PCHRD News

: Audrey John Gonzales; Latest News; 25 October 2023; Hits: 842

Over five hundred Filipino health researchers from across the 17 regions of the Philippines came together for the 16th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week celebration, held on 8-11 August 2023 at Summit Hotel in Tacloban City.

Themed “Sustainable Development: Resilience through Health Research,” the event underscored the contribution of health research and innovation in propelling sustainable development, particularly in the post-COVID-19 landscape.

Hosted by the Eastern Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (EVHRDC), in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), the week-long celebration comprised a series of plenary sessions, committee meetings, health research competitions, a press conference, and a research poster exhibit.

Pre-conference highlights

The event commenced with the pre-conference sessions laying the foundation for the week-long collaboration and health research discussion. A series of committee meetings served as a platform for PNHRS Technical Working Committees (TWCs) to convene, where committee members deliberated on accomplishments, frameworks, tasks, and future trajectories, aligning their efforts to contribute significantly to the advancement of health research in the country.

One of the event’s key highlights was the Talakayang HeaRT Beat press conference which shed light on the intricacies of the PNHRS and the EVHRDC. Media participants and attendees were treated to insights about the consortium’s featured projects and initiatives, ensuring that the most current and authentic information reached the public.

In line with the spirit of the PNHRS Week, competitions and forums emerged as vibrant platforms for fostering innovation and knowledge exchange in health research and development.

In the Research Poster Contest, Mr. Prince Eroll V. Reyes of the Northern Mindanao Consortium in Health Research and Development (NorMinCoHRD) secured both the first prize and the People’s Choice Award in the Student Category. In the Professional Category of the same contest, Mr. Jibe Labenz L. Nebato and Mr. Khent Ivan M. Duerme, also from NorMinCoHRD, clinched the first prize and People’s Choice Award, respectively.

Meanwhile, Mr. Emerson Paul D. Somontan and Dr. Virginia S. Ariza, representing NorMinCoHRD and EVHRDC, respectively, emerged as the winners in the Oral Research Paper Presentation category, with Mr. Somontan taking the top spot in the Student Category, and Dr. Ariza leading the Professional Category.

In the 3-Minute Pitch to Policymakers Competition, Mr. Halid Tamano of the Zamboanga Consortium for Health Research and Development (ZCHRD) was awarded the first prize, while Dr. Krista Muralla of the Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development (BCHRD) earned the People’s Choice Award. All finalists and winners received checks and certificates in recognition of their outstanding policy pitches.

Main conference sessions

The main conference on August 10 commenced with the opening ceremony and the PNHRS Recognition Ceremony followed by two plenary sessions, featuring esteemed experts in the field who engaged the audience in comprehensive discussions.

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez in his keynote speech delivered by Atty. Mark Stephen Reyes highlighted the essential contribution of research in the post-pandemic recovery and discussed legislative initiatives in the House aimed at improving the health of the Filipino population.

The first plenary session entitled, “Strategic Health Research Directions for Sustainable Development” explored the crucial role of effective government leadership in establishing strategic frameworks to leverage health research for the betterment of human health and society. Dr. Maria Lourdes Otayza, Medical Center Chief of Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center discussed the concepts. processes. and principles in setting research priority agenda in the development of the National Unified Health Research Agenda or NUHRA 2023-2028, including the following priorities:

Disease management
Halal in health
Health security, emergency, and disaster risk management
Health technology and innovation
Health of vulnerable populations
Health promotion
Health systems strengthening towards UHC
Maternal, newborn, and child health
Mental health
Nutrition and food security
Sexual and reproductive health

“I would like to emphasize the importance of updating the health research agenda, which is essential for staying abreast of emerging health challenges, enhancing healthcare outcomes, promoting evidence-based practices, fostering innovation, ensuring resource allocation, and engaging stakeholders,” Dr. Otayza emphasized. Following this presentation, Mr. Pio Justin Asuncion, Chief Health Program Officer at the Department of Health (DOH), discussed the core processes being implemented in the DOH as well as future initiatives and directions of the department in the health research aspect.

In a special session, Dr. Vicente Y. Belizario, Jr. and Dr. Carlos Primero D. Gundran from the University of the Philippines Manila emphasized the interrelationship between health and the environment. Under the theme “Building Resilience at the Nexus of Health and Environment,” the discussions centered around neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), disasters, and their heightened impact due to swift environmental transformations.

To foster camaraderie and celebrate cultural diversity, the day culminated in a Fellowship Night, highlighted by a Cultural Fashion Show that showcased each regional cluster’s cultural heritage.

The final day of the main conference featured a plenary session entitled, “Developing Sustainable Solutions through Research and Innovation for Health” where Dr. Dennis Batangan, Research Associate and Program Director Institute of Philippine Culture, Ateneo De Manila University Philippines highlighted the importance of bridging governance, access, and technology issues in health. This was followed by the discussion of Dr. Filedito Tandinco, Dean of the UP Manila- School of Health Sciences on the public-private partnership towards sustainable development.

The third presenter in the session is DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development, Dr. Leah Buendia focusing on international cooperation in health research. “I would like to encourage everyone to make sure that health research is vibrant in the Philippines, partnership with others is not a crime, we just need to have safety nets when it comes to partnerships,” Usec Buendia said.

The celebration wrapped up with a closing ceremony, during which the announcement was made that the 17th PNHRS Week Celebration in August 2024 would be hosted by the Caraga Health Research and Development Consortium (CHRDC).

Following the formal proceedings, the Cultural Visits Committee, in partnership with the Department of Tourism – Region VIII, orchestrated a City Tour, providing attendees with the opportunity to discover the iconic landmarks and popular tourist destinations of Eastern Visayas.

“The 16th PNHRS Week was a testament to the commitment of Filipino health researchers to advancing healthcare and sustainable development through research and innovation. As the torch passes to the Caraga Health Research and Development Consortium for next year’s event, the future of health research in the Philippines looks promising, with innovation and resilience at its core,” says Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, PCHRD Executive Director, and PNHRS Lead Coordinator.

A replay of the 16th PNHRS Week celebration may be found on the DOST-PCHRD Facebook page.

: Christine Jane Gonzalez; Latest News; 07 July 2023; Hits: 1048

The Eastern Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (EVHRDC) will host the prestigious 16th Philippine National Health Research (PNHRS) Week Celebration on 8-11 August 2023, at the Summit Hotel, Tacloban City.

Anchored on the theme, "Sustainable Development: Resilience through Health Research," the face-to-face gathering aims to emphasize the critical role of health research and innovation in driving sustainable development, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era. The event will also serve as a platform for showcasing groundbreaking research initiatives that contribute to achieving the nation's sustainable development goals.

Expecting participation of 450 guests, including members from Regional Health Research and Development Consortia (RHRDC), esteemed officials from the PNHRS, and representatives from both national and local government units, the event promises to be an extraordinary gathering of bright minds and influential figures in the field of health research.

Aiming to foster collaboration and synergy among various health research endeavors, the week-long event will feature a series of competitions, press conference, meetings, and plenary sessions.

The PNHRS framework, which extends to all 17 regions across the country through the RHRDC, is driven by the Regional Unified Health Research Agenda (RUHRA). This strategic agenda is uniquely tailored to address the distinct health research priorities of each region, ensuring that the nation's efforts are focused on the most pressing issues.

The Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) is a collaborative network of institutions and individuals engaged in health research and development activities in the Philippines. It aims to strengthen the country's health research capability, promote the utilization of research findings, and foster partnerships among stakeholders to address the nation's health needs effectively.

Stay updated with the latest information and developments by visiting the official social media channels and websites: DOST-PCHRD Facebook page, EVHRDC Website, EVHRDC Facebook Page, PNHRS Website, and the 16th PNHRS Week Event Website.

: Christine Jane Gonzalez; Latest News; 01 September 2022; Hits: 1436

PCHRD, PSS conduct online workshop on critiquing research proposals

Aiming to enhance the capabilities of scholars in reviewing and evaluating health research proposals, the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) in partnership with the PCHRD Scholars’ Society (PSS) conducted a four-day Online Workshop on Critiquing Research Proposals on July 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2022 via Zoom.

A total of 42 participants joined the online workshop which covered didactic and skills development activities on the technical review of health research protocols including topics on research and sampling designs, methods of data collection, and statistical analysis, among others.

Facilitated by Dr. Ophelia M. Mendoza, Director of the Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning and Adapting (MERLA) Unit of the USAID ReachHealth Project, the participants’ final outputs are the group and individual evaluations of research proposals following the PCHRD format.

“This workshop has long been advocated by PCHRD in collaboration with PSS. It is designed to enhance the skills of research evaluators to make them aware of the study protocol requirements and expected outcomes of the Council. This activity will also be the reference in selecting PCHRD’s evaluators,” says Dr. Bella G. Panlilio, PSS President.

The PSS, launched on 17 March 2007 during the PCHRD’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, is composed of PCHRD Scholars who partners with PCHRD in developing human resources for health research through capacity building and in creating an enabling environment for career in research. The Society aims to promote research productivity among the new graduates and provide a forum for the PCHRD Scholars to exchange health research information and develop networking and partnerships.

: Christine Jane Gonzalez; Latest News; 01 September 2022; Hits: 2127

Eight new scholars formally join the MD-PhD in Molecular Medicine program through a memorandum of agreement signing ceremony last 23 August 2022 held via Zoom. The group is the 13th batch of scholars under the program since its inception in 2010.

No description available.

The MD-PhD in Molecular Medicine scholarship is an eight-year program implemented by the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) in partnership with the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM). It was designed to build a local pool of physician-scientists with expertise in biomedical research to advance healthcare in the country.

On its 12th year of implementation, the program welcomed the following scholars:

Jirov A. Advincula (University of the Philippines Manila)
Mary Ann F. Cabrera (University of the Philippines Manila)
Sean Philippe L. Chua (University of the Philippines Diliman)
Claire Abigail A. Collantes (University of the Philippines Manila)
Von Novi O. De Leon (University of Santo Tomas)
Khevin Jade B. Gumaru (University of the Philippines Manila)
Harley M. Rodriguez (University of Eastern Philippines, Catarman Northern Samar)
Fred Lawrence D. Samante (St. Scholastica’s College, Tacloban, Leyte)

The scholarship covers tuition and other school fees, book allowance, transportation allowance, monthly stipend, insurance coverage, and thesis grants. They may also avail of the Student Research Support Fund for the conduct and dissemination of research outputs. Other activities that may be supported upon approval of the DOST-PCHRD and UPM are presentations in international research conferences/fora, journal publications, and participation in the DOST-PCHRD’s Research Enrichment Program and DOST Summer Immersion Program.

DOST-PCHRD Executive Director Dr. Jaime Montoya shared his insights on how the MD-PhD program can benefit Filipinos. “I believe that this program is an initiative that we can leverage to strengthen our health systems and make us better prepared for future health challenges,” said Dr. Montoya. He also cited the MD-PhD Colloquium held in May 2022 as a proof of the program’s contributions in generating significant research-based health solutions for Filipinos. In the activity, ongoing scholars presented their research studies conducted under the program.

Similarly, DOST Secretary Dr. Renato Solidum, Jr. also looks forward to positive outcomes for the program, “With major health R&D initiatives such as the establishment of the Virology and Vaccine of the Philippines on the way, I am certain of a fruitful journey ahead of you,” he said.

To date, the program has produced 21 graduates, with 84 ongoing scholars.

: Christine Jane Gonzalez; Latest News; 26 August 2022; Hits: 1853

The study entitled, “Kalinga Para Kay Lolo at Lola: The Need for an Accessible Primary Healthcare for the Elderly,” by Dr. Marjorie Nolasco of the Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center, Nueva Ecija won first place at the 3-Minute Pitch to Policymakers Competition on 11 August 2022 at the Clark Marriott Hotel.

Organized by the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) and part of the 15th Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) Week celebration, the competition was designed to cultivate the presentation and research communication skills of Filipino researchers.Ultimately, it aims to encourage utilization of research results into policies and actions.

Region 3 wins best pitch for this year’s 3-Minute Pitch to Policymakers Competition

“The most important benefit of health research lies in its utilization, translated into strategies, technologies, policies and interventions that will make lives better for the Filipinos,” said PNHRS Research Utilization Committee (RUC) Chair Dr. Marie Carmela Lapitan, emphasizing research as a tool that influences health programs and systems.

This year’s winning pitch pushed for improved accessibility of primary healthcare for the elderly at the barangay level. According to local data from emergency room (ER) consultations, the majority of health concerns of elderly patients can be treated through outpatient care. Recognizing that private outpatient care may be inaccessible to some, Dr. Nolasco’s study recommends local government units (LGUs) to establish elderly clinics in all barangay centers and the implementation of healthcare information campaigns among the elderly to increase their level of healthcare literacy. At the national level, the study suggests the implementation of a nationwide health program, through the Department of Health (DOH), dedicated to addressing geriatric health needs. It also calls for the involvement of medical societies to capacitate primary healthcare providers in caring for Filipino elderly.

Bagging second place was Region 2 represented by Prof, Jennifer Luyun; while Region 12 represented by Dr. Benneth Mercado won third place. For special awards, Region 6 represented by Mr. John Michael Gabriel Zaragoza won the People’s Choice Award.

In her closing message, DOST-PCHRD Research Information, Communication, and Utilization Division (RICUD) Chief Ullyann Garcia highlighted how the activity impacts healthcare. “Researchers can reframe the way health policy issues are seen, and collaboration with policy-makers initially can enhance implementation later,” she said.

: Christine Jane Gonzalez; Latest News; 26 August 2022; Hits: 1914

In preparation for the nationwide roll out of the Health Research and Development Information Network Platform of Unified Research Information Management Systems (HERDIN PLUS), the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) is conducting the HERDIN PLUS Learning Sessions, a series of face-to-face and virtual seminars to capacitate institutions in sharing their health research outputs using the HERDIN PLUS across the regions.

The HERDIN PLUS, developed by the DOST-PCHRD, is an information management system and collaboration platform for Higher Education and Research and Development Institutions. The platform’s main objective is to collect, organize, and disseminate research information at the institutional level, making it easier to generate reports for Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Health (DOH), DOST, and other bodies. Initially intended to serve as a health research repository, it was upgraded in 2020 to include new features such as a database of HERDIN PLUS partners, grant proposal submissions, and ethics clearance applications, among others.

“HERDIN was developed to make health research information more accessible,” Dr. Montoya said, sharing the Council’s motivation in supporting the development of the platform. “The series of Learning Sessions is the DOST-PCHRD’s initiative towards a successful rollout of the System, by reaching out to stakeholders and end users,” he added.

Through the Learning Sessions, the Council aims to build the capacities of research-generating institutions in disseminating their research on HERDIN PLUS in accordance with intellectual property practices and data protection laws. The capacity building initiative aims to reach a total of 30 institutions until December 2022. Starting in July this year, the HERDIN PLUS team has conducted seven sessions in various regions in the country.

Access health and health-related information and other features of HERDIN PLUS here: herdin.ph.

: Christine Jane Gonzalez; Latest News; 22 August 2022; Hits: 1540

The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) hosted 22 scholars from the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) CALABARZON regional campus in a Science Immersion Program (SIP) on 4-22 July 2022, which enabled the high school students to be exposed to ongoing health researches and initiatives all over the country and encouraging them to pursue future careers in S&T.

The Council provided a three-week mentorship to students through a hybrid setup, with synchronous lectures via Zoom and complementary facility visits to different implementing agencies. The S&T Fellows facilitated the curation of lectures and facility visits with PCHRD’s research partners aiming to maximize the students’ awareness of the research programs being done in the Philippines.

The curriculum consisted of lectures that were common to all students, covering topics on research methods and design, research proposal writing, and intellectual property and technology transfer. It also included specialized lectures on three tracks, depending on the students' choice: Functional Foods, Nutrition & Food Safety and Tuklas LunasTM (Drug Discovery and Development); Diagnostics and Omic Technologies for Health; and Biomedical Devices Engineering and Digital & Frontier Technologies in Health. As a final output, the students presented their capsule proposal on 21 July 2022 to their assigned S&T fellows who served as their mentors and panelists.

The closing ceremony was held on 22 July 2022, at Savoy Hotel, Pasay City. It was attended by Ms. Ullyann C. Garcia, Division Chief of PCHRD-Research Information, Communication and Utilization Division and the OIC of PCHRD Executive Director Jaime C. Montoya, PCHRD-Research and Development Management Division Chief Mr. Paul Ernest N. de Leon, DOST-PCHRD S&T Fellows, PCHRD-RDMD Section and Program Heads, and representative Project Managers. The ceremony was also attended by PSHS Regional Campus Director Dr. Jose M. Andaya, PSHS Student Affairs Coordinator Ms. Mabelle V. Furto, SIP Coordinator Ms. Cladys M. Falcunaya, selected PSHS faculty members, and the student participants. After the awarding of certificates, each of the student participants expressed their commitment to pursue science and technology research in the future.

The SIP is a regular summer activity organized by the PSHS that aims to develop science research laboratory skills among their students, as well as help identify and formulate research problems for their future research work.

Based on the evaluation, the PSHS students mentioned that they were “very satisfied” with the entire SIP program hosted by PCHRD. The students added that the whole program was well-prepared and that PCHRD fostered a good learning environment for all of them. The students also stated that the topics presented and projects showcased to them were very relevant.

The SIP program served as an avenue for some students to strengthen their interests and others to rediscover their passion for science and technology. One student mentioned: “this program helped me become more decisive with my future career” indicating that the SIP conducted by PCHRD was truly successful in its aim of inspiring future scientists of our generation.

The first PCHRD-hosted SIP was conceptualized and led by Mr. Paul Ernest N. de Leon, Chief SRS, PCHRD-RDMD, and was pioneered by the Council’s S&T fellows: Dr. Phoebe Nicole G. Perez, Dr. Karell Jo Angelique C. Calpito, Dr. Sarah Jane A. Jimenez, Dr. Christian Adam L. Espiritu, Dr. Ma. Neda A. Catalma, Dr. Albert Remus R. Rosana and Dr. Aimee Yvonne Criselle L. Aman.

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