bioactive plant constituent has been identified chemically and pharmacologically
   • A novel use of the plant material is advanced. 

4. Scientific quality (30%)
   • Experimental design is scientifically sound and valid for the objectives formulated
   • Presentation of results is clear and concise
   • Review of literature is extensive and updated
   • Report is well written and convincing 

5. Number of researchers (5%)

PROGRAM PROCESS

Deliberation of thesis grantees and winners will be based on the grading/rating during the en banc meeting and oral presentation, respectively.

SCREENING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

• Regional Health Research and Development Consortium - for prescreening
• UP Institute of Chemistry
• UST Research Center for the Natural Sciences
• DLSHSI Center for Biopharmaceutical Research
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• DOST-PCHRD

 THESIS GRANT

• Two (2) thesis proposals will be selected per region who will receive a grant amounting to a maximum of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00) net of tax.
• The thesis fund will be deposited to the bank account of the thesis adviser and will be liquidated after the completion of the study
• A Memorandum of Agreement will be signed between the students, adviser, head of the institution and DOST-PCHRD
• The grant must be expended based on the approved line-item budget

 CASH AWARD

After the oral presentation, fund support will be provided to the top 3 relevant and innovative thesis studies. Prizes will be distributed as follows:

Finalists will receive a certificate of recognition.

TIMETABLE OF ACTIVITIES

Download the application form HERE