The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST PCHRD) Scholars’ Society (PSS) marked a new milestone with its first-ever Research Presentation Competition, held on 18 March 2026 at the Acacia Hotel, Alabang.

The PSS is an organization of PCHRD Scholars that supports the development of health researchers in the country. It provides a platform for the Council’s Scholars to share health research, build networks, and strengthen collaboration. The PSS works closely with PCHRD in advancing research careers through training, mentoring, and linkages.

DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. congratulated all the winners and called on the PSS members to remain engaged beyond the annual gathering to mentor younger researchers and share their experiences, particularly in studying abroad. He emphasized that the strength of the PSS lies in the connections it builds, serving as a space where the Council’s Scholars can continue to learn from one another and support each other’s growth.

Before a panel of judges, all of whom are members of the PSS Board of Directors, local and Graduate Scholars presented their studies that aligned with the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA) and the Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA). A total of nine entries were submitted, with only four advancing to the oral presentation category and one to the poster presentation category.

Winning the oral research presentation category, Dr. Allen Anthony P. Laraño, PhD in Molecular Biomedicine Scholar-graduate at the University of Trieste (UniTS)/Fondazione Italiana Fegato (FIF), currently with the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine presented his study entitled, “Fibulin-3 as a reliable biomarker of fibrosis in obese subjects with Metabolically Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease,” that focused on identifying a blood-based marker that could help detect liver fibrosis, offering a less invasive option compared to traditional liver biopsy. Through combining bioinformatics and clinical validation, Dr. Laraño’s study demonstrated that circulating biomarkers can be used to assess disease progression in obese patients.

For the consolation awards, MS in Molecular Medicine Scholar at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Ms. Adeliza Mae L. Realingo of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, presented her study entitled, “Integration of Bioinformatic Tools for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Co-infection Cases,” which investigated unusual sequencing results and developed a bioinformatics pipeline to analyze viral data and detect co-infections and recombination events. Her study also provided local data on SARS-CoV-2 variant co-infections in the Philippines.

Mr. Brian Andrich L. Pollo, an MD-PhD in Molecular Medicine Scholar at the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila, presented his study entitled, “Diagnostic Accuracy of an Immunoassay Using Avidity-Enhanced Polymeric Peptides for SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Detection.” Mr. Pollo’s study explored how synthetic peptides can serve as an alternative to whole proteins in diagnostic tests. Findings showed that these modified peptides can enhance antibody binding strength, supporting their potential for developing more stable and accessible diagnostic tools.

Dr. Rommel J. Gestuveo, MS in Molecular Medicine Scholar-Graduate at SLMC, currently with the DOST – Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) presented his study entitled, “A One Health Strategy in Addressing Multi-Drug Resistant Klebsiella Pneumoniae through Genomics and Biotherapeutics,” which combined genomic analysis of bacterial isolates, isolation of bacteriophages from wastewater, and testing of plant extracts, including combination assays, to assess their potential as biotherapeutic strategies. Dr. Gestuveo’s study highlighted how integrating different approaches can support efforts to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Meanwhile, Mr. Robbi Miguel G. Falcon, also MD-PhD in Molecular Medicine Scholar at the University of the Philippines Manila, won the poster research presentation category with his study entitled, “Quality-of-Care of Filipino Patients with Hypertension in Primary Care Settings.” Mr. Falcon’s study assessed patient records from urban, rural, and remote sites and found that only a small proportion of patients achieved blood pressure control, and also identified gaps in documentation of lifestyle counseling and differences in care across locations, underscoring the need for stronger health information systems and more consistent management of hypertension.

The PSS’s first oral and poster competition served as a venue where scholars present their studies, share insights, and engage in scholarly exchange through both categories. The competition highlighted the contributions of PSS members to community-based health research, demonstrating how the Council’s scholars apply their knowledge to improve healthcare in the country, while also promoting a culture of knowledge sharing.