8 U.P. News
january 2013
UPD fêtes R&D partners
BIOTECH opens pilot plant
The UP Los Baños National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology As a National University, UP is expected (UPLB-BIOTECH) inaugurated last to perform its role as the leading research November 29 a pilot plant, in conjunction university in the country by producing firstth rate scientific researches and creative works. with the observance of the 8 National However, this herculean task will not be Biotechnology Week. The plant which recently acquired a realized without the continuing assistance and support of research and development (R&D) number of new equipment, was made possible through the support of the partners. As a way of acknowledging and showing Department of Science and Technology gratitude to UPD’s R&D partners in the past (DOST). The new facility was deemed crucial to years, the Office of the Chancellor hosted a Christmas dinner called “Pasasalamat 2012: research and development initiatives of the A Celebration of Research Partnership.” The institute, the university and other public or dinner, held last December 7 at the Balay private institutions. Tsanselor, was also a celebration of long-term The plant has a Fermentation Engineering partnership in R&D pursuits. Service Laboratory (FESL), with its Fêted during the dinner were national building and old equipment rehabilitated agencies namely: Commission on Higher at a cost of P25 million provided by the Education (CHED), Department of Philippine Council for Industry, Energy Agriculture (DA), Department of Energy and Emerging Technology Research and (DOE) and Department of Science and Development (PCIERD) under the DOST. Technology (DOST). According to Dr. Fidel Rey Nayve, CHED’s R&D program with UPD is the Science and Engineering Graduate Scholarship. The grant is for graduate students in the following discipline clusters: engineering, Imee Su Martinez, Ph.D. information technology, mathematics, and A Solid State workshop involving natural and physical sciences. Its ultimate goal intensive lectures on the synthesis, is to create a pool of experts in academic characterization, and properties of inorganic institutions. materials was held from January 14-16 at DA, on the other hand, supports projects the CHEMREZ Seminar Room in the that are in line with the National and Regional New Teaching Building of the Institute of Integrated Research and Development Chemistry (IC), UP Diliman (UPD). Extension (RDE) Agenda and Program. It The workshop was deemed vital to the also provides funding support to researches that address current needs and problems of faculty and students of UPD, particularly tthose involved in solid-state materials the agriculture and fisheries sectors. To lessen the country’s dependence on development research. Prof. Arnold Guloy, a noted professor imported oil and to provide cheaper and in solid-state chemistry, currently graduate environment-friendly alternatives to fossil chair of the Department of Chemistry, fuels, DOE is implementing the long-term University of Houston acted as main Alternative Fuels Program. This program intends to tap the country’s domestic produce resource speaker. Guloy is also a prominent alumnus of as viable sources of indigenous renewable the IC, as well as an adjunct professor of energy, which will be the pillar of our country’s the institute. sustainable growth. Guloy came to Manila courtesy of the DOST is the biggest source of external Visiting Professor Program of the Office of funds for R&D at UPD. Three of its sectoral planning councils, specifically the Philippine Vice-President for Academic Affairs under Council for Industry Energy and Emerging Prof. Gisela Concepcion. Prof. Leon Payawan, academic chair of Technology Research and Development the Inorganic Division of IC, organized the (PCIEERD), the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources workshop, along with Dr. Imee Su Martinez, Research and Development (PCAARD) and a newly hired associate professor of IC, and the Philippine Council for Health Research an alumna of the University of Houston. Participants in the workshop were and Development (PCHRD), along with the National Research Council of the Philippines, faculty, research associates, graduate and which is also associated with the DOST, undergraduate students of IC, National support the R&D programs and projects Institute of Physics, and Material Science implemented by UPD. These projects aim to Engineering Department of the UPD produce patentable inventions with industrial College of Engineering. applications in various fields, in addition to Such exercises provide alternative academic publications and other copyrighted learning experiences for both faculty works. and students in the university, allowing The aggregate level of funding for UPD them to experience lectures coming from R&D increased significantly, Vice Chancellor internationally recognized professors and for Research and Development Dr. Benito M. scientists. Pacheco said. From 2011 to 2012, the reported The students can imbibe not only new programs and projects funded by the Philippine knowledge, but also the manner of delivery government were estimated to total at more of the speakers. In addition, these types than P1 billion or approximately P502 million per year, compared to the 2005 to 2009 total funding which amounted to P595 million or approximately P120 million per year. Pacheco also said that R&D partners internal funding for R&D is made possible,” graciously allowed incorporating the said Pacheco. administrative cost or indirect costing for In 2012, internal funding for R&D projects the R&D activities in the approved budgets. through OVCRD is projected to exceed 21 From 2011 to 2012, the administrative cost million pesos, compared to annual average incorporated to the externally funded projects from 2005 to 2010, which was about 16 million averaged 26 million pesos per year. The pesos, he added. administrative costs for R &D activities are not PCIEERD executive director, Dr. Rowena part of UP’s annual budget for operation. Cristina L. Guevara, who accepted the plaque “By freeing up a part of the administrative of appreciation on behalf of DOST Decretary MOOE and PS for externally funded projects, Mario G. Montejo, said “DOST believes that which is now incorporated in their own indirect UP is the main source of R&D personnel in or administrative budget, increased in the the country, we will continue to support and Albino C. Gamba, UPDIO
BIOTECH-FESL program leader, the pilot plant is crucial in the scale-up production of biotechnology products such as enzymes, microbial inoculants or microbial fertilizers, probiotics, animal vaccines, antibiotics and other products. The plant will translate the technologies developed in the lab into pilot or semicommercial scale. Through this facility, the technologies are fined-tuned and refined while generating reliable data for technology and economic feasibility studies. Revolutionary products can also be produced, Nayve explained. The R&D program proposal on enhancing biotech products and services consisting of eight projects officially started in March 2012. Phase 1 of the biotech pilot plant rehabilitation is now in progress. When completed, five bioreactors would be restored with complete monitoring and control. Other equipment like centrifuges and ultrafilters as well as facilities like
IC holds Solid-State workshop Photo courtesy of Dr. Imee Su Martinez
of activities provide a venue for free exchange of ideas, and fer tile grounds for research and development to thrive. Capping the workshop was a session t o d i s c u s s Guloy graduate studies at the University of Houston, providing information to students, interested to pursue graduate studies abroad. The workshop was made possible through the support IC director Prof. Florian del Mundo, and her staff, as well as a collaboration between Department of Chemistry, University of Houston and the IC. Both institutions have an existing memorandum of agreement (MOA) that provides aa program for a dual doctorate degree in Chemistry from UH and UP. Currently, Guloy together with Prof. Eva Ratilla of IC has two Filipino students under this particular program. This workshop is just one of Guloy’s projects for the IC, in addition to the MOA, which he helped realize. For this year, he is also planning to participate in team-instructions with inorganic professors in the IC to teach solid-state chemistry as a graduate course. This is expected to strengthen solid-state education in the institute, and help enhance the capability of materials development research in the university. *Martinez is an associate professor at the IC, UP Diliman
steam generator, compressed air system, and process water policy would have been upgraded as well. The biotech plant is the only facility in the country that caters not only to the academe and researchers, but also to assist start-up entrepreneurs and other interested parties. The pilot plant is envisioned to help accelerate the advances of biotechnology in the country in order to generate the products and technologies that would benefit a greater number of Filipinos. D r. A m e l i a P. G u e va r a , D O S T U n d e r s e c r e t a r y f o r R & D, l e d t h e inauguration, along with UPLB Chancellor Rex Victor O. Cruz; Dr. Emil Q. Javier, former UP president and first ever director of BIOTECH; Dr. William G. Padolina, president of the National Academy of Science and Technology (DOST-NAST); Dr. Rowena L. Guevera, executive director, PCIERD; and Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, current BIOTECH director. On the same day, BIOTECH also collaborated with PCIERD in hosting the DOST and the Department of Trade and Industry business forum. The BIOTECH technology products/ business opportunities presented included the Brown Magic Roor Inoculant, a biofertilizer for orchids; a Salmonella DAS (DNA Amplification System) Kit, a diagnostic system for use in food, water and animal feeds; BIOVAC HS Oil Vaccine, a vaccine for cows, goats and carabaos against Haemorrhagic Septicemia, a blood poisoning disease; and BIOTECH Rennet, an enzyme preparation that can substitute animal rennet as milk coagulant in cheese making. The 8th National Biotechnology Week’s theme for this year was “Bioteknolohiya para sa Kalikasan, Kagandahan, Kabuhayan, at Kaunlaran. OK ang 5K sa Kalusugang Pangkalahatan: Mamamayan at Kalikasan.” (http://www.uplb.edu.ph/index.php/what-snew/715-biotech-celebrates-nat-l-biotechnologyweek-inagurates-pilot-plant
CFOS holds milkfish processing and business training Lyncen M. Fernandez, UPV-IPO
In keeping with its continuing advocacy for people empowerment, the UP Visayas’ College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) conducted a three-day seminar on milkfish (bangus) processing and entrepreneurship last Dec. 12-13 at the UPV Miagao campus. “This training is in fulfillment of UP’s tripartite function to teach, do research and perform extension services,” said Prof. Leticia Ami, director of the Institute of Fish Processing Technology, UPV CFOS in her opening remarks for the training. After a session on how to prepare a business plan that covered market and product matching, pricing, promotion, and distribution, the participants were asked to draw up and present a draft business plan partner with the University.” for their product. Usec. Loreta G. Ayson of DOE received Sixteen representatives from state the plaque of appreciation, while Dr. Marco colleges and universities, as well as Nemesio E. Montaño and Dr. Henry Ramos government agencies in Western Visayas represented DA and CHED, respectively. attended the training. At the event were UP President Alfredo An overview of government assistance E. Pascual, UPD Chancellor Dr. Caesar A. on business enterprises capped the threeSaloma, UPD and UP System officials and day exercise. UPD faculty members who are recipients of (http://www.upv.edu.ph/upv/index. research grants. php/96-news-and-features/800-milkfish(http://upd.edu.ph/~updinfo/dec12/ processing-and-entrepreneurship-trainingindex14.ht , reprinted with permission from conducted-by-cfos) index14.htm UPDIO)