UP Manila chancellor, vice chancellor explore possible joint researchesduring US trip

UP Manila Chancellor Manuel Agulto and Vice Chancellor for Research and National Institutes of Health Executive Director Vicente Belizario, Jr. recently attended a Conference on Translational Research sponsored by the Johns Hopkins Medical Institution in the US. Their participation is part of the current UPM administration’s vision to transform UP Manila into a world-class university by strengthening its translational research program.

Chancellor Agulto and Vice Chancellor Vicente Belizario meet with UP alumni in the Greater Washington DC Area (GWA): Dr. Manuel Datiles, Dr. Bambi Lorica, Dr. Jess Socrates, Dr. Vic Lorica

The conference discussed strategies of implementing evidence-based medical research findings into the bedside and explored possible collaboration with leaders of other universities. It was highlighted by a visit to Johns Hopkins Hospital.

With the help of UP alumni Dr. Manuel Datiles, Dr. Silverio Cabellon, and Dr. Jess Socrates, the two UPM leaders also met with officials of some institutions and groups in the United States to inform them of his plans for the UP System’s health campus and explore potential areas of research collaboration.

The institutions visited were the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, particularly the National Eye Institute (NEI) and Fogarty International Center (FIC), and George Washington University (GWU). At NEI, Chancellor Agulto and Vice Chancellor Belizario met with Dr. Paul Seving, Director, and Dr. John Prakash, Associate Director for International Program Activities.

Discussed during the meeting were possible areas for collaboration in teaching and research, particularly with the UPM’s Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal and Institute of Ophthalmology. Chancellor Agulto, an ophthalmologist, former IO director, and former president of the Southeast Asian Glaucoma Interest Group, identified possible areas of research, such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and congenital and hereditary eye diseases. A glaucoma specialist, the UPM chancellor also took the opportunity to clarify that narrow angle glaucoma which is more common among Filipinos is not necessarily secondary to acute angle closure sequelae as previously thought but is more insidious, similar to the open angle glaucoma which is more common among Caucasians.

Dinner with some UP alumni from the Greater Washington DC Area: Luz Socrates, RN, Mrs. Collette Cabellon, Dr. Silverio Cabellon

During the FIC visit, the two UPM officials were glad to see UP’s involvement with most NIH-funded studies of the Center. Among these were the studies of Dr. Baldomero Olivera of the University of Utah and Dr. Gisela Concepcion, UP Vice President for Academic Affairs and professor at UP Diliman, and Dr. Leah Tolosa of the University of Maryland and Dr. Evangeline Amor of UP.

Dr. James Herrington, NIH Director of International Relations, briefed the visitors on the Center’s activities in Asia while Chancellor Agulto presented the infrastructure, manpower capabilities, and projects of UP Manila. With the high prevalence of malaria, TB and hemorrhagic dengue fever in the Philippines as affirmed by Dr. Billy Cabellon, incoming president of the UP Medical Alumni Society in America (UPMAS), the officials of both sides agreed that infectious diseases is a possible area of collaboration.

Briefing the group on his vision and plans for UP Manila, Chancellor Agulto stated that the conduct of researches relevant to the country’s needs and development is a primary focus. He mentioned that P30 M was made available to UPM for managing the flow of research information. Other priorities are fiscal management and security issues.

Vice Chancellor Belizario identified six priority research areas, such as maternal health and child health. He seized the opportunity to meet with School of Medicine officials at George Washington University (GWU) and gave a talk on rare tropical diseases which is the subject of an existing collaboration between GWU and UPM.

Over dinner with some UP alumni, Chancellor Agulto and Vice Chancellor Belizario share their vision of turning UP Manila into a world-class UP Manila

The two UPM officials also met with members of the Philippine Academy of Scientists and Engineers (PAASE) for informal discussions on research activities and possible areas of collaboration with UP scientists. A meeting with UP medical doctors of the UP Medical Alumni Society headed by President Dr. Jun Jun Razul capped the fruitful visit. (Based on the summary prepared by Dr. Manuel Datiles, Medical Officer, Senior Investigator, and Senior Attending Ophthalmologist, NIH-NEI, and Dr. Billy Cabellon, UPMASA Incoming President. Photos taken by Dr. Jess Socrates).