To strengthen and enhance the research capacity of its member- institutions, the Central Luzon Health Research and Development Consortium (CLHRDC) thru its Capacity Building Committee (CBC) recently conducted a Research Proposal Writeshop on Drug Discovery and Development and Biomedical Devices Development last June 28-29, 2017 at Imerex Plaza Hotel in Angeles City.

Together with the CLHRDC- Research Management Committee (RMC), the activity was aimed at improving the quality and productivity of health-related research endeavors in Region III through the submission of quality research proposals for funding. It also served as a venue to address issues usually encountered during the review of submitted research proposals such as misaligned objectives as well as to discuss new trends in writing research proposals like the use of Mendeley database as a reference manager tool. Dr. Reynaldo Bundalian Jr., Chair of CLHRDC-Research Management Committee, spearheaded the 2-day training together with Dr. Bella G. Panlilio, Chair of CLHRDC-CBC. Other resource persons were Dr. Al D. Biag of Holy Angel University, Dr. Neil C. Tanquilut of Pampanga State Agricultural University, and Mr. Wilfredo F. Sibal of Department of Science and Technology III who shared their experiences and best practices in research proposal writing.

As a major output of the said activity, the participants were requested to prepare and present their respective draft proposals for evaluation. 14 proposals were submitted, composed of 12 proposals for drug discovery and another 2 for biomedical devices. Through this activity, CLHRDC hopes to encourage its member institutions to submit more research proposals for funding.

This activity was also followed two weeks later by the Basic Research Ethics Training which took place last July 12-13, 2017, also at Imerex Plaza Hotel, Angeles City. Dr. Ricardo M. Manalastas and Dr. Evangeline O. Santos of Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB) spearheaded the 2-day training. It was attended by 28 participants from 13 institutions composed of members of their respective Institutional Ethics Review Committees (IERCs). The training was intended to capacitate participants in evaluating research proposals that involve human or animal subjects and the importance of adhering ethical norms in research.