In celebration of its 41st anniversary, the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) featured its supported ongoing and completed health research in a photo contest entitled, “Capture the Heart in Health Research: A Photojournalism Contest.”

DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., PCHRD Executive Director Dr. Jaime Montoya, and Undersecretary for Research and Development Dr. Leah Buendia led the recognition of winners in an awarding ceremony during the DOST-PCHRD anniversary celebration on 17 March 2023, at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City.

The following are the winning photos from respective projects:

Ongoing Projects Category

1st Place: Tuklas Namin, Tuklas Ninyo (University of San Agustin) – USA TLC Phase 2: Early-Stage Development of Antibiotic and Anticancer Leads from Philippine Marine Streptomyces

2nd Place: tRAnsforming the World Through Health Research (University of the Philippines Diliman) – Rational Design and Structural Modification of ACE2 inhibitors from Terrestrial Plants

3rd Place: PRP: Prompt Return to Play (University of Santo Tomas) – The development of a local technology in the preparation of platelet-rich plasma

People’s Choice Award: Tuklas Namin, Tuklas Ninyo (University of San Agustin)

PCHRD Executive Director’s Choice Award: There is no Public Health without Environmental Health (University of the Philippines Diliman) – Development of Novel Detection Tools for the Integrated Surveillance and Monitoring of Helminthic Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) of Mutual Public Health Importance in the Philippines and China

Completed Projects Category

1st Place: Solo Guitar Ensemble (UP College of Music) – G.T.A.R.A. (Grip/Grasp Training with Active Range of Motion Activities using Guitar): Guitar Lessons for Restoring Hand Function Among Patients with Unilateral Hand Impairment from Chronic Stroke

2nd Place: Healthcare in a Box by Filipinos, for Filipinos (UP Manila – College of Medicine) – SIBOL COVID Task Force – Telemetry System for COVID-19 PGH Response Team” (or the RxBox Telemetry System Project)

3rd Place: Power Me UP! Battling the complexities of HIV (UP Manila – College of Medicine) – HIV Gaming, Engaging, and Testing (G.E.T.) Project

People’s Choice Award: Teamwork makes the Dream Work (University of Santo Tomas) – Blood and placental gene expression in gestational diabetes mellitus: potential identification of early biomarkers

PCHRD Executive Director’s Choice Award: Solo Guitar Ensemble (UP College of Music)

The photo contest is part of PCHRD’s new campaign “HeaRT for the Filipino” or Health Research and Technology for the Filipino, which was introduced by Dr. Montoya during the anniversary celebration. In his message during the anniversary celebration, he emphasized that then and now, the health of the Filipinos will always be at the heart of research.

“We will always carry the health of the Filipino people at the heart of all our initiatives,” Dr. Montoya said.

HeaRT for the Filipino is an integrated marketing communications campaign of the Council which will highlight the role and contributions of health research and technology in making lives better for the Filipino people.