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 Gold and Silver Series awards are granted to faculty members in recognition of their research productivity and leadership in their respective fields of specialization within the period covered by the award. These awards are based on research publications (author by-line should indicate the University of Santo Tomas as address in the publication), ongoing research involvement, and tenure in the University.

The Gold Series

The awards, given every two years come in two categories: Research Category and Creative Works Category. The Gold Series Award Research Category is granted to tenured full-time faculty member with Ph.D. or M.D., with teaching load, and exclusively teaching in UST except for faculty affiliates of the UST Graduate School, authored at least five research papers published in refereed journals/ scholarly books in the last five years, with at least two of these published, one of which is an international (Web of Science/ Scopus) publication, or has one patent or utility model granted, within the period covered by the award, or, authored at least two scholarly books in the last five years, with one of these published within the period covered by the award, with ongoing research under the Research Center or Research Unit of the University, and, with at least one research disciple.

Under the Creative Works Category, the awardee should be a tenured full-time faculty member with Ph.D., with teaching load, and exclusively teaching in UST except for faculty affiliates of the UST Graduate School, authored at least three creative or critical works in the last five years, with at least one of these published within the period covered by the award, and, with ongoing studies (creative projects) under the Research Center or Research Unit of the University.

The Silver Series

Under the Research Category of the Silver Series, the award is given to tenured full-time faculty member with M.Sc. or M.A., with teaching load, and exclusively teaching in UST, must have authored at least three research papers published in refereed journals/scholarly books in the last five years, with at least one of these published, or has one patent or utility model granted, within the period covered by the award or, authored at least one scholarly book in the last five years published within the period covered by the award and, with ongoing research under the Research Center or Research Unit of the University. Under the Creative Works Category, the faculty member must be tenured full-time faculty member with M.Sc. or M.A., with teaching load, and exclusively teaching in UST, must have authored at least two creative or critical works in the last five years, with at least one of these was published within the period covered by the award, and, with ongoing studies (creative projects) under the Research Center or Research Unit of the University. A Research disciple refers to junior faculty members, graduate students, medical interns, and medical residents.

International Publications Award (2014–2017)

The International Publications Award is presented to all full time faculty members teaching only in UST for the publication of their research outputs in journal/s and books indexed in the Web of Science/ Scopus with IF Quartile Metrics Ranking. Author byline should indicate the University of Santo Tomas as address in the publication.

Arts & Humanities (8 awardees)

• (AB: Silver & IP)
• (AB: Gold)
• Asst. Prof. Jovito V. Cariño, Ph.D. (AB: Silver & IP)
• Prof. Franz Giuseppe F. Cortez, Ph.D. (AB: Silver & IP)
• (Education: Silver)
• (AB: Silver & IP)
• Asst. Prof. Roland Theuas D. Pada, Ph.D. (AB: IP)
• Prof. Ma. Luisa T. Reyes, Ph.D. (AB: IP)

Education & Social Sciences (32 awardees)

• Assoc. Prof. Mark Anthony D. Abenir, D.S.D. (AB: Silver & IP)
• Prof. Ma. Claudette A. Agnes, Ph.D. (Science: IP)
• Prof’l. Lect. Lucila O. Bance, Ph.D. (Science: Silver & IP)
• (AB: Gold & IP)
• (CRS: IP)
• (Commerce: IP)
• (Science: Silver & IP)
• (Commerce: Gold & IP)
• (Education: Gold & IP)
• Mr. Jommar A. de Guzman, M.D.C. (Commerce: IP)
• Prof’l. Lect. Rosalito G. de Guzman, Ph.D. (GS: IP)
• Prof. Rowena L. Escolar Chua, Ph.D. (Nursing: IP)
• Assoc. Prof’l. Lect. Amelita A. Gaerlan, Ph.D. (GS: IP)
• Assoc. Prof. Ma. Frieda Z. Hapan, Ph.D. (Pharmacy: IP)
• Assoc. Prof. Sr. Angelina M. Julom, Ph.D. (Science: Silver)
• (Commerce: IP)
• Prof. Maria Belinda S. Mandigma, Ph.D. (Commerce: Silver & IP)
• Asst. Prof. Evangeline T. Matienzo, M.A.N. (Nursing: IP)
• Asst. Prof. Florence C. Navidad, D.Ed. (Pharmacy: Silver)
• (CRS: IP)
• Asst. Prof. Jeremaiah M. Opiniano, M.P.S., M.A. (AB: Silver & IP)
• (Science: IP)
• Mr. Laurence Lloyd B. Parial, M.A.N. (Nursing: IP)
• Asst. Prof. Corazon F. Regacho, M.Sc. (Science: IP)
• Prof. Marc Eric S. Reyes, Ph.D. (Science: IP)
• Assoc. Prof. Portia Lynn Q. See, Ph.D. (Science: IP)
• Asst. Prof. Pia Patricia P. Tenedero, M.A.T. (AB: IP)
• Asst. Prof. Gian Carlo S. Torres, M.A.N. (Nursing: IP)
• Assoc. Prof. Marishirl P. Tropicales, Ph.D. (Education: IP)
• Prof. Chin Uy, Ph.D. (Commerce: IP)
• Asst. Prof. Les Paul M. Valdez, M.A.N. (Nursing: IP)
• (AB: Silver & IP)

Health & Allied Sciences (35 awardees)

• Mr. Franco Louie L. Abes, M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• Assoc. Prof. Encarnita R. Ampil, M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• Ms. Lara Mae A. Angeles, M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• Prof. Alejandro C. Baroque II, M.D. (Medicine: Gold & IP)
• Asst. Prof. Christine B. Bernal, M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• Assoc. Prof. David T. Bolong, M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• Assoc. Prof. Ma. Rosario F. Cabansag, M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• (Medicine: Gold & IP)
• Assoc. Prof. Benjamin S. Campomanes Jr., M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• Assoc. Prof. Melchor M. Chan, M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• Prof. Remedios D. Chan, M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• Assoc. Prof. Mary Anne D. Chiong, M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• Ms. Elaine C. Cunanan, M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• Assoc. Prof. Janine Margarita R. Dizon, Ph.D. (CRS: Gold & IP)
• Assoc. Prof. Ma. Victoria C. Dizon, M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• (CRS: Gold & IP)
• Mr. Frederick T. Dy, M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• (CRS: IP)
• Mr. Dennis S. Flores, Ph.D. (Medicine: IP)
• Prof. Maria Honolina S. Gomez, M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• Prof. Flerida G. Hernandez, M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• Prof. Reynaldo M. Javate, M.D. (Medicine: Gold & IP)
• Assoc. Prof. Sjoberg A. Kho, M.D. (Medicine: Gold & IP)
• Asst. Prof. Johnny K. Lokin, M.D. (CRS: IP)
• Mr. Erick S. Mendoza, M.D. (Medicine: Silver & IP)
• Prof. Leilani B. Mercado-Asis, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H. (Medicine: Gold & IP)
• Prof. Sandra Teresa V. Navarra, M.D. (Medicine: Gold & IP)
• Prof. Jose C. Navarro, M.D. (Medicine: Gold & IP)
• Prof. Narciso S. Navarro Jr., M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• Prof. Jocelyn C. Que, M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• Prof. Raymond L. Rosales, M.D., Ph.D. (Medicine: Gold & IP)
• Prof. Jose D. Sollano Jr., M.D. (Medicine: Gold & IP)
• (Medicine: Gold & IP)
• Assoc. Prof. Teresa T. Sy-Ortin, M.D. (Medicine: IP)
• Assoc. Prof. Ma. Irene B. Tangco, M.D. (Medicine: IP)

Science & Technology (42 awardees)

• (Science: Silver & IP)
• (Science: IP)
• (Science: IP)
• (Science: Gold & IP)
• Prof. Jovencio G. Apostol, Ph.D. (Pharmacy: IP)
• (Science: Gold & IP)
• (Science: Silver & IP)
• Prof. Aristea V. Bayquen, Ph.D. (Pharmacy: IP)
• (Engineering: Silver & IP)
• (Science: Gold & IP)
• (Science: IP)
• Asst. Prof. Renz Kenneth G. Cadiang, M.Sc. (Pharmacy: IP)
• (Pharmacy: Gold & IP)
• (Pharmacy: IP)
• Assoc. Prof. Gil A. Cauyan, M.Sc. (Science: Silver & IP)
• Ms. Stephanie L. Chua, M.Sc. (Pharmacy: IP)
• (Pharmacy: IP)
• (Science: Gold & IP)
• (Engineering: IP)
• (Science: Gold & IP)
• (Science: Silver & IP)
• (Engineering: IP)
• Mr. Justine M. Kalaw, M.Sc. (Science: IP)
• Mr. Lorico dlS. Lapitan Jr., M.Sc. (Engineering: IP)
• (Science: Gold & IP)
• (Science: Gold & IP)
• Asst. Prof. Loida R. Medina, Ph.D. (Science: IP)
• (Science: Gold & IP)
• (Science: Gold & IP)
• (Science: Gold & IP)
• Asst. Prof. Maureen B. Sabit, Ph.D. (Science: IP)
• (Science: Gold & IP)
• (Pharmacy: Gold & IP)
• (Pharmacy: Silver & IP)
• (Science: Gold & IP)
• Ms. Pamela Berilyn T. So, M.Sc. (Pharmacy: IP)
• (Science: Gold & IP)
• (Engineering: IP)
• (Science: Gold & IP)
• Asst. Prof. Ryan Rhay P. Vicerra, Ph.D. (Engineering: IP)
• (Science: Silver & IP)
• (GS: Silver)

Sacred Sciences (4 awardees)

• (EF: Gold)
• (AB: Silver)
• (AB: Silver)
• (IR: Silver)

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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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