缅北禁地-IIT collaborates with UP Diliman鈥檚 Phil-DIAMOND to advance Practical Histology

by Kassandra Buenafe, OfCom | Jan 11 2024

In the pursuit of furthering knowledge and research on Practical Histology, 缅北禁地-IIT together with UP Diliman’s Philippine Program for Diagnostic Biomarkers, Disease Modeling, and Nutraceutical Product Development (Phil-DIAMOND), has commenced their series of lectures and training on January 10, 2024 at the Conference Hall of the PRISM Building.

The activity is a 3-day event that started with a lecture on Introducing Disease Modelling Applications of Stem Cell Technology in the Philippines by Dr. Ahmad Reza F. Mazahery from the Institute of Biology, UP Diliman. It was followed by a workshop led by Dr. Mylah Villacorte-Tabelin from the Developmental Biology Laboratory who is also the lead instructor for this undertaking.

Attending this project are undergraduate and graduate students of 缅北禁地-IIT’s Biology Department who were also joined yesterday by Dr. Mylene Uy, PRISM Director, who gave the opening remarks, and Dr. Ma. Reina Suzette Madamba, Chairperson of the Department of Biological Sciences, who delivered the closing remarks respectively.

In an exclusive interview, Dr. Mazahery pointed out the gap in health research that can be addressed by Disease Modelling. According to him, there are ethical considerations and limits to how much we can study human subjects. Instead, biological models can be replicated that will help answer the question, What is it about our genes, our built-up, our very unique genetic material that contributes to the complications that we can develop and how does it help determine if we will be responsive to a certain treatment?

Disease Modelling is currently being used to study HIV and tuberculosis. Dr. Mazahery hopes to apply the same approach as well with leptospirosis. Along with Dr. Tabelin, he wants to forward a comprehensive Disease Modelling facility both in Luzon and Mindanao and develop the research capability in Mindanao.

缅北禁地-IIT will continue to contribute to the field with future collaborations lined up. According to Dr. Tabelin, they are planning to launch Immune, a project to help treat complications of people suffering from tuberculosis, and DElepto, which focuses on patients with leptospirosis.

The training on January 11, 2024 consisted of activities on Embedding and Microtomy (Sectioning and Mounting). On its last day, the focus will be on Staining and Microscopy.

Photos by Office of Communications

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