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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Serve and give back to the country': DOST calls on previous scholars, scientists to join PH's Virology Institute

'Serve and give back to the country': DOST calls on previous scholars, scientists to join PH's Virology Institute

Published Apr 29, 2021 04:21 pm

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) called on Thursday, April 29, its previous scholars, Filipino scientists, and those experts in the fields of microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry to be part of the Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines or VIP.

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina L. Guevara (Manila Bulletin File Photo)

DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina L. Guevara made the call during the "VISION 2021: Virology Science and Technology Institute of the Philippines, Information, Opportunities and Networking” webinar initiated by the DOST’s National Research Council of the Philippines (NCRP).

"Engaging Filipino scientists is essential to the VIP. We reiterate that the success of the VIP is the result of the close cooperation among our stakeholders,” she said during the webinar.

She noted they have already secured the support of seven Balik Scientists "who are working closely with us in the initial projects of the VIP.”

"The VIP enjoins the participation of the Filipino scientists abroad,” she said.

In her presentation, the seven Balik Scientists have been identified. They are Dr. Homer Pantua of Bio Assets Philippines and Genentech, United States; Dr. Leodevico L. Ilag of Australia-based Molawin Creek Venture Pty.Ltd; Dr. Teodoro Fajardo and Dr. Myra Hosmillo of the University of Cambridge; Dr. Christine Lora Leyson of Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory (SEPRL) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service; and Dr. Lourdes Nadala, and Dr. Elpidio Cesar Nadala Jr. of the Diagnostics for Real World, Ltd. (DRW).

"The VIP is calling on the following (microbiologists/virologists, molecular biologists, biochemists, bioinformaticians) and encourage those who specialise in these fields to join us. First, previous DOST scholars of Science Education Institute. Second, those with MD (Doctor of Medicine) and PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) under PCHRD (Philippine Council for Health Research and Development), and third, those who may find the VIP as the ideal place to serve and give back to the country,” Guevara said.

She noted that the VIP is also in contact with different organizations and societies in the fields of microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, among others "to find the best people" to work with them in the Institute.

The VIP’s "human resources needs" include microbiologists/virologists, molecular biologists, biochemists, bioinformaticians, medical doctors, veterinarians, plant pathologists, medical technologists, and administrative staff.

“The DOST in coordination with our experts from here and abroad are constantly crafting the plans for the VIP,” Guevara said.

The six initial projects of VIP are the following:

-Isolation and Purification of Philippine Common Viruses with Medical Importance and Pandemic Potential for Antigen-Antibody Studies

-Combination Therapy: Lytic Bacteriophages and Plant Extracts against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria;

-Detection of Food and Water-borne Bacterial Pathogens using Phage-based Diagnostics;

-De novo synthesis of a non-Infective Flaviviridae virus-like particles: Initial development of a template for Zika-related diagnostics and vaccine research in the Philippines;

-Development of a Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction for Point of Need Detection for African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV); and

-Molecular Detection and Characterisation of Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV)

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