Health Emergency Information Management and Risk Assessment (HIM) Team, WHO Health Emergencies Programme (WHE), Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO)

Team Lead - WHO WPRO APW with the College of Public Health, UP ManilaMay-July: WHO Regional Office for the Western PacificApril: WHO Country Office – Philippines• Technical support: event-based and indicator-based surveillance, collection of data on subnational distribution of cases, monitoring of implemented NPIs, and country situation analyses• Analysis of reports and literature on SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and seropositivity, all-cause mortality surveillance, and community-based mortality surveillance

Research, Extension, and Professional Staff• Provided technical and administrative support for research projects being undertaken by the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics• Developed guidelines for information products to be published as part of the COVID-19 Risk Communication efforts and information campaigns of the College• Developed a system for logging and tracking of information from consultation requests, matching of client needs to consultant expertise, scheduling and delivery of services, service evaluation, and fulfillment of payment obligations

Research Program: Discovery and Development of Health Products – Marine Component• Substantially contributed to the proposal for DDHP-MC Phase II which successfully secured funding from the DOST Philippine Council for Health Research and Development• Designed and conducted culture optimization studies for the production of secondary metabolites aimed at addressing antimicrobial resistance of ESKAPE pathogens• Evaluated the chemistry and bioactivity of extracts yielded by marine microbial cultures and developed protocols to scale-up production• Collaborated with several research groups:- Institute of Chemistry (UP Diliman)- National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (UP Diliman)- Institute of Biology (UP Diliman)- Bioreactor Facility (BIOTECH UP Los Baños)- Electron Microscopy Laboratory (BIOTECH UP Los Baños)

Research Program: Discovery and Development of Health Products – Marine Component; andSupport for projects being undertaken at the Microbiological Research and Services Laboratory, NSRI, UP Diliman

Research Program: Discovery and Development of Health Products – Marine ComponentMy work entailed conducting culture optimization studies to improve the production of secondary metabolites of interest, preparation of reports needed for the progress of the research project, and duties related to laboratory organizational matters.Trainings:• Principles, Operation, and Maintenance of LCMS-8040 Triple Quadrupole UFMS• Cell-Based Assays on Primary Cultures and Cell Lines• Biolog GEN III MicroStation Microbial Identification System• Introduction to Bioinformatics for Genomics and Metagenomics Analyses Awards and Distinctions:• Poster Presentation at the 31st Philippine Chemistry Congress (Finalist for Best Poster): Reversed phase HPLC Profiling and Antimicrobial Activity of Extracts Derived from Sponge-associated Marine Microorganisms

Research Program: Discovery and Development of Health Products – Marine Component

I organized several on-campus events such as career orientations and general assemblies. UST BCS played a significant role in advancing the efforts of the Department in becoming an accredited institution of higher education.I spearheaded several community development programs while working under the Biochemical Society, helping the partner communities to develop new sources of income and aiding the holistic development of the adopted communities of the Faculty of Pharmacy.

Trainings undertaken at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology• Mutagenicity and bioactivity assays• Preservation of microbial samples• Natural products chemistry• DNA extraction and amplification• Laboratory animal handling