Emerging as the Champion of the Young Scientists Forum is 2019 Summa cum Laude Simon Miguel Lopez, who presented the research entitled “Cholinergic, beta-secretase, and oxidative activity evaluation of spider venom from Philippine Tarantula (Therposidae),” which he co-authored with Jeremy S. Aguilar, Jerene Bashia B. Fernandez, Angelic Gayle J. Lao, Anna Beatriz R. Mayor, Mirzi Rain R. Estrella, Lance Ehrold D. Sarmiento, and faculty members Mark Kevin P. Devanadera, , , and .

Meanwhile, two faculty members placed third in their respective categories in the poster presentations segment of the conference. Winning 3rd Place for Natural Proucts is (LESO) Administrator , for the research “Immunogenicity and specific antipeptide binding activity of in silico predicted epitope of fragilysin from Bacteroides fragilis.” Co-authoring the paper with Guevarra were Gieanne Louise J. Abara, Christian Rafael B. Lorenzo, Maryrose O. Boongaling, and .

Finally, winning in the category of Health was Mr. Mark Kevin P. Devanadera, for the research entitled “Evaluation of the cytotoxic activity of polyunsaturated fatty acids and its concoction on human breast adenocarcinoma cells.” His co-authors were R.M. Bennett, K. Watanabe, , , T. Aki, and .

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The event took place last May 24 to 25, 2018, at the Pan Pacific Hotel – Manila, and bore the theme “Food Fortification in Universal Healthcare.” The BS Biochemistry research groups composed of Nelisah Suarez and Maeve Alejandro, as well as Ronina Cada and Pamela Aliman won the 1^st and 2^nd places, respectively. Both research groups were mentored by Ms. , Mr. Mark Kevin Devanadera, and Mr. Alexis M. Labrador.

The winning research of Ms. Suarez and Ms. Alejandro, entitled “Multi-core Microencapsulation of Lactobacillus acidophilus using Lipid-based Material and Carbohydrate-based Matrix for Functional Food Application” focused on the use of lipid-rich coconut oil bodies supported with carbohydrate-based materials as microencapsulating agent to L. Acidophilus to promote longer probiotic shelf life and beneficial effects.

The research presented by Ms. Cada and Ms. Aliman entitled “Characterization of In Vitro Effects of Using Purified Coconut Oil Bodies as Encapsulating Agents for Doxorubicin and Paclitaxel” garnered the 2^nd place. The research focused on the utilization of purified coconut oil bodies as coating materials for chemotherapeutic drugs doxorubicin and paclitaxel with the aim of improving bioavailability and efficacy against cancer cells.

Both researches expedite the usefulness of coconut oil bodies not only as an adjuvant material for drug and food products but as an emerging pharmacological excipient that enhances the medicinal effect and therapeutic index of the active substance during drug and even food delivery.

This year’s 8^th Annual Scientific Conference and their 2^nd International symposium focuses on the exposition of research works and discoveries in food fortification and its application in universal healthcare. The competition is divided into student and professional research posters and oral presentation categories. The panel of examiners for both student and professional research competitions are from various institutions specializing in various fields including Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Nutrition and Medicine.

The 1^st and 2^nd place winners of the said Oral Research Presentation of the convention are automatically contestants in the upcoming Philippine National Health Research System (PNHRS) convention on August 6 to 9, 2018 at Camp John Hay, Baguio City.

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The CHED-funded research, entitled UST’s “Spider Venom Project,” is headed by Asst. Prof. Myla R. Santiago, M.Sc. of the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy.  The said research is in collaboration with Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) and the City University of New York (CUNY).  ProVe group is also composed of Prof. Librado A. Santigao, PhD; Asst. Prof. Angelica Bernadette C. Crisostomo, MBioEd; Ms. Gladys I. Bathan, MSc; Mr. Leonardo A. Guevarra Jr., MSc; Asst. Prof. Gardee T. Peña, MSc; Asst. Prof. Ma. Irene D. Liu, MSc, of the Department of Biochemistry;  Prof. Olga Nuñeza, PhD from MSU-IIT; Research Associates Mr. Mark Kevin P. Devanadera and Ms. Anna Beatriz R. Mayor, RCh; and Prof. Sebastien Poget, PhD from The City University of New York.

According to the proposal’s initial abstract, “the research program can lead to positive impact on the lives of the general public through (1) generation of sustainable development strategies to identify pharmacologic diversity and potential of spider venoms (2) improvement of transdisciplinary understanding of the importance of Philippine spiders in conserving the environmental richness of Philippines biodiversity (3) identify platforms for policy guidelines in terms of protection of pharmacological innovations, spider biodiversity and conservation. The program will also be able to assist undergrad/post grad students in finishing their thesis/dissertations and even high school students in local communities where spider collection has been conducted. Experts from collaborating institutions will also serve as facilitators in the development of advanced courses in biochemistry, biotechnology and venomics among their respective institutions. Also, research outputs including publications and possible patents may be generated from spider bioactive peptides with novel therapeutic leads.”

Last September 6, 2017, the team was joined by Dr. Custer C. Deocaris, the Chief of Research of the Commission on Higher Education, for a legislative consultation with Congressman Ferjenel G. Biron of the fourth district of Iloilo. This consultation was done in line with the Congressional Budget Hearing of CHEd. In the consultation, Congressman Biron consulted the UST scientists on how to better support the innovation and intellectual property protection systems with regard to Philippine natural resources.

Congressman Biron cited the case of erythromycin.  The blockbuster antibiotic was discovered in 1952 by Eli Lilly, a US-based global pharmaceutical industry from bacteria isolated in Iloilo, his home province.  The company filed for patent protection and erythromycin was launched commercially in 1952 under the brand name Ilosone, after the Philippine region of Iloilo.

The meeting concluded with Congressman Biron promising to make a manifestation in the Congressional Plenary to lobby for greater research budget for higher education.

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