UP Manila National Institutes of Health

06/05/2026

IN PHOTOS: The Global Council of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) visited the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila National Institutes of Health (NIH) on April 29, 2026, as part of a two-day program of their Manila meeting aimed at deepening IVI’s role in advancing vaccine equity and sustainable health security.

The Philippines holds the presidency of IVI Global Council as represented by Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa. The DOH selected NIH as one of the official site venues to provide participants with a deeper appreciation of the Philippines’ health research, innovation, and implementation ecosystem.

During the visit, NIH Executive Director Marissa Alejandria, Philippine Genome Center Executive Director Windell Rivera, and Department of Science and Technology Undersecretary for Research and Development Leah Buendia provided overviews of their institutions’ mandates and activities, including strategic priorities, key programs, current research and partnerships, efforts in capacity building and workforce development, and potential areas for global collaboration.

📷 Jericho Paolo Mabansag

Full story to follow.

06/05/2026

The Institute of Health Policy and Development Studies (IHPDS), together with the UP Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (DRRM-H) Program, University of the Philippines Visayas, and TechFactors, Inc., conducted a co-designing workshop for a DRRM-H Simulation and Training Centers to enhance health outcomes in disaster response on March 17, 2026, at the UPV Little Theater, UP Visayas Iloilo City Campus, as part of its NICER (Niche Centers in the Region for Research and Development) Project.

Partners from Region VI, including representatives from regional offices of national government agencies – such as the Office of the Civil Defense (Atty. Melissa P. Banias), Department of Health (Dr. Florence Audrey Mamon-Pestaño), and Department of Science and Technology (Ms. Raisheine Joyce D. Arcillas) – as well as local government units (Iloilo PDRRMO – Mr. Jennel Nazarene Reola; Iloilo PHO – Mr. Christian Harold Preche; Iloilo City DRRMO – Ms. Sheilalyn S. Laczi; Miag-ao MDRRMO – Mr. Ronan John P. Austria and Ms. Christian Joy Nuevaespaña; Pavia MDRRMO – Mr. Rommel Jamerlan; and Leganes MDRRMO – Ms. Karren Joy H. Los Bañes, Mr. Rommel Tubongbanua, and Mr. Jose Reynold Raymundo), academic institutions (University of the Philippines Visayas – Chancellor Clement Castigador Camposano, Dr. Philip Ian Padilla, Mr. Aljohn Torreta, Dr. John Lester Sartaguda, Mr. Jefferson Castor, and Mrs. Divina Punongbayan; West Visayas State University – Mr. Ian Van V. Sumagaysay), and a health institution (Western Visayas Medical Center – Dr. Bryan Ben C. Cagayao, Dr. Tamara Michelle Dominado, and Ms. Kristine Angeli Molina), shared valuable insights on risks, capacities, and training needs related to the establishment of DRRM-H regional training and simulation centers.

Participants actively engaged in co-designing the proposed center, successfully contributing ideas, experiences and wisdom on infrastructure, staffing, and training program development.

06/05/2026

WE ARE HIRING!
- Junior Research Associate (Part-Time)
- Research Assistant (Part-Time)

Deadline of Application: May 10, 2026

For qualified applicants, kindly submit your application at bit.ly/ncttcapply addressed to:
Arianna Maever L. Amit, MS, MAS (Project Leader)

06/05/2026

‼️𝑳𝑰𝑴𝑰𝑻𝑬𝑫 𝑺𝑳𝑶𝑻𝑺 𝑹𝑬𝑴𝑨𝑰𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮‼️

Here are the remaining slots for our upcoming 8th Molecular Biology Training for Professionals:
- 3 slots left for the Lecture + Lab Package (Batch 1 - Jun 18-19)
- 1 slots left for the Lecture + Lab Package (Batch 2 - Jun 24-25)
- 25 slots left for the Lecture ONLY Package

REGISTER NOW!
https://tinyurl.com/MBTP8Reg

* Note that slots are limited to the first 24 participants for the LECTURE + LABORATORY package.
* CPD Units for Med Techs are currently being processed with PRC

‼️𝑳𝑰𝑴𝑰𝑻𝑬𝑫 𝑺𝑳𝑶𝑻𝑺 𝑹𝑬𝑴𝑨𝑰𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮‼️

Here are the remaining slots for our upcoming 8th Molecular Biology Training for Professionals:
- 3 slots left for the Lecture + Lab Package (Batch 1 - Jun 18-19)
- 1 slots left for the Lecture + Lab Package (Batch 2 - Jun 24-25)
- 25 slots left for the Lecture ONLY Package

REGISTER NOW!
https://tinyurl.com/MBTP8Reg

* Note that slots are limited to the first 24 participants for the LECTURE + LABORATORY package.
* CPD Units for Med Techs are currently processing with PRC

29/04/2026

RESEARCH | Yerba buena (Mentha × villosa Huds., family Lamiaceae) is one of the ten herbal medicines endorsed by the Department of Health. Traditionally, its leaves and derived preparations have been used to manage a wide range of conditions. This study focused on understanding the health benefits of yerba buena. Researchers gathered information from online databases, the Philippine National Library, and unpublished clinical trials, covering data from 1950 to 2023.

Out of 37 studies initially identified, 18 were included after thorough review. Lab and animal studies revealed that yerba buena has various health benefits, including its ability to lower blood pressure, fight bacteria, kill parasites, combat tumors, fight viruses, and relieve pain. Safety studies also showed that it has properties that may prevent genetic mutations. A clinical trial comparing yerba buena to paracetamol found that the plant’s pain-relieving effects were just as effective as the common over-the-counter medication.

In summary, yerba buena has a wide range of potential health benefits, including antibacterial, pain-relieving, and anticancer properties. Among these, its ability to relieve pain is the only benefit that has been tested on humans so far.

Authors: Jade P. Rodriguez, Essel N. Tolosa, and Charisse Leanne B. Legaspi (all from the Institute of Herbal Medicine, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila)

Published in Acta Medica Philippina
Read more: https://ovpaa.up.edu.ph/.../yerba-buena-has-a-wide-range.../

RESEARCH | Yerba buena (Mentha × villosa Huds., family Lamiaceae) is one of the ten herbal medicines endorsed by the Department of Health. Traditionally, its leaves and derived preparations have been used to manage a wide range of conditions. This study focused on understanding the health benefits of yerba buena. Researchers gathered information from online databases, the Philippine National Library, and unpublished clinical trials, covering data from 1950 to 2023.

Out of 37 studies initially identified, 18 were included after thorough review. Lab and animal studies revealed that yerba buena has various health benefits, including its ability to lower blood pressure, fight bacteria, kill parasites, combat tumors, fight viruses, and relieve pain. Safety studies also showed that it has properties that may prevent genetic mutations. A clinical trial comparing yerba buena to paracetamol found that the plant’s pain-relieving effects were just as effective as the common over-the-counter medication.

In summary, yerba buena has a wide range of potential health benefits, including antibacterial, pain-relieving, and anticancer properties. Among these, its ability to relieve pain is the only benefit that has been tested on humans so far.

Authors: Jade P. Rodriguez, Essel N. Tolosa, and Charisse Leanne B. Legaspi (all from the Institute of Herbal Medicine, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila)

Published in Acta Medica Philippina

Read more: https://ovpaa.up.edu.ph/research/yerba-buena-has-a-wide-range-of-potential-health-benefits-including-antibacterial-pain-relieving-and-anticancer-properties/

29/04/2026

29/04/2026

WE ARE HIRING!
- Project Senior Technical Officer I (Clinical Practice Guidelines)
- Project Senior Technical Officer I (Guideline Translation)
- Project Senior Technical Officer I (Omnibus Health Guidelines)
- Project Technical Assistant VI (Planning and Performance Monitoring)

Deadline of Application: May 8, 2026

For qualified applicants, kindly submit your application at bit.ly/DOHUPM_NPG4_Application addressed to:
MARIE CARMELA M. LAPITAN, MD, MSc
Program Lead, National Practice Guidelines Cycle 4
Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, National Institutes of Health University of the Philippines Manila

View the terms of reference here: https://bit.ly/NPG4_TORs

See the list of application documents in the comment section.

29/04/2026

This World Immunization Week, we raise awareness on the power of vaccines to save lives and protect our communities.

Last year, we emphasized its role for the girls and women we love. This year, we highlight that, for every generation, vaccines work.

Learn more through the UPLIFT panel discussion "For every generation, vaccines work: Protecting the Next Generation": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P7sNo0HBdg&t=1111s

29/04/2026

IN PHOTOS: Undertaking research involving children is essential, but it must be conducted ethically to safeguard their welfare and ensure they reap the full benefits of scientific advancement. This was emphasized during the 27th Anniversary Conference of the Institute of Child Health and Human Development (ICHHD) under the theme “Do No Harm: Protecting Children in Research.”

ICHHD, one of the 16 institutes of the National Institutes of Health, promotes the health and welfare of children through research and innovation, policy and advocacy, and training. Its programs span from vaccine development, child abuse and neglect, tuberculosis in children, the first 1,000 days, neonatal health, including bilirubin studies, as well as neuroscience and, more recently, climate change.

📷 Sarah Hazel Moces Pulumbarit

Link to the full article: https://sl1nk.com/18v5nr6

29/04/2026

NCBB CONCLUDES 2ND BATCH OF BRM & CHEM SAFETY AND SECURITY TRAINING

On April 14–15, 2026, the National Center for Biosafety and Biosecurity successfully concluded the second batch of the Introduction to Biorisk Management and Chemical Safety and Security Training, held at Hotel Kimberly Manila. The training was granted 12 CPD units for registered Chemists.

The training was attended by 26 participants from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, comprising of laboratory personnel, researchers, and instructors.

Mr. Frederick John B. Navarro and Dr. Jeryl Belle C. Rafanan, both experts in their respective fields and graduates of advanced courses of the NCBB, led the 2-day training.

The NCBB aims to ensure that laboratories are well-equipped to safely and responsibly handle chemicals and other hazardous substances, in line with national and international standards, through continuous training and capacity-building initiatives.

Interested to have an exclusive training for your institution? Send us a message at ncbbtraining.upm@up.edu.ph