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PURPOSE

The DOST-PCHRD Undergraduate Thesis Grant in Natural Products provides fund support to all undergraduate students who will conduct their thesis on natural products. The program aims to sustain a research culture in natural products to increase the number of research and later on build a pool of researchers/experts specializing in the field. The program supports he Drug Discovery and Development program of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) which aims to develop safe, effective and affordable alternative drugs from the country’s natural resources.

Thesis grants will be given to 2 undergraduate entries per region. After completion of the project, a competition will be held to selected qualified students to recognize innovative work on natural products.

NOMINATION PROCEDURES

1. Who can apply

All undergraduate students of Pharmacy, Chemistry, Nursing and Health and Allied Sciences who have thesis proposals on natural products may apply. The proposed thesis study must use plants indigenous in the region. The project must be completed a year after receiving the grant.

2. How to apply

Applicants should submit the following documents to the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium (RHRDC):

a) Duly accomplished prescribed research proposal form with college seal
b) Endorsement letter from the institution signed by the head of the university college dean
c) Soft copy of the proposal (word format) 
d) Hard copy of the proposal using A4 paper (3 copies)
e) Certificate of plant authentication
f) Appropriate clearances:
Bureau of Animal Industry clearance for studies involving animal subjects
Biosafety Clearance for studies involving genetic engineering and pathogenic organisms
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Clearance for studies involving Indigenous Peoples
Gratuitous Permit from Biodiversity Management Bureau for studies involving collection of flora and fauna from DENR Protected Areas
Ethical clearance for studies involving human subjects
g) Curriculum vitae of the students and adviser using the prescribed form

SELECTION CRITERIA

The research proposals will be rated based on the following criteria:

Proposal evaluation

1. Technical merit
• Objectives are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound
• The study design supports the objectives
• The study sample and methodology are appropriate

2. Data management
• The plan for data collection is clearly described
• Quality control procedures for data collection are in place
• Statistical analysis is well described

3. Relevance/Significance
• The study addresses an important health problem
• The study contributes to the advancement of scientific knowledge

4. Proponent/institution’s capacity
• The investigators are qualified and appropriately trained to carry out the study
• The proposed study is appropriate to the experience level of the investigators
• The implementing/cooperating institution is capable of carrying out the proposed study

PROGRAM PROCESS

Deliberation of thesis grantees and winners will be based on the grading/rating during the en banc meeting and oral presentation, respectively.

SCREENING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

• Regional Health Research and Development Consortium - for prescreening
• UP Institute of Chemistry
• UST Research Center for the Natural Sciences
• DLSHSI Center for Biopharmaceutical Research
• Gruppo Medica Inc
• Herbanext Laboratories Inc.

THESIS GRANT

• Two (2) thesis proposals will be selected per region who will receive a grant amounting to a maximum of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P 50,000.00).
• The thesis fund will be deposited to the bank account of the thesis adviser and will be liquidated after the completion of the study
• A Memorandum of Agreement will be signed between the students, adviser, head of the institution and DOST-PCHRD
• The grant must be expended based on the approved line-item budget

CASH AWARD

After the oral presentation, fund support will be provided to the top 3 relevant and innovative thesis studies. Prizes will be distributed as follows:

Finalists will receive a plaque of recognition.

TIMETABLE OF ACTIVITIES

Jesselle S. Laranas, DOST-PCAARRD S&T Media Services

Partner organizations of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), particularly from the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country expressed the need for more Balik Scientists to help in their research and development (R&D) initiatives. This was made apparent during the one-day Balik Scientist Program (BSP) Consultation Meeting held recently in Cebu City. 

For the past 42 years that the program has existed, there are more than 500 Filipino experts overseas who have been part of the BSP, with around 180 scientists eventually repatriating in the country. 

“We need to have a more proactive approach to enjoin more Filipino scientists overseas to come back to the country. Through the Balik Scientist Program, they can contribute to the country’s efforts on national growth and development through science, technology, and innovation,” said Dr. Melvin B. Carlos, OIC Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Resource Management, and Support Services of PCAARRD.

The consultation was organized to identify the expertise needed by host institutions, which are predominantly HEIs.

“Aside from engaging more Filipino expats into the program, we also want to have more HEIs in the regions involved in the BSP,” said Dr. Juanito T. Batalon, Director of PCAARRD’s Institution Development Division, which implements the BSP for the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector.

According to the HEIs present in the consultation workshop, fields of specialization needed from potential Balik Scientists include virology, plant breeding, crop modeling, bioinformatics, crop physiology, precision agriculture, nanotechnology, molecular genetics, agricultural extension, and agriculture and rural development, coastal resources management, carbon stock assessment, among others. 

BSP will be institutionalized following the passing of the Senate Bill no. 1533, otherwise known as the Balik Scientist Act.

Under the said bill, Balik Scientists will enjoy enhanced benefits and incentives. The bill has also established a medium-term engagement of six months to one year, apart from the existing short-term engagement (one to three months) and long-term engagement (two to three years).

Long-term Balik Scientists will also receive new benefits including subsistence allowance, support in securing job opportunities for the awardee’s spouse, and admission support for their children. In addition, the awardee will receive funding for R&D projects which may include establishment and development of a facility or laboratory for the awardee’s host institution.

Together with PCAARRD, BSP is also implemented by the DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), which cover Balik Scientists in the health industry and the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) for those BSP engagements in the Industry, Energy, Emerging Technology, and Special Concerns.