Research Center for Natural and Applied Sciences (RCNAS) Assistant Research Director Prof. Mario A. Tan, PhD was honored with 2023 National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) Achievement Award in the Chemical Sciences Division for his research work on natural products.
Tan, a faculty member of the Department of Chemistry, was recognized for his contributions to the chemical and pharmacological significance of 饾槜饾槩饾槸饾槬饾槩饾槸饾樁饾槾 species and endemic Rubiaceae plants.
“[Tan’s] extensive studies have illuminated the rich therapeutic potential of these plant varieties, particularly in the realm of neuroprotection and natural products, with a special focus on potential therapies for Alzheimer’s disease,” as read in his citation.
His research tackled the anti-amyloidogenic activity inherent in pure compounds isolated from nature and crude extracts from Philippine endemic and indigenous plants, offering valuable insights into developing neuroprotective agents utilizing the bioactive compounds derived from the said plant species.
In the same NRCP division, the Thomasian researchers who previously received the award were Prof. Emeritus Fortunato B. Sevilla III (1994), Prof. Emeritus Beatrice Q. Guevara (1999), Prof. Emeritus Maribel G. Nonato (2006), Prof. Alicia M. Aguinaldo (2011), and Prof. Christina A. Binag (2013).
