The UST passing rate of 87.10% is higher than the national passing rate of 55.19%.

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From left: Mark Kevin Devanadera, Angelica Crisostomo, Myla Santiago, Leonardo Guevarra, Jr., Yusong Guo, Minerva Daya, Robert K.M. Ko, Ruel Valerio De Grano, John Paulin, Maritess Cation, and Maricel Ranido.

To foster international collaborations and enhance academic excellence, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Pharmacy Department of Biochemistry embarked on a benchmarking visit to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) from March 12 to 16, 2024. The delegation from UST, comprising faculty members and researchers specializing in biochemistry, was warmly welcomed by Dr. Robert K.M. Ko, Acting Division Head, Division of Life Science, and Professor Yusong Guo at HKUST.

During the benchmarking activities, the UST delegation had the opportunity to tour state-of-the art research facilities and laboratories at HKUST, gaining insights into cutting-edge technologies and methodologies employed in biochemistry research.

Engaging discussions and knowledge sharing sessions facilitated a fruitful exchange of ideas, highlighting areas of mutual interest and potential collaboration. Dr. Minerva Daya, Chair of the Department of Biochemistry, UST Faculty of Pharmacy, expressed her appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by HKUST and emphasized the significance of international partnerships in advancing scientific research and education. “This benchmarking visit has provided us with invaluable insights and inspiration to further enhance our academic programs and research initiatives at UST. We look forward to exploring collaborative opportunities with HKUST in the field of biochemistry,” she remarked.

The visit to HKUST marks a significant milestone for the Department of Biochemistry paving the way for future collaborations and contributing to the advancement of biochemistry research in the Philippines and beyond.

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In an interview with the Communications Bureau, Vasquez disclosed the plans of the division for the coming years, as encapsulated in the title: “Fostering Filipino Excellence in Pharmaceutical Science: Advancing Research, Transforming Healthcare, and Enhancing Lives for a Healthier and Resilient Nation.” Vasquez disclosed that the division leaders and members envision the group “to be a dynamic and forward-thinking hub of scientific exploration, dedicated to transforming innovative ideas into tangible healthcare solutions.” Collaborations among academic, industry, and healthcare organizations are expected “to amplify the impact of pharmaceutical research, fostering a collaborative ecosystem that accelerates progress and health for Filipinos.”

Among Vasquez’s recent research projects are painkillers screening and the potential cardiovascular toxicity of anti-leukemia drugs. Currently, he is working on natural mood enhancement products from Philippine sources. He is also working on a UST-funded project entitled “Utilization of zebrafish model for human diseases and the application of AI tools in Pharmacology and Toxicology Research.”

NRCP is a national organization of researchers that aims to advocate frontier science and humanities research and evidence-informed policies with the highest ethical standards committed to impact national and global sustainable development.

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Borne out of a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) research grant, the said laboratory is built to ramp up research with state-of-the-art modern equipment and field rooms, as well as to assess the condition of the athletes, aid them in recovery after injury, and keep track of their performance.

RCHS Supervisor Prof. Consuelo G. Suarez, MD, PhD, FPARM proudly shared that the laboratory is the first of its kind in the country. Moreover, Suarez envisioned the laboratory to be a niche of research innovations where they can forge ties with researchers from various walks of life to gain a multitude of inputs, and then serve as a venue for seminars and workshops to empower medical and paramedical personnel, athletes, coaches, and educators alike.

Meanwhile, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation Rev. fr. Jannel N. Abogado, O.P., DThPatSc emphasized that the UST research centers are guided by the anecdote that “science must be felt by people”, with the aim to give light to others. “We want research projects and our research programs to have an effect in the lives of people and the community […] we do so because this is our job, this is our role, this is our mission,” fr. Abogado said. “We constructed this laboratory because we know that the works and the technologies that will come out to this will be beneficial to people,” he added.

For Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Dean Assoc. Prof. Ma. Lourdes D. Maglinao, MD, the new facility aims to be the niche of groundbreaking research works that are envisioned to change people’s lives. “This center represents a symphony of expertise, a collaboration between the healers who mend and the coaches who push us to soar,” Dean Maglinao said.

The academic units that are primarily involved in running the laboratory are the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Engineering, and the College of Rehabilitation Sciences.

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Faculty of Pharmacy Dean Aleth Therese L. Dacanay, PhD, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery academic researcher Maria Minerva P. Calimag, MD, PhD, and alumni Antonio Leachon, MD, Alfredo So, and Vicente U. Briones met with lawmakers to share their position on the bill filed by Rep. Ferjenel G. Biron.

In an interview with the Communications Bureau, Dean Dacanay mentioned that the group agreed to the bill, provided that provisions will be included for the protection of consumers against scrupulous e-prescriptions. Thus, safeguards on signatures, surrender of used prescriptions, and partial filling should be in place. Furthermore, the bill should clearly define legitimate online pharmacies given the proliferation of online sellers. Finally, the group advocated for an education campaign should the bill be approved.

Dacanay represented the Philippine Pharmacists Association, while Calimag spoke for the Philippine Medical Association. So is currently the President of the Consumer Healthcare Industry Association of the Philippines, while Briones heads the Drugstores Association of the Philippines. Leachon attended as a private individual in the hearing.

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On the morning of January 18, 2024, the University of Santo Tomas opened its doors to the general public for the three-day Alaga at Tulong Tomasino medical-surgical mission spearheaded by the UST Hospital in collaboration with alumni, corporate partners, the media, the Santísimo Rosario Parish, and the academic units of UST.

Offering consultation services and medicine for neurology, dermatology, internal medicine, pediatrics, ophthalmology, orthopedics, cataract surgery, general surgery, and ENT, the mission brings together the expertise of hospital and academic staff and alumni, as well as the vigor of student clerks and interns to cater to patients from Luzon.

According to UST Hospital CEO fr. Julius Paul C. Factora, O.P., JCD, the mission, now on its second year, is the latest initiative to help those in need, in keeping with the Church’s mission. “Time and again since the Hospital was established, we have been serving poor and indigent patients. [But since last year] meron tayong malakihang medical-surgical mission para hindi lang ma-service ‘yung [nakatira] around the UST area but also those from Luzon. We have patients from Bulacan, Cavite, and Pangasinan.”

UST Hospital Medical Director Charito Malong-Consolacion, MD also shared that the medical-surgical mission would not be possible without the joint efforts of various stakeholders: “We want this to be accessible to a lot more people, [so we] struck partnerships with our students from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, and the College of Education, as well as our alumni spread all over the world.”

Fr. Factora expressed his commitment to continue the mission annually, during January, as part of the Church’s and the Hospital’s mission to help those in need.

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Navidad is the inaugural Chair of the Institutional Research Ethics Board, which oversees existing and helps establish new research ethics committees for accreditation by the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB).

A longtime Social Health Studies research interest group member, she conducts researches on the interface of the social and allied health sciences, several of which have received grants from agencies such as the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care, and Porticus Asia. Currently, she is working on a two-part study on “Healing Interventions from Local Traditions” (HILOT), which involves a scoping review and cultural mapping of how hilot is practiced in the archipelago.

Navidad was nominated by the UST Department of Medical Technology and the Faculty of Pharmacy officials. After winning the regional search, she competed with all the regional winners to finally capture the award. Navidad expressed gratitude to her superiors and colleagues in the Faculty of Pharmacy, and acknowledged the Research Center for Social Sciences for providing support for her research undertakings. In an interview with the Communications Bureau, she advised Thomasians to “know your goal and have passion for what you are doing.”

Navidad is the latest Thomasian to win PAMET’s prized research plum, which was also conferred in the past to cancer researcher Pia Marie S.P. Albano, PhD.

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Apart from the two distinctions, UST was also recognized for having the most number of Level IV accredited programs in the country. Level IV is the highest rating a program can get. Programs enjoying this status “have been highly respected as very high academic programs in the Philippines and with prestige and authority comparable to similar programs in excellent foreign universities,” according to PACUCOA.

Meanwhile, four bachelor’s programs were also recognized for producing topnotchers in recent Professional Regulation Commission licensure exams, namely, BS Medical Technology, BS Accountancy, BS Nutrition and Dietetics, and BS Architecture.

UST also won an award for the community outreach/extension program contest. The College of Science bagged Second Prize for “CCHEERS to Laudato si: Care for our Common ������ý through Environmental Expedition Integrating the role of Service-Learning.”

Thomasian professors were also recognized by PACUCOA. Graduate School academic staff Lucila O. Bance, PhD was named Outstanding Accreditor, while Dean Emeritus Carmen Kanapi, PhD received a Posthumous Award for Service. Service awards were also received by Graduate School academic staff Belen Tangco, PhD (Accrediting Team Chairman), as well as Faculty of Pharmacy officials Aleth Therese L. Dacanay, PhD, Frieda Z. Hapan, PhD, and Edilberto P. Manahan, PhD.

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Meanwhile, the University ranked 3rd in the top-performing schools after registering a 95.05% passing rate, which is higher than the 73.65% national passing rate. UST produced 288 new Thomasian Pharmacists.

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After registering 2,995 indexed entries last week, UST tallied on October 19, 2023 3,003 journal articles, book chapters, books, conference papers, and other research materials.

The eight most recent co-authored works, covering journal articles and conference papers, came from the following:

·       Ross Vasquez of the Faculty of Pharmacy (Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy);

·       Carlo Gabriel Casipit of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (IJC Heart and Vasculature);

·       Jojo Blanza of the Faculty of Engineering (International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering);

·       Frederick Masangkay of the Faculty of Pharmacy (three journals articles in Scientific Reports);

·       Marc Eric Reyes of the College of Science (BMC Psychology); and

·       Jame Monren Mercado and advisee students from the College of Tourism and Hospitality Management (Journal of Ethnic Foods).

Citing Scopus’ labels for disciplines and research themes, UST’s ten leading research themes in terms of total indexed works are Medicine (1,284); the Social Sciences (473); the Agricultural and Biological Sciences (432); Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (367); Environmental Sciences (260); Engineering (233); Computer Science (209); Arts and Humanities (180); Immunology and Microbiology (147); and Neuroscience (139).

UST finally got ranked in TIMES Higher Education’s World University Rankings (particularly the 2024 edition) after meeting the minimum requirement for Scopus-indexed materials in the last five years: 150 per year and at least 1,000 in the last five years. The 2024 World University Rankings covered the years 2018 to 2022.

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