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RHRDC XI wins in the 7th PNHRS Week Celebration

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.

(L to R): Mr. Renz Pizarro during the final judging of the Poster Exhibit Competition; Dr. Dulce Flores receiving a certificate of appreciation after her Oral Paper Presentation

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 1^st and 2^nd 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 1^st 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 2^nd spot. This only proves that the health and health-related researches conducted in the Davao region has continued to progress through time.

DOST-PCHRD-Gruppo Medica Winners

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.

Intensifying Health Research towards a SMARTER Philippines

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” This famous quote of Albert Einstein was a simple reminder of the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium XI (RHRDC XI) Chairperson Dr. Warlito C. Vicente to the aspiring young researchers during the opening day of the 3rd Health R&D Expo conducted last July 29-30, 2013 at the Grand Pilipinas Ballroom, Grand Regal Hotel, Lanang, Davao City.

Now on its 3rd year, with the theme “Intensifying Health Research towards a SMARTER Philippines”, this annual event continues to become an arena for young researchers, faculties, hospitals and other health-related institutions to showcase the health researches they have conducted. There are two competitions carried out both for the Undergraduate and Graduate and Creative Research Category. These are the Poster Exhibit Competition and Oral Health Research Competition.

The exhibit and the competition was formally opened by the RHRDC XI Chairperson Dr. Warlito C. Vicente, DOST XI Regional Director and RHRDC XI Regional Coordinator Dr. Anthony C. Sales, RHRDC XI Research Information and Utilization Committee (RIUC) chairperson Dr. Victoria T. Lupase and the rest of the RIUC members who have spearheaded the event.

During the 1st day, Dr. Anthony C. Sales presented the activities, programs and services of RHRDC XI. He highlighted the funding support offered for proposals that are related to the consortium’s 4 research priority areas namely: Environment and Climate Change, Infectious Disease, Maternal and Child Health and Traditional Medicine.

This was then followed by the lecture of Dr. Warlito C. Vicente on Research: Conceptualization to Commercialization. His research on Tamanu oil and its effect on wounds and skin infections was his example on bringing the research to commercialization. He also reiterated the marketing aspect of research as this area is often forgotten by researchers.

On the second day, the event was graced by Dr. Graciela G. Gonzaga, professor and former dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Santo Tomas, who did a lecture on Phases of Drug Development.
It was then followed by Dr. Lauro T. Gonzales, RX Box2 Project Manager, National Telehealth Center who conducted a lecture on the Health Information System (e-Health) in the Philippines.

A total of 37 entries were received in all categories. The winners were awarded with a medal and a corresponding cash prize. Dr. Victoria T. Lupase, RHRDC XI-RIUC Chairperson, expressed that the consortium plans to compile all researches and publish it into one compendium.