Norman Quilantang, a magna cum laude BS Biology graduate last March 2016 of the Department of Biology of the University of San Carlos (USC) and the representative of Central Visayas, won second prize in the National Research Paper Poster Presentation (Student Category) contest during the 10th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week celebration held at the Citystate Asturias Hotel, Puerto Princesa, Palawan from August 8 to 12, 2016.
His paper was entitled “Isolation and in vitro characterization of adipose derived stem cells from Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout (Rodentia: Muridae)” and was co-authored by Vanessa May Ybañez, Crecialyn Pulvera, Dr. Rommel Bacabac (Chair, Department of Physics), and Dr. Frances Edillo (Thesis Adviser, Department of Biology). The study was in collaboration with Dr. Jenneke Klein Nulend of Vrije University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Norman’s PNHRS presentation was funded by Central Visayas Consortium for Health Research and Development.

The 10th PNHRS Week celebration had the theme “Research and Innovation for Health and the Environment” and was hosted by the MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) Health Research and Development Consortium (MHRDC), together with the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD).

Norman has just moved on to Chung-Ang University, Department of Integrative Plant Science, Anseong, South Korea to start his master’s degree under the Chung-Ang University Asian Young Scientist Scholarship (CAYSS) award.

Source: Dr. Frances Edillo; Department of Biology; September 5, 2016