Depression is sometimes referred to as the "Black Dog". Just like a real dog, it needs to be embraced, understood, taught new tricks and ultimately brought to heel. 

Depression can happen to anybody. If you are in difficulty, never be afraid to ask for help. There is absolutely no shame in doing so. Recognizing depression and seeking help is the first and most critical step towards recovery. 

Source: World Health Organization Philippines. (16, January 2019). I had a black dog, his name was Depression.Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/whophilippines/

Secretary of Health Francisco T. Duque III released the following statement today on the signing of the Philippine HIV and Aids Act by President Rodrigo Duterte:

“The signing of the Philippine HIV and Aids Act is a huge step forward in responding to the growing HIV epidemic in the Philippines. 
Ngayon ay mabibigyan na natin ng tamang suporta ang mga Pilipinong may HIV-AIDS. Kaya naman lubos ang aming pasasalamat kay Presidente Duterte sa pagbibigay niya ng prayoridad at aksyon laban sa HIV-AIDS.

The law provides comprehensive education and prevention programs for PLHIV and their families. It also enables minors 15 years of age to get tested for HIV. 
While the new law has been enacted, our next step is to be able to properly execute the law by developing an Implementing Rules and Regulations to guide executive officials in implementing the law, as well as the public in how to comply with the law. 

A stronger collaboration is key to attaining our vision of an HIV-free country. The road ahead will be long and our climb will be steep, but we will thrive and win against HIV and AIDS.”

Source: Department of Health (Philippines).(2019, January 10)STATEMENT ON THE SIGNING OF THE PHILIPPINE HIV/AIDS ACT. Retrieved from:https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDOHgov/posts/2328237850520787

PURPOSE

The DOST-PCHRD Undergraduate Thesis Grant in Natural Products 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 research and later on build a pool of researchers/experts specializing in the field. The program supports the Drug Discovery and Development program of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) which aims to develop safe, effective and affordable alternative drugs from the country’s natural resources.

Thesis grants will be given to 2 undergraduate entries per region. After completion of the project, a competition will be held to selected qualified students to recognize innovative work on natural products.

NOMINATION PROCEDURES

1. Who can apply

All undergraduate students of Pharmacy, Chemistry, Nursing and Health and Allied Sciences who have thesis proposals on natural products may apply. The proposed thesis study must use plants indigenous in the region. The project must be completed a year after receiving the grant.

2. How to apply

Applicants should submit the following documents to the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium (RHRDC):

a) Duly accomplished prescribed research proposal form with college seal
b) Endorsement letter from the institution signed by the head of the university college dean
c) Soft copy of the proposal (word format) 
d) Hard copy of the proposal using A4 paper (3 copies)
e) Certificate of plant authentication
f) Appropriate clearances:
Bureau of Animal Industry clearance for studies involving animal subjects
Biosafety Clearance for studies involving genetic engineering and pathogenic organisms
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Clearance for studies involving Indigenous Peoples
Gratuitous Permit from Biodiversity Management Bureau for studies involving the collection of flora and fauna from DENR Protected Areas
Ethical clearance for studies involving human subjects
g) Curriculum vitae of the students and adviser using the prescribed form

SELECTION CRITERIA

The research proposals will be rated based on the following criteria:

Proposal evaluation

1. Technical merit
• Objectives are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound
• The study design supports the objectives
• The study sample and methodology are appropriate

2. Data management
• The plan for data collection is clearly described
• Quality control procedures for data collection are in place
• Statistical analysis is well described

3. Relevance/Significance
• The study addresses an important health problem
• The study contributes to the advancement of scientific knowledge

4. Proponent/institution’s capacity
• The investigators are qualified and appropriately trained to carry out the study
• The proposed study is appropriate to the experience level of the investigators
• The implementing/cooperating institution is capable of carrying out the proposed study

PROGRAM PROCESS

Deliberation of thesis grantees and winners will be based on the grading/rating during the en banc meeting and oral presentation, respectively.

THESIS GRANT

• Two (2) thesis proposals will be selected per region who will receive a grant amounting to a maximum of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00).
• The thesis fund will be deposited to the bank account of the thesis adviser and will be liquidated after the completion of the study
• A Memorandum of Agreement will be signed between the students, adviser, head of the institution and DOST-PCHRD
• The grant must be expended based on the approved line-item budget

CASH AWARD

After the oral presentation, fund support will be provided to the top 3 relevant and innovative thesis studies. Prizes will be distributed as follows:

Finalists will receive a plaque of recognition.

TIMETABLE OF ACTIVITIES

 The DOST-PCHRD have launched the “Best Mentor Award” to recognize the skills and knowledge rendered, values and attitudes instilled and all of the efforts given by our research mentors to create a research community capable of promoting welfare in the region.

The award recognizes excellence in mentorship that instills passion among researchers, resulting in enhanced relevance and productivity in health research.

Health Mentors are those that are actively engaged in health research such as trainers, preceptor, adviser, advocate, and initiator of R&D implementation, promotion, and utilization.

Note: 

Eligibility

1. Who can nominate

The nominating party may be any of the following:

• head of the nominee’s institution or immediate supervisor
• colleague/s
• trainee/s
• student/advisee

Note: Self-nomination is not allowed

2. Who can be nominated

• must be a Filipino citizen
• at least a holder of master’s degree degree
• actively involved in mentoring researchers/students or colleagues for at least 5 years
• has a good track record as a researcher in terms of publication, product development or policy formulation
• professionally involved in health research activities either as a research program/project leader, principal and co-principal investigator, mentor/adviser/trainer, or author/co-author
• actively involved in health research activities such as the conduct of research training and extension work, paper presentations, fund generation, research promotion and networking, research agenda setting, and capacity-building activities

Note: Winners are ineligible for subsequent nominations.

How to nominate

• Submit the recommendation form (https://drive.google.com/open?id=1e4396mCJ8ULtcp8xlMQnHhzxZWL_p_aF) (either personally delivered, by courier, or thru email) for initial screening to the regional consortium secretariat. (Please refer to the attached paper for the list of addresses)
• For completed DOST-PCHRD and ASTHRDP scholars, submit entries to DOST-PCHRD for screening and endorsement of the PCHRD Scholar’s Society (PSS).

For the qualified nominees

The requirements below should be submitted within the deadline

1. Five (5) hard copies of the following documents:

1.1.   Accomplished curriculum vitae of the nominee using the prescribed format for Best Mentor Award

1.2. A narrative description (1,000-1,500 words) of the nominee’s mentoring activities, accompanied by supporting documents, e.g. photos and other relevant documentation.

1.3. Description of other achievements attained related to health research for the last 5 years, including supporting documents e.g. photocopy of certificates of recognition/awards/honors received by the nominee, which are relevant to the nominee’s eligibility criteria in Section IV.

2. Cite the names of 5 mentees, their achievements in research, and a narrative description of the nominee’s contribution to the success of each mentored research.

Schedule of Selection and Awarding

The award is given every two years.

1. Selection Process

Procedures

• The decision of the National Selection Committee is final.

• The consortium must provide DOST- PCHRD with the complete list of nominees from their region.

• Documents pertinent to the nomination of non-winners will be returned to their owners.

c.2. Cluster and National Criteria

There will be a review of nominations by the Cluster/National Selection Committee based on the following criteria:

• Quantitative Indicators – refers to the no. of research mentees guided, advised or mentored by the candidate; also includes the nominee’s years of experience in mentoring.
• Qualitative indicators – to be decided by the evaluators; may include extent, quality/result of the research guidance/mentoring done e.g., awards and other forms of recognition received by the mentor and/or other mentees 

Publications refer to peer-reviewed journals during the last 5 years:

•  main author in a Philippine journal or international journal
• co-author in a Philippine journal or international journal

 Awards received refers to recognition received for the research completed as:

• main author/principal and co-principal investigator in the Philippines or International
• co-author/member of a research team in the Philippines or International

Paper presented refers to the number of times the nominee presented a paper in a conference, workshop (either oral or poster) in the Philippines or abroad

Completed research covers completed unpublished researches over the last 5 years 

Types of active involvement in five years

• Teacher, adviser, panel member, critic

• Advocate of policies

• Reviewer of journal article/editor/member of editorial board/team

• Member of professional organization/network

• Trainor in training courses/resource person/lecturer

• Research manager/director, coordinator, evaluator, monitor

• Quality of active involvement within 5 years as:

• Teacher, adviser, panel member, critic

• Advocate of policies

• Reviewer of journal articles, editor/member of editorial team

• Trainor in training courses/resource person

• Research manager, coordinator, evaluator, monitor

 \

• Providing research opportunities as:
  • Organizer/initiator of program, project, policy

• Organizer/initiator/member of team for workshops, conferences

• Organizer/initiator/member of team for training courses

• Director/chair/administrator for research

• Study group leader

• Research team leader

This may include awards/recognition received by mentees/ advisees/students of the nominee or any agreed criteria; impact of R&D in terms of patenting, commercialization, and/or utilization of research results into policies and actions such as training modules developed, teaching manuals, community modules, contribution to national health development/equity and/or relevance of research results in health care delivery; etc.

c.3. Award Criteria

• A nominee must obtain a score of at least 80% to be eligible for the cluster award.

• The Selection Committee (cluster and national) has the option not to declare a winner for a given year.

c.4. Composition of the Selection Committee

• Cluster Selection Committee

Chair:

Members:

Representative from non-members of consortia

Representative from DOH Regional Office

Representative from CHED Regional Office

Representative from DOST Regional Office

2 technical experts identified by DOST- PCHRD

• National Selection Committee

Chair:

Members:

To be elected from among the Members of the

Committee

Representative from the DOH Central Office

Representative from CHED Central Office

Representative from UP-NIH

2 technical experts identified by DOST- PCHRD

 Announcement of Winners and Prizes

• All qualified nominees will receive certificates of recognition.

• Each Cluster Winner from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and National Capital Region will receive a cash prize of P200,000.00 and a plaque of recognition.

• The National Winner will receive an additional cash prize of P500,000.00 and trophy during the PNHRS Week Celebration.

VII. Timetable

Source: DOST-PCHRD