A memorandum of understanding (MOU) on a capacity-building program for clinicians and early career scientists on proteomics-based research was ceremonially signed on Oct. 2 between the University of the Philippines (UP) and the following institutions: Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (FEU-NRMF); Manila Central University (MCU); Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM); San Beda University (SBU); and Southwestern University Philippine Investment Management Inc. (SWU PHINMA). Representatives of UP’s two other partners, Davao Medical School Foundation Inc. and Vicente Memorial Medical Center, were unable to attend the event but had signed the MOU earlier this year.
Signatories were: UP President Angelo Jimenez; Kevyn Joseph Reyes, Presidential Chief of Staff, FEU-NRMF; MCU President Renato Tanchoco Jr.; PLM President Domingo Reyes Jr.; SBU VP for Research and Innovation Fernando Jose Fontanilla; and SWU PHINMA COO Cheryl Jane Chan.
The initiative is part of the UP Philippine Genome Center’s Extension Program for Clinicians. It is designed to empower clinical researchers with the capacity to understand and utilize omics-based technologies for relevant medical applications; identify important targets for protein-based point-of-care technologies; promote research, education and culture; and, contribute towards mutual interest and development.
The MOU is automatically renewed every five years unless terminated by one or both parties with six months’ prior notice in writing.
On UP’s national role
“There is no doubt in my mind at all on the nature of the national university—to lead in academic standards and in introducing innovations, to be a research university, to be a graduate school, to be a regional and global university, and to be a public service university,” Jimenez declared. “Our goal is to produce leaders and good citizens—mabuting mamamayan. We must engage in knowledge co-creation with other universities with a commitment to pursue the vision of a just, equitable, and prosperous university.”
Emphasizing the leadership value of being “mapagpakumbaba”, Jimenez added, “One of the best ways to lead people is to respect them—that they know better than you.”
Support and gratitude
FEU-NRMF’s Reyes expressed gratitude to UP for the “value of inclusivity and knowledge co-creation” that this institutional linkage may bring to the medical field. “Hopefully we can use this as the pioneering project and eventually branch out to different universities and work together,” he added. Tanchoco remarked that MCU is “looking forward to this opportunity to co-create knowledge not only for academic purposes but for the welfare of the entire Filipino people.”
PLM’s Reyes said it was his utmost privilege for PLM to be part of the research program, with SBU’s Fontanilla echoing the sentiment in his message. Chan, the last partner representative to speak, explained that the initiative will help SWU PHINMA’s goal to “truly serve the underserved market and middle income society.”
