Research and Development Management

PCHRD funds research proposals that are aligned with the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA) and the DOST’s Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA).

NUHRA, being the national template for health research and development efforts, guides the health research sector on the health researches that address the most pressing health concerns of the country. NUHRA specifies the areas and topics that need to be addressed in the next five years, in line with global and national initiatives influencing the health sector. On the other hand, the HNRDA focuses more on the areas of science, technology, and innovation for health.

These identified research priority areas are as follows:

PCHRD Research Priorities 

1. Tuklas Lunas® (Drug Discovery and Development)
2. Functional Foods
3. Nutrition and Food Safety
4. Re-emerging and Emerging Diseases
5. OMIC Technologies for Health
6. Biomedical Engineering for Health
7. Diagnostics
8. Digital and Frontier Technologies for Health
9. Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in Health
10. Brain and Mental Health

NUHRA can be downloaded here.

Review Procedures

Approval of proposals for research grants will be based on a multi-level review process.

1. Internal evaluation and screening in terms of alignment to the research priorities, duplication, and completeness of requirements.
2. External evaluation by technical experts and consultants based on the following criteria: 
   • Relevance/Significance
   • Technical and Ethical Merit
   • Data Management
   • Feasibility (practicality, cost, time)
   • Proponent’s/Institution’s Capacity
   • Marketability Potential (for product-based proposals) 
3. Final approval by the PCHRD Executive Director, PCHRD Governing Council or the DOST Executive Committee depending on the recommended total budgetary requirement of the proposal.

In each stage of the review process, the proponent may need to revise the proposal on the basis of the recommendations of the reviewers.

The review process will take forty (40) working days provided that all the requirements have been submitted.

Who may apply

Filipinos with at least a Master’s Degree in a relevant field, have proven research competence/track record, and employed in universities/colleges, research agencies/institutes, hospitals, and other health related agencies are eligible to apply for the research grant.

How to apply

The proponent should submit the following requirements online through the DOST Project Management Information System (DPMIS) during the designated schedule of the PCHRD Call for Proposals or other Special Calls:

• Project Proposal following the PCHRD Detailed Proposal Form
• Workplan Schedule (Gantt Chart of Activities)
• Proposed Line-Item Budget (LIB)
• Counterpart Funding of Implementing Agency
• Ethics Clearance, if applicable
• Biosafety Clearance, if applicable
• Informed Consent Form (for studies involving human subjects)
• Case Report Form, if applicable
• Endorsement of Agency Head
• Duties and Responsibilities of each Project Personnel
• Curriculum Vitae of Proponent(s)
• Other requirements specified in the DOST Grants-in-Aid Guidelines for certain type of implementing agencies (e.g. NGOs, private companies).  

The Regional Research Fund (RRF) initiative supports the research and development efforts of beginning researchers in the regions, and can provide financial support for research projects with six to twelve month-duration, and a budgetary requirement not exceeding ONE MILLION PESOS (PHP 1,000,000.00). Three (3) RRF projects per year are targeted to be supported by DOST-PCHRD per region, subject to the evaluation of the quality of proposals, and availability of funds.  

The requested budget may include allocation for professional fees of research mentor/consultant who can assist beginning researchers from conceptualization to project  implementation and writing of the final technical report. However, allocation for capital outlay/equipment will not be allowed.

A. What proposals may qualify

Only research proposals that address priority health problems/issues identified in the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA), Regional Unified Health Research Agenda (RUHRA), or in the Health Section of the Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA) shall be qualified for review by the Technical Review Board (TRB) of RHRDCs and DOST-PCHRD.

B. How to apply

The proponent should submit to the RHRDC the following requirements:

1. Detailed project proposal following the PCHRD-RDMD F-1, “Detailed Research Proposal Form;” (downloadable at https://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/downloads/category/284-call-for-proposals)
2. Work plan Schedule (Gantt Chart of Activities);
3. Proposed Line-Item Budget (LIB) with breakdown of expenses, and counterpart funding from Implementing Agency (if any);
4. Intent to apply for appropriate research authorization/clearances/permits or copy of appropriate research authorization/clearances/permits, whichever is applicable (e.g. Ethics clearance from PHREB-accredited REC, BAI Animal Permit, Free and Prior Informed Consent clearance for NCIP, Gratuitous permit from DENR, Biosafety Clearance);
5. Endorsement letter from Implementing Agency
6. Curriculum Vitae of each Project Personnel; and
7. Duties and Responsibilities of each Project Personnel.

C. Who may apply  

1. Regular staff or faculty members of RHRDC member institutions;
2. Medical residents of hospitals may submit proposals, but he/she shall work under the supervision of a consultant/experienced researcher in the region who shall serve as the main proponent; and
3. Other faculty/staff of research institutes, medical and paramedical schools, hospitals and other health related agencies which are not yet members of RHRDCs (subject to the approval of the regional consortia)

An inter-intra institutional collaborative research and development undertaking will be given higher priority for funding.

D. The deadline for submission of proposals to the RHRDC

Please contact your respective RHRDCs for the details on their call for proposals.