The Cagayan Valley Health Research and Development Consortium (CVHRDC), one of the research consortia in the Cagayan Valley region under the umbrella of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Office 02, held its 4th Annual Health Research Conference on Nov. 27-29, 2018 at Isabela State University, Cauayan Campus.
The three-day conference with this year’s theme of “Breaking Disparities, Bridging Health Equity and Building Resilient Communities thru Health Research and Innovation” gathered professional and student-researchers from the consortium’s member institutions and agencies, including the University of Saint Louis (USL), for plenary talks and research competitions.
USL delegates to the conference included Mr. Manuelito Talaue, Jr., Pharmacy instructor, researcher, and research adviser; and student researchers from the School of Education, Arts, Sciences and Health (SEASH).
Dr. Sancho A. Mabborang, DOST RO2 director and concurrently the CVHRDC chair, graced the event. He stressed to put to a higher height all research endeavors of the region with focus on the researchers’ areas of expertise.
The Director said that priority areas of research in Region 02 include drug development and discoveries, diagnostics for various diseases and illnesses, functional food innovations, and disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation tangible outputs. He also said that there is an emerging research interest on mental health.
Dr. Mabborang further shared that a research institution’s or agency’s collaborative strategy with industry partners is to let them pitch what they need within their business or industry, and the institution/agency with the research laboratory facilities and equipment shall in turn submit to the industry partner the research proposal/s for possible funding.
On November 27, the first plenary talk “Understanding Equity and Equality in Health” was delivered by Dr. Reygene Caratiquit, a municipal health officer (MHO) in Isabela.
Thereafter, Ms. Ma. Jasmin Tagudar, a registered nurse and the Development Officer III of the Department of Health (DOH) RO2, presented “Mental Health as a Growing Public Health Dilemma” and stressed on the need to conduct relevant researches.
The third plenary session, held on Nov. 29, was facilitated by Dr. Danilo Antonio Alejandro, Medical Specialist III of the Pediatric Department of Veterans Regional Hospital (VRH). The topic revolved around “Research Ethics as a Tool to Enhance Quality of Health Researches.”
Meanwhile, research competitions were held on Nov. 28; the awarding of winners was on Nov. 29. Events were Oral Presentation – Professional and Student categories and Poster Exhibit – Professional and Student categories.
The winners from the University of Saint Louis were as follows:
| Researchers | Rank | Category | Research Title |
| Kyle Ugale Charlette Agustin Angelique Beltran Angelica Rose Canapi James Danniel Catolos |
1st | Oral Presentation Student Category | Hypolipidemic Property of Katuray (Sesbania grandiflora) Flower Methanolic Extract in High Fat Diet and Thiazide-Induced Hyperlipidemic Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus) |
| Manuelito Talaue Jr., RPh Vina May Aowat Daryll Jade Calaycay Carissa Jica Ilaga Rizza-Marie Latawan Benz Jayren Tangonan Christlyne May Tangonan |
3rd | Oral Presentation Professional Category | Anti-Inflammatory Property of the Ethanolic Extract of Local Fresh Water Clam (Corbicula fluminea) in Sprague Dawley Rats (Rattus norvegicus) |
| Ian Paul Castillo Rica Accad Guillermo Baccay Leidy Rose Liban Ma. Marcela Tumaliuan |
1st | Poster Exhibit Student Category | Antihyperglycemic Activity of Cacao (Theobroma cacao) Husk Extract in Alloxan-Induced Male Sprague Dawley Rats” |
| Rhealyn Legaspi Joyce Ann Caraboc Krizel Joyce Coca Elsaser Bulado Christine Angela Agor |
3rd | Poster Exhibit Student Category | Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Medicinal Leech (Hirudo medicinalis, Hirudinidae) Saliva Extract on Carrageenan-Induced Edema in Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus): Pre-Formulation of Medicinal Gel |
Dr. Eladio Martin S. Gumabay, head of USL’s Center for Health Research and Development, is chair of the DOST-CVHRDC Research Information, Communication and Utilization Committee (RICUC).
