Twenty-one institutions across the Philippines were represented in the gathering dubbed as “Forging Partnerships with Philippine Genome Center Visayas State Facility (PGC VSF)” held on June 14, 2019 at the Training Rooms 1 and 2, GCEB, UP Visayas, Iloilo City.
The higher education institutions (Northern Iloilo Polytechnic College, University of Antique, Capiz State University, Aklan State University, Visayas State University, Southern Leyte State University, Iloilo State College of Fisheries, Mindanao State University Tawi-tawi College of Technology and Oceanography, University of San Carlos, Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology, Mindoro State College of Agriculture and Technology, Sorsogon State College, Cebu Technological University, Western Philippines University, University of San Agustin, West Visayas State University and Silliman University), hospitals (Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital and Iloilo Doctor’s Hospital), a research institution(Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center/Aquaculture Department) and a high school (Philippine Science High School MIMAROPA Region Campus), spent a day learning examples on how genomics can complement their researches and how they could collaborate with PGC VSF.
PGC VSF, a project under the Expanded Capability Building in Research and Development in Genomics program of DOST, is forming a consortium with the 21 institutions as prospective members. PGC VSF requires a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and/or genomics-related memorandum of academic research cooperation (MOARC) as well as a research proposal within 2 years for an institution to be a consortium member. PGC VSF will also house equipment for DNA extraction and library preparation for next-generation sequencing (NGS) and offer services required for genomics research.
Forging Partnerships with PGC VSF was atteded by Dr. Cynthia P. Saloma, executive director of Philippine Genome Center, who recounted the beginnings of PGC and expressed her vision of the center as a catalyst in genomics research through trainings, consultations and services for consortium members. She also emphasized complementation of talents and professional services among consortium members and PGC VSF.
Dr. Victor Marco Emmanuel N. Ferriols, project leader of PGC VSF, introduced the facility and expressed PGC VSF’s willingness to collaborate and assist in proposal preparations with the institutions present in the activity.
Several representatives from institutions presented their genomics-related works such as Dr. Paul John L. Geraldino on identification of seaweeds, Dr. Robert S. Guino-o II on barcoding of freshwater fishes and Dr. Doralyn S. Dalisay on compound discovery in marine actinomycetes.
Dr. Michael A. Rice from University of Rhode Island delivered a lecture on genetics and salinity tolerances of exotic Charru mussel in the Philippines and implications for their management.
Ms. Arlene L. Avillanosa from Western Philippines University and Dr. Maria Celia D. Malay from University of the Philippines Visayas presented research proposals intended to be done with PGC VSF.
PGC Visayas is currently being hosted by UP Visayas Miagao, Iloilo.
