Winners of the 2010 Outstanding Health Research Award (OHRA) of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) were recognized last August 11, 2010 during the 4th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week celebration at the Crowne Plaza, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.
The award also known as "Parangal Saliksik Pangkalusugan" is given to an individual researcher or study group whose work has been translated to policy and practice. OHRA is given in two categories: biomedical research and health services research category.
Chair of the OHRA board of judges was Dr. Alberto G. Romualdez, former Health Secretary and former Executive Director of PCHRD. Members include Ms. Rosa G. Gonzales, Chief, Health Policy Development and Planning Bureau - Department of Health, Dr. Quintin L. Kintanar, Academician, National Academy of Science and Technnology, Dr. Saturnino M. Ocampo, Jr., former University President, Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, Dr. Warlito C. Vicente, Chair, Regional Health Research and Development Committee - Region XI, Dr. Enrico F. Gruet, Chair, Regional Health Research and Development Committee - Region VII and Dr. Graciano P. Yumul, Undersecretary for Research and Development, Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
For the Biomedical Research Category, the award was given to the Institute of Human Genetics, University of the Philippines Manila-National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH), represented by Dr. Carmencita Padilla and unit heads of the Institute of Human Genetics.
The Institute has made invaluable contributions in spearheading the development of the field of human genetics in the country as well as providing central resource facility committed to make genetic testing accessible to Filipinos all over the country.
Two winners have been awarded for the Health Services Research Category. 1) Dr. Bayani L. Blas, former Head of the Schistosomiasis Research and Training Center, Center for Health Development - Region 8 and currently the Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Dona Remedios T. Romualdez Medical Foundation (RTRMF), and 2) Dr. Enrique T. Ona, former Director of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) and currently the Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH).
Dr. Blas has made significant contributions for the control and prevention of schistosomiasis in the country. Dr. Ona's research has made significant contributions in the field of Kidney Transplantation as well as his research on immunosuppression regimens that made an impact on medication cost, efficacy and safety.