PROGRAM UPDATE- Dr. Bernadette Ramirez, World Health Organization’s (WHO) Scientist, will deliver the keynote address for the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development’s (PCHRD) 36^th anniversary celebration on 16 March 2018 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).

Dr. Bernadette Ramirez joined the WHO-Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) in June 2007 with over 20 years academic and research experience in health product innovation, drug discovery, vaccines, and the development of diagnostics for infectious tropical diseases.

She provides support and coordinates projects that studies population health vulnerabilities, vector-borne diseases, and ways to increase population resilience against the climate change impact in Africa.

Joining Dr. Ramirez as guest speakers are Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque, and UP Manila Professor Mary Ann Lansang.

The 36^th anniversary celebration will highlight social innovations in health. Part of the program is the recognition of good practices in social innovation in health including the winners of the 2017 Search for PHL Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI) Solutions.

A panel discussion follows which will discuss opportunities and appropriate frameworks on social innovation in health research.  Panelists include University of the Philippines (UP) Manila Professor Noel Juban, UP School of Economics Professor Aleli Kraft, Ateneo De Manila University Institute of Philippine Culture Research Associate Dennis Batangan, and One Health Boat Project Founder Katerina Nono-Abiertas.

Awarding of newly accredited Research Ethics Committees (RECs) and winners of the “Visualize Health Research: Visual Abstract Contest” will also be conducted.

PCHRD is the national coordinating and monitoring body for health research. For more details, visit www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph. Don’t forget to like us on Facebook (/dostpchrd) and follow us on Twitter (@DOST_PCHRD)!