The recently concluded 7th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week Celebration went all the way North as this was held at the Plaza del Norte Hotel and Convention Center, Paoay, Ilocos Norte last August 07-09, 2013. The event was able to tailor fit its theme “People at the Center of Health and Health Research”- gathering over 500 health researchers and medical practitioners coming from all 17 regional consortia in the Philippines.
In lieu of the additional research funds coming from the Department of Health and the signing of the RA 10532: Philippine National Health Research System Act of 2013, Dr. Jaime C Montoya, Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) together with the members of the PNHRS Governing Council are excited on pushing the health research in the Philippines to the next level.
On a different light, RHRDC XI has continued to provide high- caliber health researches as they have bagged most of the major awards during the event.
The entry of the University of the Immaculate Conception entitled “Development of culture medium using banana Musa acuminata balbisiana fruit peel and pulp as nutrient source” by Lhinny Pearl Ago, Gharen Bano, Christine Baquiran, Iris Insoy and Mary Jane Barluado won 2nd place for the Poster Exhibit Competition- Undergraduate Category.
The consortium also dominated the Professional Category as the entry of Davao Medical School Foundation Inc. “Anti-glycation effects of Asparagus officinalis as an adjunct treatment for metformin-treated individuals with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus” by Renz Pizarro, Bai Samanodi, Marcelino Samson, Angel Santamaria, Moises Solidum, Jikko Superioridad, Jaymar Tan, Xylia Tocao, Ceasar Ubaldo, Dr. Melinda Tagle, Dr. Herminigilda Nartatez, Dr. Genevieve Tupas and Dr. Eva San Juan won 1st place for the Poster Exhibit Competition. The entry of University of the Philippines Mindanao entitled “Natural Lovastatin from Red Yeast Rice (Angkak): A Possible Alternative for Statin Drugs” by Dr. Dulce Flores, Abby Jan Aguilos, Carla Monte and MitchellRey Toleco also sealed the deal as they bagged the 1st place for the Oral Health Research Paper Presentation of the mentioned category.
Another recognition, which is the DOST-PCHRD-Gruppo Medica Award, is given to promising undergraduate students who have been able to produce researches in the field of Herbal medicine. Out of the five finalists, four coming from the region, RHRDC XI bagged the 1st and 2nd place award. The study on “Neurotonic Effect of the Alkaloid Extract Capsule of Kangkong (Ipomoea aquatic FORSK) in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease” by Justin Shinn Ng, Donna Rose Acosta, Marisol Albarracin, Kathyrn Earl Tancontian, Enrica Erlind Fernandez, Christine Misoles, Maria Fe Salaysay and Fritzie Gay Gloria of San Pedro College was proclaimed 1st placers while the study on Antibacterial, Toxicological and Mutagenic Evaluations of the Formulated Ointment of Knobweed (HyptiscapitataJacq., Lamiaceae) Leaf Extract against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus by Rose Ann Mancenido, Ivana Lee Miranda, Darlene Quiñon and Judee Nogodula of University of the Immaculate Conception obtained the 2nd spot. This only proves that the health and health-related researches conducted in the Davao region has continued to progress through time.
The PNHRS Week Celebration is an annual event which had become a venue for different stakeholders to interact, learn and share from each other, promote collaborative efforts and contribute to research-based solutions to health problems faced today.
