The Department of Science and Technology III as the lead convenor of the Central Luzon Health Research and Development Consortium (CLHRDC) has continuously strengthened the system of collaboration within member institutions in Region III to develop and enhance their capacity in doing health research that will improve the health conditions of the people in Central Luzon. The different committees of the CLHRDC namely Research Management Committee (RMC), Ethics Committee (EC), Research Utilization Information and Communication Committee (RUICC) and Capacity Building Committee (CBC) have all actively pursued their functions to ensure that all the activities stipulated in the 2014 work plan were accomplished.
The Research Management Committee (RMC) made a year round call for proposals to increase the number of health researches that will be approved and funded by various funding agencies. A total of 16 proposals were submitted and evaluated. The CBC on the other hand, has organized trainings on research that enhanced the capability of member-institutions to come up with proposals. Eleven proposals are expected to be submitted in January 2015.
As part of the RMC’s functions, six research projects approved and funded by PCHRD and DOH were monitored which includes the following: “Compliance of Health Care Facilities on Waste Management Protocols in Region III by NEUST”; “The Anti-Hyperglycemic Properties of the Ethyl Acetate and Hexane Extracts from Kondol Leaves (Benincasa hispida Cogniaux) – AUF/PAC”; “Kinect-Operated Bed: Innovative Posture Detection and Bedsores Preventing Device – SPCF”; “Health Seeking Behavior of Families Identified as Poorest by National Household Targeting System – Poverty Reduction (NHT-PR) in Region III – WUP”; “Assessment of Out-Patient Benefit Package of PhilHealth in Region III-WUP”; “Perinatal Beliefs and Practices of Aeta Mothers in Central Luzon-WUP”.
The Ethics Committee on the other hand, is working for the establishment of an Ethics Review Board in member institutions who do not have their own to strengthen their research capacity.
The RUICC for their part, conducted “Technology Forum” that aimed to provide the participants with possible research areas in ICT applications in health as part of the advocacies of the consortium to increase the number of health-related proposals. A Regional Symposium on Health Research Projects in Region 3 was also conducted by the committee to serve as an avenue for information dissemination and utilization of research findings of health researches conducted in the Region. CLHRDC member – institutions also presented their completed researches, and the 1st and 2nd placers on both oral and poster presentations represented Region III in the 8th Philippine National Health Research System Week Celebration in August this year.
The following were declared winners in their respective categories:
Oral Research Presentation Professional Category
1st place - Dr. Neil C. Tanquilut, (PAC)
Hypoglycemic Activity of Antidesma bunius L and Mollugo oppositifolia L Fresh and Alcoholic Extracts in the db/db Diabetic Mouse Model
2nd place - Prof. Erwin C. Mina, (TSU)
Risk Evaluation of the Toxicity of Tubang Amerikano (Jathropa multifida Linn.) Leaf Extract
3rd place - Dr. Remedios D. San Jose (PAC)
Gross and Histopathological Evaluation of Selected Internal Organs of Alloxan–Induced Diabetic Rats (Rattus norvegicus) Treated with White Gourd Melon (Benincasa hispida Cogn.) Extract
Oral Research Presentation Student Category
1st place - JeuzKoz A. Geluz, et al. (AUF)
Detection of Potential Anti-Quorum Sensing Activity in Common Santan (Ixora chinensis Lam.) Leaf Extracts on Pseudomonas aeruginosa
2nd place - Mara Louella P. Sangilan, et al. (AUF)
Determinaton of the Anti-Angiogenic Activity of White Angel (Holorrhena antidysenterica) Leaf Extract Using Chorioallontoic Membrane Assay
3rd place - Daniel Ian M. Berber, et al. (BPSU)
Electronic Medical Record Using RFID Technology
Poster Research Presentation (Student Category)
1st place - Johnna N. Oliveria, et al. (BPSU)
Blood Glucose Monitoring System with SMS Technology
2nd place - Lei Vanette Alangui (AUF)
The Efficacy of Basil (Ocimum bacilicum) and Bay (Laurus nobilis) as Repellent against Common Houseflies (Musca domestica)
For 2016, CLHRDC is encouraging member institutions to do more collaborative researches to maximize resources, conduct quarterly meetings for the development of their planned activities, sponsor training activities, attend national and international conferences, publish research outputs in international refereed journals (ISI/Scopus Index), assist member institutions organize their own Ethics Review Boards and continuously disseminate information about the recent activities and accomplishments of the consortium through promotional activities in local TV and radio stations, websites of member institutions and regional newspapers. Likewise, CLHRDC will strengthen linkages with related professional organizations, LGUs and other agencies.
