The Philippine Liver Research Network (PLRN) will focus its initial activities on strengthening partnerships with its member institutions. This is the priority action item identified by the Network during its first meeting held on 19 August 2024.

In his message to the Network, the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) Executive Director Dr. Jaime Montoya emphasized why network-building is important for the PLRN. “We will be able to get to know each other and strengthen the capabilities of all the members and individuals involved in the PLRN,” said Dr. Montoya. “More importantly, this network aims to be a fertile ground for important and relevant research to help mitigate the liver disease problem in the country,” he added.

In 2019, the PLRN was first conceptualized through a collaboration between DOST-PCHRD and Fondazione Italiana Fegato (FIF), aiming to serve as a hub for the conduct of research that will address the growing burden of liver diseases in the Philippines. Specifically, it is envisioned to provide opportunities for local researchers to lead, propose, conduct, and publish liver studies by providing extensive support for research projects on liver and liver diseases.

The establishment of the PLRN was supported through a tripartite agreement between the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), Fondazione Italiana Fegato (FIF), and the University of the Philippines Manila (UP Manila). 

Brief History of the PLRN

To build a pool of Filipino experts on liver research, the FIF, and DOST-PCHRD launched the PhD in Molecular Biomedicine scholarship program in 2019. The program trained scholars in molecular hepatology, focusing on the study of molecular approaches to cancer biology, genetics, jaundice, and metabolic diseases. 

The program produced its first batch of graduates in 2023ー Dr. Loraine Kay Cabral and Dr. Noel Salvozaー who are now leading the coordination of the activities of the PLRN. There are 11 ongoing scholars under the scholarship program and are expected to join the PLRN once they complete their studies.

To guide the direction of liver-related research activities, the Philippine Liver Research Agenda was developed, in collaboration with the FIF. The agenda cites the following as the liver research priority areas: 1) prevalence, incidence, and risk factors of liver diseases; 2) access to treatment; 3) burdens of liver disease; 4) stigma caused by hepatitis B and its negative impact on healthcare utilization; 5) patient-reported outcomes for liver diseases; 6) non-invasive diagnosis for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; 7) screening and surveillance programs for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma; 8) registry and tissue and serum repository for liver diseases, including transplantation cirrhosis; 9) effectiveness of treatment intervention programs in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; and 10) strategies to increase donor pool for liver transplants.

The PLRN in its early stages

During its first meeting, the PLRN convened scientists, clinicians, and experts from related fields, representing a total of 32 local and international institutions. The current partner institutions of the Network are as follows: 

LUZON

• Baguio General Hospital 
• Holy Angel University (Pampanga)

NCR 

• DOST – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development
• DOST – Food and Nutrition Research Institute
• DOST – Industrial Technology Development Institute 
• Department of Health
• Hepatology Society of the Philippines
• Research Institute for Tropical Medicine
• Philippine Genome Center
• University of the Philippines – Los Baños 
• University of the Philippines – Diliman 
• University of the Philippines – Manila
• National Institutes of Health 
• National Kidney and Transplant Institute
• University of Santo Tomas Hospital 
• St. Luke’s Medical Center
• Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines
• San Lazaro Hospital
• The Medical City
• Philippine General Hospital

VISAYAS

• West Visayas State University and Medical Center
• Chong Hua Hospital 
• University of San Agustin
• Philippine Genome Center – Visayas

MINDANAO

• Philippine Genome Center – Mindanao
• Southern Philippines Medical Center
• Metro Davao Medical and Research Center
• Mindanao State University – Marawi
• Caraga State University

INTERNATIONAL

• Fondazione Italiana Fegato (Italian Liver Foundation)
• World Health Organization
• University of Toronto
• Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (National Research and Innovation Agency) 

The 1st PLRN Meeting was held to review the existing initiatives that contribute to the advancement of Liver Research in the country, and discuss the Network’s next steps. The activity was attended by representatives from Philippine member institutions. 

During the meeting, the DOST-PCHRD shared its programs that support the PLRN and liver health research. Highlighted were the PhD in Molecular Biomedicine scholarship program and the research grants provided by the Council for liver health-related projects.  

As of 2024, the DOST-PCHRD has supported five completed projects, two ongoing projects, and five upcoming projects related to liver-health. 

A major liver research initiative supported by the DOST-PCHRD is a program implemented  by the University of the Philippines Manila – National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the leadership of Dr. Janus Ong entitled, “Promoting Healthy Filipino Liver Through Interdisciplinary InnovativE Researches (PHIL LIVER).” The PHIL LIVER will develop an interdisciplinary and collaborative research program that will promote and conduct basic, clinical, and translational research on liver health and diseases. It is composed of four component projects which focus on the development of a biobank for liver disease research, including the study of biomarkers for viral hepatitis and metabolic markers for chronic liver disease or liver conditions in people living with HIV (PLWHIV). 

Ways forward for the PLRN

Still in its early stages, the PLRN is set to focus on growing its network, enabling partnerships, and creating opportunities for members to explore collaborative endeavors. 

As the lead institution for the PHIL LIVER Program, UP – NIH Executive Director Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-de la Paz emphasized how the PLRN will bring greater impact for liver research by enabling collaborations. “The exciting work for liver research in the country has already begun. And the establishment of the Philippine Liver Research Network will be important in bridging excellent research and technology, and solution-minded undertakings,” she said.

The PLRN is holding its second meeting in September to showcase liver-related research projects and encourage areas for collaboration. It will also feature liver study groups for clinical and basic science to highlight their best practices among involved institutions and identify areas for collaboration.

Finally, the third meeting will be integrated into the ASEAN Liver Research Initiative meeting on October 17, 2024. It aims to align PLRN’s research capacities with those of partner ASEAN countries.