September 24, 2018- Ms. Sabrina Arra P. Elechosa, SRS II together with Sylvia N. Ocon, Admin Officer from the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) conducted an institutional visit and orientation to students and thesis adviser of the College of Allied Health Sciences, Cagayan State University- Andrews Campus regarding Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the Undergraduate Thesis Grant on Natural Products offered by PCHRD.

Included and discussed in the MOA are the Liquidation and Financial Assistance, proper utilization of the budget, and the deadline for the submission of the completed study.

The DOST- PCHRD provides fund support to all undergraduate students who will conduct their thesis on natural products. The program aims to sustain a research culture in natural products to increase the number of researches, eventually building a pool of researchers/experts specializing in the field.

The program supports the Drug Discovery and Development program of DOST-PCHRD which aims to develop safe, effective, and affordable alternative drugs from the country’s natural resources.

Thesis grants will be given to two (2) undergraduate entries per region. A competition will be held to selected qualified students to recognize innovative work on natural products after completion of the project.

Out of the three (3) undergraduate theses submitted to DOST-PCHRD, two (2) were given the grant amounting to P50, 000.

Title of granted undergraduate theses are “Effect of ointment Made from Dugtong Ahas (Parameria laevigata) Aqueous Bark Extract on the Burn Wounds on Sprague Dawley Rats” and “Effect of Don Juan (Andrographis paniculata) Leaf Aqueous Extract to the Glucose Level of Alloxan- Induced Diabetic Sprague Dawley Rats” .