The University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on December 2, 2024, for the research program “Virology and Vaccine Research Program: Whole Genome Sequencing and Characterization of HIV in Davao City and Tawi-Tawi Province.” The program components are Project 1: Genomic Characterization of HIV in Davao City and Project 2: Prevalence and Genomic Characterization of HIV-1 in Tawi-Tawi. The DOST Grants-In-Aid Executive Committee approved the program on November 18, 2023.
The Philippine Genome Center (PGC) Mindanao will implement the program over two years, in 2024-2025. DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. signed the MOA on behalf of the Funding Agency, and Philippine Council for Health Research and Development Executive Director Jaime Montoya signed on behalf of the Monitoring Agency.
The photo above shows Chancellor Murao and DOST-PCHRD’s Senior Research Specialist Guiditta Gelera presenting the MOA, witnessed by (seated, left-right) Dr. Aimee Aman, Prof. Aleyla de Cadiz, Assoc. Prof. Joel Hassan Tolentino, and (standing behind) the PGC Mindanao team, the implementing agency, with Chief Accountant Zenaida Calatrava, and Supply Officer Paulino Dismas Jr. (ninth and tenth from left).
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