The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) announced the recipients of the 2021 Alberto Romualdez Jr. Outstanding Health Research Award (AROHRA).

"The AROHRA encourages researchers to be sensitive to the scientific and technological requirements of the health system and rewards those whose research has contributed significantly to addressing prevalent health issues," DOST said.
AROHRA recognizes research programs or projects that demonstrated the link between research and practice through the utilization of research findings in the health delivery system.
Dr. Ma. Teresa Barzaga of the Molecular Diagnostics and Cellular Therapeutics Laboratory of the Lung Center of the Philippines was recognized in the Biomedical Research Category for leading the research on "Autologous Dendritic Cell Vaccine as Innovative Therapy for Cancer."
Barzaga's research offers a promising complementary therapy for cancer and gives patients an option for an innovative and safe therapy in a form of active immunotherapy using dendritic cells.
Meanwhile, the DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute won in the Health Research Services Category for its malnutrition reduction program.
DOST-FNRI's program aims to address the malnutrition problem among young children across the country especially in rural areas.