Category Archives: Latest News

From Sea to Sky: UPD-CS scientists feted for pioneering research

From Sea to Sky: UPD-CS scientists feted for pioneering research

Published: June 16, 2023

By: Timothy James M. Dimacali

From the deepest stretches of the ocean to the farthest reaches of the sky, Filipino scientists are adding to humanity’s collective knowledge of the world. Their efforts have not gone unsung, as recent explorations by University of the Philippines-Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) researchers have earned acclaim from both national and international scientific and award-giving bodies.

The University of the Philippines - Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) is one of the country’s premiere research and teaching institutions. In 2023, its outstanding researchers were honored locally and abroad by the NAST and Asian Scientist Magazine. (Photo credit: Nadine Lim, UP Photography Society)

The Philippine National Academy of Science and Technology-Philippines (NAST) recently recognized six members of the UPD-CS community: two were named Academician; two were recognized as outstanding young scientists (OYS); and two won the grand prize and a special citation in the 2023 NAST Talent Search for Young Scientists (NTSYS). Meanwhile an additional four UPD-CS researchers were highlighted in this year’s edition of the prestigious Asian Scientist 100.

New Academicians

 

The NAST is the Philippines’ highest scientific advisory and recognition body; its distinguished members are selected exclusively by the Academy itself and conferred the title, “Academician.” Gil S. Jacinto, PhD, of the UPD-CS Marine Science Institute (UPD-CS MSI) and Maria Corazon A. de Ungria, PhD, of the UPD-CS Natural Sciences Research Institute (UPD-CS NSRI), were recently inducted as Academicians for their respective work in marine chemistry and forensic DNA technology.

 

Jacinto’s research interests are in nutrient and trace elements in tropical marine environments, marine pollution chemistry, submarine groundwater discharge, hypoxia, and seawater carbonate chemistry. He was MSI director from 2000 to 2006 and established the Marine Chemistry and Pollution Laboratory at the MSI, the first chemical oceanography laboratory in the Philippines.

 

Meanwhile, De Ungria is known for her research in human population genetics and forensic DNA technology, which are invaluable tools for human identification in criminal investigation, disaster victim identification, and resolving parentage disputes. She provided technical assistance in drafting the Supreme Court Rule on DNA evidence, which was approved in 2007 and has since been used nationwide by the Philippine judicial system in handling sexual assault cases. She is the director of the Program on Biodiversity, Ethnicity, and Forensics at the Philippine Genome Center and concurrently heads the DNA Laboratory of the NSRI.

 

Outstanding Young Scientists

 

The NAST OYS award is given annually to Filipino scientists aged 41 and below who have made significant contributions to science and technology and have been published in reputable scientific journals.

 

Jillian Aira S. Gabo-Ratio, DEng, of the UPD-CS National Institute of Geological Sciences (UPD-CS NIGS), and Reinabelle C. Reyes, PhD, of the UPD-CS National Institute of Physics (UPD-CS NIP) were recognized as this year’s OYS in the field of earth resources engineering, and astrophysics, respectively.

 

Gabo-Ratio is an associate professor at NIGS, and is the institute’s officer-in-charge-deputy director for academic affairs. Her research interests are in economic geology, igneous and sedimentary geochemistry, geophysics, and tectonics. A topnotcher in the 2006 Geology Licensure Examination, Gabo-Ratio is a recipient of the UP Alumni of Michigan Centennial Professorial Chair (2021), One UP Faculty Grant (2019-2021), UPD Centennial Faculty Grant (2017-2021), and the UP System International Publication Award (2017-2022).

 

Reyes, an associate professor at the NIP, made worldwide headlines in 2010 with her paper, “Confirmation of General Relativity on Large Scales from Weak Lensing and Galaxy Velocities which confirmed Albert Einstein’s Theory,” which was published in the high-profile journal, Nature. In 2020, she established the NIP Data and Computation Research Group, which is focused on data-driven astrophysics and computational physics. 

 

NTSYS winners

 

Jayson Cosme, PhD, an associate professor at the NIP, is a theoretical physicist specializing in condensed matter. His paper, “Observation of a Continuous Time Crystal” clinched the grand prize at this year’s NTSYS. He also headed a recent study of dark matter, which resulted in a Nature Materials paper entitled, “Condensate Formation in a Dark State of a Driven Atom-Cavity System.” 

 

A special citation was also given to Charlon A. Ligson, MS in Marine Science from the MSI, for his paper, “Survival and sexual maturity of sexually propagated Acropora verweyi corals four years after outplantation.”

 

Asian Scientist 100

 

Meanwhile, Singapore’s Asian Scientist Magazine recently released the latest edition of its annual “Asian Scientist 100” list that fetes the region’s best and brightest researchers, touted as “Asia’s science superstars.” In the 2023 list are four scientists from UPD-CS: Pia D. Bagamasbad, PhD, from the UPD-CS National Institute for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UPD-CS NIMBB); Aletta T. Yñiguez, PhD, of the UPD-CS MSI;  and Allan Gil S. Fernando, PhD, and Mario Juan A. Aurelio, PhD, of UPD-CS NIGS.

 

Both Bagamasbad and Yñiguez were Philippine Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service (TOWNS) awardees in 2022, for respectively spearheading an RT-PCR training program for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in support of the country’s COVID-19 response, and for developing and advocating sustainable fishing practices among local communities. In the same year, Fernando was awarded the National Research Council of the Philippines’ Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to earth and space science. For his part, Aurelio’s contributions to structural geology and geodynamics education earned him the 2022 Gregorio Y. Zara Award for Basic Research from the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (PhilAAST).

 

For interview requests and other concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph.

Pinoy scientist heads int’l study on dark quantum matter

Pinoy scientist heads int’l study on dark quantum matter

Published: May 30, 2023

By: Timothy James M. Dimacali

Filipino physicist Dr. Jayson Cosme from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science National Institute of Physics (UPD-CS NIP) recently led a team of six Germany-based researchers in pioneering a way to make a special kind of “dark” matter that can’t be observed using standard laboratory methods. His team’s findings were published in the prestigious international journal, Physical Review Letters.

UPD-CS physicist Dr. Jayson Cosme led a team of German researchers in the creation of a dark-state Bose-Einstein condensate. Their groundbreaking work was published in Physical Review Letters. (Photo credit: Dr. Jayson Cosme)

Scientists are able to use laser beams to slow down the movement of the atoms in a material, causing its temperature to drop. When the temperature goes down almost to absolute zero, the individual atoms can condense together into a new state of matter with quantum properties that behaves almost like a single giant atom. Renowned physicists Albert Einstein and Satyendra Nath Bose were the first to predict its existence, hence it was named after them and is now called a Bose-Einstein Condensate (BEC).

 

BECs can be observed and studied using special cameras. However, Dr. Cosme’s team was able to use lasers to further manipulate them so that they can’t be observed using these standard methods. “By shaking BECs in the right way, we can cause them to become quantum objects that don’t absorb, reflect, nor emit light—hence, ‘dark,’” he explained.

The flame-like glow in this experimental setup is from Rubidium-87 atoms that are about to form a Bose-Einstein condensate. (Photo credit: Dr. Andreas Hemmerich)

Dr. Cosme expressed pride and gratitude at being given the opportunity to helm an international team composed of some of the foremost researchers in his field. “I’m very honored and thankful to have been the last author on this paper, as my colleagues are all working from Germany,” he said.

 

“This has been a very deep cooperation between myself and the group of Prof. Andreas Hemmerich, who studied under Nobel Laureate Theodor W. Haensch; as well as Prof. Ludwig Mathey’s group, which includes my close collaborator, first author Jim Skulte,” he explained.

 

For interview requests and other concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph.

 

Sources:

Jim Skulte, Phatthamon Kongkhambut, Sahana Rao, Ludwig Mathey, Hans Keßler, Andreas Hemmerich, and Jayson G. Cosme. Condensate Formation in a Dark State of a Driven Atom-Cavity System. Physical Review Letters. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.163603

UPD-CS scientist co-invents defense vs invasive alien species

UPD-CS scientist co-invents defense vs invasive alien species

Published: May 26, 2023

By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

Shipboard personnel oversee a live demonstration of the ballast water treatment system co-developed by UPD-CS IESM scientist Dr. Benjamin Vallejo Jr. The system is just a fraction of the cost of other commercially available solutions. (Photo credit: Dr. Benjamin Vallejo, Jr.)

All over the world, cargo ships and other large vessels routinely fill their ballast tanks with seawater to help keep afloat on rough seas. This ballast water is usually released at the ship’s destination, bringing with it invasive animals, plants, microorganisms and other alien species that can devastate local marine biodiversity and coastal ecosystems.

 

Such invasive alien species have cost over US$1.1 trillion worth of damage worldwide between 1960 and 2022 alone, according to an international study. The cost of managing invasions has cost the world an estimated US$95.3 billion since 1960.

 

This global problem prompted scientists from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) and the University of Cebu to invent a port water treatment system that costs just ₱12 million or only around $200,000—a small fraction of the cost of other commercially-available systems, which can run as high as US$5 million.

 

“Our system utilizes UV sterilization and mechanical methods to treat ballast water, and has proven promising in initial tests in decreasing the number of invasive species translocated from port to port,”  said the system’s co-inventor, UPD-CS Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM) Professor and Ballast Water and Biofouling Management Research Program Leader Dr. Benjamin Vallejo Jr. 

“It complies with the IMO D-2 standard for ballast water treatment and can be used until the local industry can install its own onboard treatment systems,” he added.

 

This is a very timely invention considering that, in 2018, the Philippines ratified the IMO’s 2004 Ballast Water Management Convention, which imposes regulations on the proper handling and treatment of ballast water. Thus, Philippine ships constructed after 2018 are mandated to have a port ballast water treatment system. And by 2024, all ships are expected to treat their ballast water before release.

A closeup of the ballast water treatment system co-invented by UPD-CS IESM scientist Dr. Benjamin Vallejo Jr. (Photo credit: Dr. Benjamin Vallejo)

“We hope this treatment system will be cheaper than other costly comparable systems. Now is the opportunity for Filipino investors to break into Southeast Asia’s ballast water treatment market,” Dr. Vallejo urged. 


Dr. Vallejo will discuss his alternative ballast water treatment system for ships at the upcoming iStories webinar hosted by UPD-CS on May 29, 2023. The webinar will dive deeper into the ideation process and development of the treatment system and its mass production and distribution.


iStories is a series of innovation-themed talks, storytelling, and activities featuring local and international scientists. The initiative aims to ignite the creativity and inventiveness of young scientists not just from UPD-CS but from other institutes inside and outside UP.

A computer-generated mockup of the ballast water treatment system co-invented by UPD-CS IESM scientist Dr. Benjamin Vallejo Jr.(Photo credit: Dr. Benjamin Vallejo)

The third session of iStories on May 29, 2023 (Monday) will be held on Zoom.

The iStories series is scheduled for 3:00 pm every last Monday of the month. To join, you may register through this link https://bit.ly/iStories3rd. Subscription to the entire iStories webinar series is also possible through the same form.

 

For inquiries about iStories, please message adride_staff@science.upd.edu.ph

 

For interview requests and other media concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph

 

Sources:

Ross N. Cuthbert et al. Biological invasion costs reveal insufficient proactive management worldwide. Science of The Total Environment, Volume 819, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153404 

Ballast Water Management. International Maritime Organization. (n.d.). https://www.imo.org/en/ourwork/environment/pages/ballastwatermanagement.aspx

UPD-CS moves to boost PHL’s scientific output with better resource procurement

UPD-CS moves to boost PHL’s scientific output with better resource procurement

Published: May 24, 2023

By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

The UPD-CS, led by its dean, Dr. Giovanni Tapang (seventh from right), and the UPPO, represented by its director, Atty. Flor Rissa Ofilada (sixth from left), are strengthening the procurement process towards accelerating the pursuit of science at the College. (Photo credit: Shedy Masayon)

The University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) already produces a sizable share of the Philippines’ total scientific output, but aims to further this by improving and hastening its procurement of resources.

 

“As much as 44% of all the publications in UP Diliman come from the College of Science. This is equivalent to 10% of the output of the entire UP system, and 2.5% the output of the entire country,” UPD-CS Dean Giovanni Tapang said at the recent launch of the College’s training partnership with the UP Procurement Office (UPPO). 

 

With over 400 faculty members, half of whom hold doctorate degrees, the UPD-CS is at the forefront of scientific research in the Philippines. Apart from this, the College also mentors a significant portion of the country’s future science, technology, and innovation leaders: it currently produces over 300 graduates per year, at the undergraduate and graduate levels combined.

 

Yet, in 2019 alone, the Philippines only had 189 scientists per million population—a far cry from the ideal 380 scientists per million, according to data from the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). Dean Tapang hopes to boost UPD-CS’ capacity to address this gap by implementing better procurement processes. 

 

“We need to know how to spend money wisely to get things done. We want our people to know what to do so they can conduct their research as efficiently as possible. It’s not a science per se, but it can be solved by science,” he said.

 

Dean Tapang underscored the direct importance of the procurement process on scientific research itself, pointing out that streamlining these procedures would have a positive impact on the College’s output. UPPO Director Atty. Flor Rissa Ofilada concurred, even as she underscored the crucial roles of both researchers and administrators in scientific advancement.

 

“At each stage of the procurement process, the end users assume a crucial role as the process’ main actors. They are the initiators,” Atty. Ofilada said. “Our research assistants and administrative officers are important, as they are the main driving force behind procurement not only in the College but also in the university. No procurement activity can occur without their proactive involvement,” she concluded.

 

For interview requests and other concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph. 

 

 

Sources:

Arayata, Ma. C. (2019, July 12). PH needs more scientists: NAST. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1074747

UPD-CS NIP physicist co-authors groundbreaking research on mysterious superconductors

UPD-CS NIP physicist co-authors groundbreaking research on mysterious superconductors

Published: May 10, 2023

By: Timothy James M. Dimacali

A team of physicists, including a Filipino researcher, have found that existing theories don’t completely account for the mysterious behavior of high-temperature superconducting materials that have left even Nobel laureates stumped for decades. The team’s discovery, which promises to spark completely new lines of research, was published recently in the prestigious journal, Nature Materials.

UPD-CS physicist Dr. Miguel Sulangi (left) beams with pride following his successful PhD defense in 2018 alongside Leiden University’s Dr. Jan Zaanen, his thesis advisor and co-author on the recent groundbreaking Nature Materials paper on overdoped cuprate superconductors. (Photo credit: Thea Sulangi)

Superconducting materials enable electricity to pass through them with no resistance, potentially allowing the creation of everything from magnetic-levitation trains to unprecedentedly powerful supercomputers. For a special kind of materials called high-temperature superconducting cuprates, superconductivity happens when electrons are removed in a process called “doping.” 

 

Baffling even Nobel laureates for decades

 

Exactly how and why this happens is a mystery that has baffled even Nobel laureates. It was commonly thought, however, that when a large number of electrons are removed—that is, when cuprate superconductors are “overdoped”—they would behave as described by Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) Theory, which was developed in the 1950s and has been used ever since to help explain conventional superconducting materials. 

But new experiments by a team of researchers supervised by Dr. Milan P. Allan of Leiden University in the Netherlands has shown that this is not the case. Filipino physicist Dr. Miguel Sulangi from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science National Institute of Physics (UPD-CS NIP) collaborated with Dr. Allan’s team on the theoretical modeling of these materials. 

 

“Our paper poses a challenge to the present understanding of cuprate superconductors at so-called ‘overdoping,’” Dr. Sulangi said. “This is the latest of a fresh round of papers showing that overdoped cuprates are not as conventional or ‘BCS-like’ as everyone previously thought they were.”

 

A deeper mystery than originally thought

 

Dr. Sulangi expressed hope that these new findings would not just rewrite textbooks but also spark new research interest in overdoped cuprates, which have largely been overlooked—particularly by scientists who believed that the materials’ superconductivity could simply be explained by traditional BCS theory. “We hope to convince experimentalists and theorists that these materials are anomalous and worthy of intense study. We want to provoke further research into this,” he explained.

 

“What makes this study important is that it not only clarifies the nature of overdoped cuprate superconductivity, but it also reveals that the mystery surrounding cuprate superconductors is deeper than we originally thought,” said UPD-CS NIP associate professor Dr. Kristian Hauser Villegas, who was not involved with the study. “It’s good to see more Filipino researchers working at the forefront of physics and other fields, shoulder to shoulder with international colleagues. Hopefully, this encourages more Filipino kids to pursue science and add to our collective contributions to the growth of human knowledge,” he added.

 

The team described their findings in a paper entitled, Puddle formation and persistent gaps across the non-mean-field breakdown of superconductivity in overdoped (Pb,Bi)2Sr2CuO6+δ.

 

For interview requests and other concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph. 

 

References:

Tromp, W.O., Benschop, T., Ge, JF. et al. Puddle formation and persistent gaps across the non-mean-field breakdown of superconductivity in overdoped (Pb,Bi)2Sr2CuO6+δ. Nature Materials. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-023-01497-1

UP mathematicians find safer contraceptive hormone doses

UP mathematicians find safer contraceptive hormone doses

Published: May 9, 2023

By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

The amount of hormones in contraceptives can be reduced by as much as 92% without impacting their effectiveness, new math research from the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) has found.

Using mathematical models, researchers from the UPD-CS institute of Mathematics have found that contraceptives can still remain effective despite reducing their hormone content by as much as 92%. (Photo credit: Towfiqu Barbhuiya / Pexels.com)

Most contraceptives available today contain either or both estrogen and progesterone hormones to block ovulation, the phase of the menstrual cycle wherein an egg is released into the uterus. But while effective, hormonal contraception has its drawbacks: an increased potential for blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, mood disorders, and other health risks.

 

UPD-CS Institute of Mathematics (UPD-CS IM) Ph.D. Mathematics graduate Brenda Lyn Gavina and Associate Professor Dr. Aurelio de los Reyes V, alongside collaborators Dr. Mette Olufsen of North Carolina State University, Dr. Suzanne Lenhart of the University of Tennessee, and Dr. Johnny Ottesen of the Roskilde University of Denmark, analyzed the hormone levels of 23 women aged 20 to 34 years old with regular menstrual cycles. Their research revealed that estrogen-only contraceptives could work just as effectively even if hormone doses were reduced by as much as 92%. Meanwhile, hormone doses in progesterone-only contraceptives could be decreased by as much as 43% while still achieving the same effectivity.

 

In their study, the researchers developed a modified menstrual cycle model to track natural hormone levels and the effect of hormones taken through contraceptives. They then applied mathematics to determine the lowest amount of hormones needed to prevent ovulation. Apart from finding lower yet effective hormone dosages, they also found that intaking these contraceptives before the tenth day of the menstrual cycle is just as effective in preventing pregnancy as a daily dose.

 

The study opens new avenues for further research in hormonal birth control. “With the rapid development of new implants and injections providing continuous administration, there is great potential to implement new treatment scheme minimizing dose,” the researchers concluded in their study, published last April 13 in the journal PLoS Computational Biology.

 

“Reducing the dosage of hormonal contraceptives has been a longstanding objective of safer contraception. Our modeling/computational study suggests an effective and cost-efficient hormonal contraceptive administration.” Dr. de los Reyes said. “We also hope to build on the current model to investigate reproductive health concerns in women like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and ovarian cysts. We would like to caution that our model is not directly translatable to clinical setup (or actual patients) as of yet, but the principles and its proof of concept could be potentially implemented to achieve safe and cost-efficient contraception.”

 

Researchers from the UP Diliman College of Science’s Institute of Mathematics, working alongside international colleagues, have found that the hormone levels in contraceptives could be cut by as much as 92% without impacting their effectiveness. (Photo credit: Aurelio de los Reyes V et al.)

For interview requests and other concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph. 

 

References:

Gavina, B. L. A., de los Reyes, A. A., Olufsen, M. S., Lenhart, S., & Ottesen, J. T. (2023). Toward an optimal contraception dosing strategy. PLOS Computational Biology, 19(4). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010073  

UP embarks on pioneering study into ‘Rugby’ abuse

UP embarks on pioneering study into ‘Rugby’ abuse

Published: April 28, 2023

By: Timothy James M. Dimacali

Scientists from across the University of the Philippines (UP) are pioneering a first-of-its-kind multidisciplinary study into the chemical, physical, and psychological impacts of solvent abuse on the country’s thousands of so-called “Rugby boys and girls.”

One of the research questions that UP scientists are trying to answer is if and how social behaviors in animals are affected by addiction to toluene, the key ingredient in “Rugby” contact cement. The researchers will then look at translating these findings to humans. (PHOTO CREDIT: Dr. Rohani Cena-Navarro)

Novel Approaches to Treatment of Addiction and Depression using Animal Models is a three-year research program spearheaded by the UP Manila National Institutes of Health (UPM-NIH), the National Center for Mental Health, the UP College of Medicine, the UP Philippine General Hospital, and the UP Diliman College of Science Institute of Chemistry (UPD-CS IC). It is being supervised by internationally-renowned neurobehavioral scientist Dr. Gregory Quirk of the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. 


“Attempts to treat toluene or ‘Rugby’ addiction have been largely unsuccessful due to severe withdrawal and craving symptoms that trigger relapse. What is needed to help adolescents overcome their addictions are new treatments that reduce toluene withdrawal and craving,” said program leader Dr. Rohani Cena-Navarro of the UPM-NIH.


“Rodent models have been used to develop such pharmacological treatments for other addictive drugs, but no such model has been developed for toluene. This collaboration between scientists and clinicians hopes to address this societal problem using laboratory animals,” she added.


This research is being  supported by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD).


Origins of the nation’s thousands of ‘Rugby boys and girls’


The densely-populated urban streets of the Philippines are home and playground to as many as one million street children, many of whom are adolescents from the poorest families or even abandoned by parents. Left to fend for themselves, many turn to substance abuse to alleviate their hunger by inhaling toluene—an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent found in cheap and easily-obtainable contact cement, popularly sold under the “Rugby” brand name in local hardware stores. 


Estimated to number in the thousands nationwide, these young people eventually develop a physiological addiction and resort to begging, scavenging, or stealing not only to quell their hunger but also to sustain their toluene addiction.  Seeing groups of young boys—and girls!—running around the streets sniffing bags of glue has become so commonplace to the ordinary Filipino citizen, that the colloquial term “Rugby boys” is now a widely-used pejorative.


Substance abuse among street children is a long-standing societal issue that requires proper public health intervention. Acknowledging the need for local research to tackle inhalant abuse among adolescents will be very significant in providing recommendations and strengthening ongoing support systems, policies, and interventions. 


Addressing social issues and sex differences


So where does science fit into this societal issue? This is exactly what this team of researchers hopes to achieve by developing the first Addiction Research Laboratory in the country, using animal models.  


“In the years to come, it is our hope that the establishment of this Addiction Research Program will further open opportunities for research addressing the craving and withdrawal stages of addiction,” said UPD-CS IC’s Dr. Grace Gregorio, who is researching how toluene affects rats in an effort to understand the solvent’s effects on people. 


She and her fellow researchers are also looking into sex differences in the effects of toluene exposure, which represents a novel approach that has never been done before. “I bring in my analytical chemistry expertise to this meaningful undertaking by measuring toluene levels in the blood of male and female rodents,” Dr. Gregorio said. 


“There is much that we, as a society, don’t know and understand about solvent abuse. One of our research specialists, Jariel Bacar, rightly points out that girls can be affected too—and in very different ways from boys. The project is looking into what these differences are,” she explained. 


Developing tailored treatments for solvent-addicted adolescents


The first-ever model of its kind for toluene-based solvent addiction in the Philippines, this research is paving the way for new treatments for overcoming withdrawal and craving. The team hopes to translate their findings for use in human subjects as an attempt in addressing the pervasive drug addiction and chronic relapse in individuals.  Such experimental treatments for toluene have not been deeply investigated anywhere else in the world, because inhalant abuse is not as rampant in more developed countries. 


Now in its second year, the project has already completed its first two phases: identifying validated methods to quantify toluene in rodent blood and establishing the long-term effects of toluene after chronic exposure. Using validated methods, the team is investigating the effects of chronic exposure that last long after the drug has been stopped.  These include increased craving for the drug, increased anxiety, and impaired social functioning, all of which increase the likelihood of relapse following treatment. Novel treatments will be tested to diminish these withdrawal symptoms and restore the brain to its pre-addiction state.  


Ultimately, Novel Approaches to Treatment of Addiction and Depression using Animal Models aims to address one of the greatest challenges faced by today’s researchers: interweaving science into the fabric of a complex, busy, and highly diverse society to serve its well-intended purpose to the community that needs it the most. By the end of the project, the researchers hope to have developed tailored treatments for boys and girls who are addicted to toluene. 

The research team behind the multidisciplinary research program, Novel Approaches to Treatment of Addiction and Depression using Animal Models. Top row (L-R): Ajina Carampel (MD-PhD Student), Richelle Manalo, Dr. Grace Gregorio (UPD-CS IC), Dr. Rohani C. Navarro (Program Leader), Dr. Gregory Quirk (Supervising Scientist), Jariel Bacar and Johanna Munar (Project Technical Specialists I). Bottom row (L-R): Joannes Luke Asis (MD-PhD Student), Noel Agrava (Lab Aide), Brett Castro (University Research Associate), Dr. Bryan Bulatao (Project Leader), Herbert Montalban (Lab Aide), and Arturo Bermejo III (Project Assistant). (PHOTO CREDIT: Ilona Janairo)

For interview requests and more information on the multidisciplinary research program, Novel Approaches to Treatment of Addiction and Depression using Animal Models, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph

Hands-on STEM learning in every home with VISSER

Hands-on STEM learning in every home with VISSER

Published: April 28, 2023

By: Eunice Jean C. Patron and Marie Asheidee M. Masayon

PHOTO CREDIT: making.technology

The Philippines has long lagged behind the rest of the world in terms of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning: in 2018, the country was the second worst out of 79 countries worldwide in terms of the science and mathematics performance of high school students.

 

This dearth prompted physics professor and current Dean of the University of the Philippines – Diliman College of Science (UPD-CS) Dr. Giovanni A. Tapang to spearhead the Versatile Instrumentation System for Science Education and Research (VISSER).

 

This low-cost, portable handheld device that students can use for their laboratory experiments was developed in collaboration with researchers from UP Diliman and UP Los Baños, with support from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the UP Diliman Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (UPD OVPAA).

 

“Gaining a better understanding of science requires laboratory experiments, but specific equipment is often expensive, making it difficult for some high schools in the Philippines to purchase necessary equipment,” Dr. Tapang said. “VISSER addresses this problem through low-priced modern digital tools for learning to help transform students’ curiosity into scientific competency and broaden their perspective by exploring the experiential aspect of science.”

PHOTO CREDIT: making.technology

VISSER aims to bring a modern science laboratory experience to high schools all over the country. Designed for students on a STEM track, the device allows for hands-on experiments in various subjects including physics, chemistry, biology, environmental science, and engineering.

 

In 2022 alone, close to a hundred schools across the country received VISSER kits. An improved version is in the works, for use in online classes and distance learning, aptly dubbed VISSER@Home.

 

Dr. Tapang will be talking at length about VISSER at the upcoming iStories webinar hosted by UPD-CS this coming April 24, 2023. Joined by VISSER co-inventor and PhD candidate Dwight Angelo Bruzon, the forum will tackle not just the ideation and development of VISSER, but also its mass production and distribution.

 

“Thirty-five percent of high schools in the Philippines have no laboratories. Meanwhile, among those with laboratories, 33% have no access to digital tools for learning. Our mission is to put modern laboratories in every school and college in the country,” Bruzon noted.

PHOTO CREDIT: making.technology

iStories is a series of innovation-themed talks, storytelling, and activities featuring local and international scientists. The initiative aims to ignite the creativity and inventiveness of young scientists not just from UPD-CS but from other institutes inside and outside UP.

 

The second session of iStories on April 24, 2023 (Monday) will be held on-site at the College of Science Admin Auditorium. Only participants outside Metro Manila will be allowed to join the forum via Zoom.

 

The iStories series is regularly scheduled for 3:00 pm every last Monday of the month. To join, you may register through this link https://bit.ly/3EocEmD. Subscription to the entire iStories webinar series is also possible through the same form. 

 

To learn more about VISSER, please visit https://ttbdo.up.edu.ph/technology/visser/ 

 

For inquiries about iStories, please message adride_staff@science.upd.edu.ph 

 

For interview requests and other media concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph 

UP Scientists feted for pioneering genomics work

UP Scientists feted for pioneering genomics work

Published: April 28, 2023

By: Eunice Jean C. Patron

(From L-R) PGC Executive Director Dr. Cynthia Saloma, DOST Undersecretary Dr. Leah Buendia, DOST Secretary Dr. Renato Solidum, DOH Director of Epidemiology Bureau Dr. Alethea De Guzman, and DA Biotech Program Office Director Dr. Claro Mingala discuss the latest developments in Philippine genomics. (Photo credit: Shedy Masayon, UPD-CS)

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’s genomics program in 2009, scientists from the University of the Philippines Diliman – College of Science (UPD-CS) have been advancing the country’s genomics research in many surprising ways.

  

UPD-CS scientists lead the way 

 

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. 

 

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’s Executive Director. 

 

UPD-CS scientists also helm the PGC’s Executive Committee: Institute of Biology’s (IB’s) 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’s (NSRI’s) Dr. Maria Corazon De Ungria, Director of Biodiversity, Ethnicity, and Forensics. 

 

Genomics in justice, mythology, and beyond 

 

In DOST’s recent press conference, “From Labs to Lives: Impact of DOST-led Genomics Program in PH,” held on April 14 at the PGC, UPD-CS scientists presented and discussed the significant milestones and progress that the Philippines’ genomics program has achieved over the last decade. 

 

In particular, Dr. De Ungria showcased the NSRI DNA Analysis Laboratory’s 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 “aswang” 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. 

 

The event was capped by the unveiling of the PGC’s new Protein, Proteomics, and Metabolomics Facility (PPMF) that will enable the Center to further its research into the effects and end-products of genes’ functions in the body. 

 

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’s commitment to serving the Filipino people. 

 

For interview requests and other concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph.

Researchers urge oil spill cleanup amid calm weather

Researchers urge oil spill cleanup amid calm weather

Published: March 28, 2023

By: Timothy James M. Dimacali

Scientists from the University of the Philippines – Diliman Marine Science Institute (UPD-CS MSI) have noted a “window of opportunity” to step up efforts to clean up the oil spill from the MT Princess Empress tanker that sank off Naujan, Occidental Mindoro, last February 28.

 

 

“Weaker winds and calmer seas allow for larger oil slicks to form because of less disturbance from waves,” the researchers noted in their latest update. Satellite data from the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as of March 21 showed that the floating oil had accumulated into a 37.84-square-kilometer slick—”larger than Las Piñas,” the scientists noted. 

 

The accumulated oil, along with the improved weather, may be a boon to cleanup efforts: “Calmer seas and larger slicks should be taken as an opportunity to collect the oil in slicks near the sunken tanker using booms and skimmers and ramp up cleanup efforts to prevent the oil from spreading further,” the UPD-CS MSI said.

 

The researchers also warned that, with the seasonal weakening of the Amihan Northeast Monsoon, the subsequent strengthening of  easterly winds may push the oil further westward through the Verde Island Passage (VIP), one of the most biodiverse regions in the world and home to thousands of unique species. With some of the highest concentrations of coastal fishes, corals, crustaceans, molluscs, seagrasses, and mangroves worldwide, the Passage is the main source of food and livelihood for millions of Filipinos.

 

For the full update and for notifications of new developments, please Like and subscribe to https://www.facebook.com/upmarinescienceinstitute 

 

The UPD-CS MSI is also asking the public for help in monitoring the oil spill. The public is encouraged to contribute geotagged images of sightings of the MT Princess Empress oil spill through this form: https://bit.ly/MTPE_GPS. The use of a GPS-enabled phone and a GPS camera app such as “GPS Map Camera” (available on Google Play and the Apple Store) are recommended so that geotag location data can be preserved. 

 

For interview requests and other media concerns, please contact media@science.upd.edu.ph