Eleven from UP Los Baños (UPLB), nine from UP Diliman (UPD), one from UP Manila (UPM), and one from UP Mindanao (UPMin). This is the breakdown per constituent university of the 22 research projects that received the Invention Disclosure Incentive (IDI) on December 12 at the Philippine Genome Center in UPD.
UPLB inventions
- “Nanobiosensor” by Francisco B. Elegado, PhD; Evangeline C. Alocilja, PhD; Lilia M. Fernando, PhD; Maria Teresa M. Perez, MSc; Lorele C. Trinidad, PhD; Shara Mae T. Colegio; Susana M. Mercado, PhD; and Margarita A. Mercado, MSc, of the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BIOTECH) is a DNA-based nanobiosensor for detecting food, feed, and water contaminants such as Listeria monocytogenes and coli to ensure safety for human consumption.
- “Probiotic Guava Tea” by Jennifer D. Saguibo, MSc; Francisco B. Elegado, PhD; Margarita A. Mercado, MSc; Marilou R. Calapardo, MSc; and Ma. Teresa M. Perez, MSc, of BIOTECH is a fermented probiotic drink from guava leaves, reported to have anti-diarrheal, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer properties.
- “Animal Probiotics” by Laura J. Pham, PhD and Chay B. Pham, PhD, of BIOTECH is a low-cost and locally produced product for the swine, poultry, and aquaculture industries to enhance animal responses to disease and improve the quality of their living environment.
- “Coolant” by Engr. Ma. Cristine Concepcion D. Ignacio, MSc, of the College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology is a nanofluid derived from rice hull ash with enhanced thermophysical properties that can be used as coolant for heat exchangers.
- “Meat Detection Kit” by Joy B. Banayo, MSc; Kathlyn Louise V. Manese; Medino Gedeun N. Yebron, Jr., MSc; and Antonio C. Laurena, PhD, of the College of Agriculture and Food Science is a DNA-based species authentication technology for meat and meat products.
- “Recombinant Thermo-acidstable Endoglucanase” by Richard D. Tambalo, PhD; Asuncion K. Raymundo, PhD; and Amy M. Grunden, PhD, of BIOTECH improves the hydrolytic process through the use of an endoglucanase enzyme in high temperature-dilute acid treated lignocellulose materials to improve the release of glucose sugars for use in bioethanol production.
- “Fertigroe Nanofertilizer” by Lilia M. Fernando, PhD; Oliver B. Salangad; Engr. Ida Allen P. Lopez; Erlinda S. Paterno, PhD; and Florinia E. Merca, PhD, of BIOTECH is a controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer for sugarcane, coffee, and corn that can help farmers lessen fertilizer consumption, minimize cost of production, and increase crop yield.
- “HormoGroe” by Lilia M. Fernando, PhD; Erlinda S. Paterno, PhD; Herald Nygel F. Bautista; Juan Miguel K. Parami; Florinia E. Merca, PhD; and Teofila dC. Villar, MSc, of BIOTECH is a controlled-release nano-encapsulated plant growth regulator that enhances shoot and root development, and induces seed germination and flowering for high value crop production.
- “Monascus Red Colorant” by Fides Marciana Z. Tambalo, PhD; Jayson F. Garcia; Cyrene D. Estrellana; Exiquel R. Aranda; Manolito E. Bambase, Jr., PhD; Erlinda I. Dizon, PhD; and Ronilo P. Violanta, PhD, of BIOTECH is a natural and safe colorant for cosmetics, food, and beverage extracted from fungi Monascus Purpureus M1018.
- “Nanosilica Beads” by Milagros M. Peralta, PhD and Maritess L. Magalona, MSc, of the Institute of Chemistry uses iron-modified nanosilica powder and aerogel beads for treating arsenic-contaminated water.
- “Nutrio” by Virginia M. Padilla, PhD, of BIOTECH is a naturally-derived foliar fertilizer for eggplant and sugarcane farming that can increase the yield of sugar from cane stalks and reduce soil damage caused by chemical fertilizers.
UPD inventions
- “AraGrow” by Marco Nemesio Montaño, PhD; Marie Antonette Meñez, PhD; Norchel Corcia Gomez; Christine Mae Edullantes; Jay R Gorospe, MSc; and Rose Angeli Rioja, MSc, of the Marine Science Institute (MSI), College of Science is Sargassum powder used as larval settlement inducer and early juvenile feed for the tropical sea cucumber Holothuria scabra.
- “CocoBento” by Bryan Pajarito, PhD; Carla Mae C. Aquino; Nikko B. delos Reyes; and Colleen Anh C. Pegollo of the Department of Chemical Engineering (DChE), College of Engineering is a less expensive curing additive that can be used as partial substitute activator and accelerator for sulfur-vulcanized natural rubber.
- “Nanometallink” by Mary Donnabelle L. Balela, PhD; Michael R. Tan; and Nathaniel T. de Guzman of the Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (DMMME), College of Engineering utilizes metal nanowires as a more affordable replacement for indium tin oxide that can be used in optoelectronic devices such as tablets, smartphones, LED, LCD, RFID and flexible electronics.
- “Natural Rubber Deodorant” by Bryan Pajarito, PhD; Kayla C. Castaneda; Sofia Denise Jeresano; and Dominique Ann Repoquit of DChE is a modified rubber filler that can reduce and remove the foul odor of natural rubber, significantly improving the working and living conditions of rubber manufacturers and factory workers.
- “Prosthesis” by Hannah del Rosario of DMMME and Fernando Santos of the PBF Prosthesis and Brace Center is a lightweight, non-corrosive, and durable below-knee and other endoskeletal prosthesis at a lower cost.
- “Village Base Station” by Cedric Angelo Festin, PhD; Miguel Carlo Purisima; Adrian Vidal; Camille Corcega; and Maria Theresa Perez of the Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering is a base station with efficient GSM doherty power amplifier using slot detection to reduce power consumption and lower operating costs, allowing rural areas to access and expand cellular communications.
- “CLINN-GEM” by Engr. Herman D. Mendoza, PhD, of DMMME is a gold separation and extraction process that does not use hazardous chemicals such as mercury or cyanide for small-scale mining/milling operators.
- “Synergistic Cytotoxicity of Renieramycin M and Doxorubicin in Breast Cancer Cells” by Gisela P. Concepcion, PhD and Jortan O. Tun of MSI is a combination of the anti-cancer drug Doxorubicin and Renieramycin M as a new chemotherapeutic agent against breast cancer cells.
- “E-MIP Dengue Virus Sensor” by Clarisse Buensuceso Brylee David B. Tiu, PhD Florian R. del Mundo, PhD Rigoberto C. Advincula, PhD Portia Mahal G. Sabido, PhD Guillermo C. Nuesca, PhD, of the Institute of Chemistry, College of Science is a robust and inexpensive alternative sensor for the early detection of dengue infection.
Of the awarded projects, nine were given P15,000 for invention disclosures alone, or what is categorized as the first phase tranche. Six received P25,000 for filing patent registration which is the second phase tranche. Seven projects were awarded P40,000 as a combination of both the first and second phases.
The IDI is a UP System initiative implemented by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs through its Technology Transfer and Business Development Office. (Arlyn VCD Palisoc Romualdo, UP MPRO)
(Note: Details on inventions are from the Technology Transfer and Business Development Office.)
