Filipino researchers and representatives from the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) strengthened relations with partners from Southeast Asia (SEA) and the United Kingdom (UK) in a networking event held on 20-22 February 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. 

The Philippine delegation for the Networking event: infectious diseases relevant to Southeast Asia, organized by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) held on 20-22 February, in Bangkok, Thailand

Networking sessions, idea forums, and team-building exercises were held to build teamwork among participants. Funders’ serial meetings were also held to discuss key aspects of funding opportunities for collaborative projects, including eligibility criteria, project duration, and the importance of diversity and inclusion. Overall, the event served as a vital platform for exchanging knowledge, building partnerships, drafting concepts, and exploring funding avenues to tackle critical health challenges in the Southeast Asian region and beyond.

Hosted by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC), the British Embassy Bangkok, and Thailand’s National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), the event served as a prelude to the multilateral UK-SEA collaboration to fund research on infectious diseases of relevance to Southeast Asia with epidemic and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) potential. 

Building on years of strong partnership between Southeast Asia, this collaboration aims to address the threat of future epidemics and pandemics. This upcoming partnership with the UK marks the third cycle of collaboration for health R&D between UK Research Innovation (UKRI) through the Medical Research Council and DOST through PCHRD. Throughout its Cycle 1 (2016-2019) and Cycle 2 (2019-2022) partnerships, 12 projects were implemented, collectively addressing key challenges in health, particularly in the realm of infectious diseases.

“For several years, the DOST-PCHRD and UKRI’s strong partnerships enabled the conduct of valuable research on infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV, schistosomiasis, and more,” said DOST-PCHRD Research and Development Management Division Chief Mr. Paul Ernest de Leon who led the Philippine delegation in the event. “Through this networking activity, I am confident that future research collaborations between the UKRI and the Council will be more fruitful,” he added. 

The UKRI-Southeast Asia funding call for R&D  collaboration on infectious diseases will open on 14 March 2024 9:00am UK time or 5:00 pm PH time. Interested applicants may check the Call pre-announcement details through this link: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/ukri-southeast-asia-collaboration-on-infectious-diseases/?fbclid=IwAR2gyDCJT8Rjan4X7Tir4EgeD9DmrlyvHUmeVMFcXCQfcJow4QPHL9qoqyM