{"id":8299,"date":"2023-04-15T09:23:33","date_gmt":"2023-04-15T01:23:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/?p=8299"},"modified":"2023-04-15T09:23:34","modified_gmt":"2023-04-15T01:23:34","slug":"upd-cs-scientists-feted-for-pioneering-genomics-research-in-ph","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/upd-cs-scientists-feted-for-pioneering-genomics-research-in-ph\/","title":{"rendered":"UPD-CS scientists feted for pioneering genomics research in PH"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From shedding light on mythological creatures to helping fight crime, the Philippine-led study of the basic building blocks of life has come a very long way. Ever since the inception of the country\u2019s genomics program in 2009, scientists from the University of the Philippines Diliman \u2013 College of Science (UPD-CS) have been advancing the country\u2019s genomics research in many surprising ways.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UPD-CS scientists lead the way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Major outbreaks worldwide, such as dengue, SARS, and H1N1, brought the Philippines to realize the vital role of genomic research in predicting, diagnosing, and treating diseases before they spread to a greater degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the same year that the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) set the country’s genomics agenda, UP established the Philippine Genome Center (PGC), which aims to improve the quality of the lives of Filipinos through genomics-focused multidisciplinary research. PGC was founded by four scientists, two of whom are from the UPD-CS: Dr. Gisela Concepcion of the Marine Science Institute (MSI) and Dr. Cynthia Saloma of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB), who also currently serves as the Center\u2019s Executive Director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UPD-CS scientists also helm the PGC\u2019s Executive Committee: Institute of Biology\u2019s (IB\u2019s) Dr. Neil Andrew Bascos, Director of the Protein, Proteomics, and Metabolomics Facility, and Dr. Michael Velarde, Director of the Biobank Core Facility; and Natural Science Research Institute\u2019s (NSRI\u2019s) Dr. Maria Corazon De Ungria, Director of Biodiversity, Ethnicity, and Forensics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Genomics in justice, mythology, and beyond<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In DOST\u2019s recent press conference, “From Labs to Lives: Impact of DOST-led Genomics Program in PH,\u201d held on April 14 at the PGC, UPD-CS scientists presented and discussed the significant milestones and progress that the Philippines\u2019 genomics program has achieved over the last decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In particular, Dr. De Ungria showcased the NSRI DNA Analysis Laboratory\u2019s locally-developed sexual assault investigation kit (SAIK) that doctors can use to facilitate justice for victims. The event also highlighted advances in understanding and testing for dystonia parkinsonism, a rare genetic disease thought to be the basis for the \u201caswang\u201d creatures of Philippine mythology. The speakers also touched on new studies in improving the breed and stock of Philippine cows implemented by the Philippine Carabao Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event was capped by the unveiling of the PGC\u2019s new Protein, Proteomics, and Metabolomics Facility (PPMF) that will enable the Center to further its research into the effects and end-products of genes\u2019 functions in the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Filipino researchers have vastly expanded genomics applications in health care in the Philippines in various ways. Through their pioneering research studies and contribution to the genomics program of the country, UPD-CS scientists continue to use science for national progress, embodying UP\u2019s
commitment to serving the Filipino people.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ever since the inception of the country\u2019s genomics program in 2009, scientists from the University of the Philippines Diliman \u2013 College
\nof Science (UPD-CS) have been advancing the country\u2019s genomics research in many surprising ways.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":8300,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[19,20],"class_list":["post-8299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsmakers","tag-health","tag-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8299","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8299"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8299\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8301,"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8299\/revisions\/8301"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}