More than 700 participants including Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region 02 headed by Regional Director Sancho A. Mabborang joined Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) as they celebrate their 34th Anniversary on March 17, 2016 at New World Makati Hotel.
With the theme "Going Global: Increasing International Partnerships in Research and Innovation for Health", PCHRD Executive Director Jaime C. Montoya shared during his opening message what PCHRD has done for the year 2015 and gave an overview on what to expect for the coming years.
He mentioned that the said celebration will focus on the globalization for research and education, health and the growing interest for international collaborations.
In his message, DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo said that the quest of DOST in self-realization and independence starts in the recognition on the key role of scientists and engineers in making science work to attain sustainable national development.
“By relying more on our scientists and engineers and by empowering them, they have achieved significant breakthroughs in agriculture, industry, disaster preparedness and health… they have come up with many innovative solutions to our problems,” he added.
As he ended his speech, Secretary Montejo congratulated PCHRD as he thanked them and other Health Institutions and sectors of the society for the long standing partnership in addressing different health concerns.
On the other hand, Secretary Janette Loreto-Garin of Department of Health (DOH) through Assistant Secretary Maria Bernardina Flores asked PCHRD to carry on its path in health researches.
“I urge PCHRD to continue its course to strengthen health researches through the following tracks: mobilization of human resources for health, use of information and communication technology in health researches, making health researches accessible and providing opportunities for collaboration and partnership within and beyond our workers,” the Assistant Secretary said.
Dr. M.Jamal Deen, president of Academy of Science Royal Society of Canada, served as the keynote speaker during the event.
It was followed by the awarding ceremony where 2016 Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB)-Accredited Ethics Review Committees were awarded with certificates of recognition.
Moreover, a panel discussion on International Partnerships and Fairness in Research Collaboration: Learnings, Best Practices and the Way Forward took place. Dr. Manuel Dayrit, dean of Ateneo School of medicine and Public Health served as the moderator, Prof. Carel lJsselmuiden, executive director of Council on Health Research for Development as the speaker and 5 panelists namely: Dr. Lilibeth C. David, undersecretary of Department of Health; Ms. Karen Ann Hipol, Research and Innovation programme manager, UK Newton Fund; Dr. Carmelita Padilla, Chancellor, University of the Philippines Manila; Dr. Charles Yu, Vice Chancellor for Mission and Linkages, De La Salle University; and Dr. Anajav Sakuntabhai, head of Functional Genetics Laboratory, Institute Pasteur Paris have joined the discussion.
Afternoon session include (1) Dissemination of Key Findings: Moving Forward and Overcoming Challenges: Focus on the Non-Visible Faces 11/2013 Typhoon Yolanda Disaster in Leyte, (2) Dengue Forum (3) Meeting on Biomedical Devices (4) Orientation Forum on DOST Intellectual Property Policies (5) General Assembly: Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors, (6) PCHRD Scholars’ Society.
On its second day, a consultation meeting on Research on Health and the Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction was conducted. By KC D. Sucuano/DOST R02 – PAI
