MMSU faculty researchers bag awards in regional symposium
By Stephanie Camille Ilar
Faculty researchers of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) earned multiple recognitions during the 3rd Regional Research Development & Innovation Symposium in Region 1 held on November 26-28 at the Center for Flexible Learning.
MMSU participants presented their papers and projects in parallel breakout sessions organized by the Ilocos Consortium for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technologies Research and Development (ICIEERD), Region 1 Health Research and Development Consortium (R1HRDC), Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium, and the Sustainability, Innovation, Leadership, Linkages, Access, and Growth (SILLAG).
In the 6th Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development Competition 2025 organized by ICIEERD, Dr. James Paul Madigal, Director of the National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (NBERIC) won first place in the Research Paper (Professional Category) for his study, “Harnessing Nipa Yeast Strains: Screening and Fermentation Performance Toward Developing Efficient Bioethanol Starter Cultures.”
Another MMSU entry from the Coastal Engineering and Management Research and Development Center (CoastER) ranked third place in the same category. Presented by Mr. Jade Calumpit, the study is titled “Laboratory Investigation of Wave-Structure Interactions for Existing and Geometrically Modified Seawalls: Overtopping, Run-up, and Rundown Analysis.”
Another CoastER research titled, “When Waves Meet Walls: Engineering Better Structures for Resilient, Sustainable Coasts,” earned Best Poster (Professional Category).
Additionally, Prof. Marjorie Garcia, Chief of the Socioeconomic, Technopreneurship, and Partnership unit of NBERIC, landed second place in the Technology Pitching Competition for her project, “Nipalite: A Taste of Local Innovation.”
At R1HRDC’s research paper presentations, Prof. Rhian Jaymar Ramil, the Chief of the Functional Foods and Nutraceutical Research Center, earned the Best Research Paper Award with his study titled, “Metabolite Profiling and In Vitro and In Silico Evaluation of the Anticancer Potential of 𝘊𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘶𝘮 𝘮𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘮 Merr. Against HT-29 Colorectal Cancer Cells.”
MMSU researchers also gained multiple awards in the 37th Regional Symposium on R&D Highlights of ILAARRDEC, covering oral presentations, poster categories, and student competitions.
In the Oral Presentation - Research Category, the study titled, “Epithelial Upregulation of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) Fast tracks Tissue Repair in ICR Mice Treated with Postbiotic Hydrogel Infused with 𝘓𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘪 7060,” placed second, while “Diversity, Ecology, and Potential of 𝘋𝘪𝘰𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘦 (Yams) in Ilocos Norte” secured third place.
In the Oral Presentation - Development Category, the study on “Blending Traditional and Digital Media: A Complementary Extension Approach to Promoting Sustainable Goat Production Practices in Ilocos Norte, Philippines” earned first place. Placing second was the study from the Accelerating Salt Research and Innovation (ASIN) Project led by Dr. Nathaniel Alibuyog titled, “Documentation of Salt Production Practices in the Philippines: Basis for a Revitalized Industry,” which was presented by Mr. Lord Ian Galano.
MMSU also dominated in the Poster Presentation (Speed Talk) - Research Category with study titled “Alliin and Total Phenolic Content of Garlic (𝘈𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘶𝘮 𝘓.) Accessions Collected from Ilocos Norte,” winning first place. The studies “Heme Oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) Upregulation Accelerates Natural Immune Response to Resolve Inflammation in Black Garlic Cream-Treated Mice,” and “Elimination of Common Viruses in Ilocos White Garlic Using a Combination of Chemotherapy and Thermotherapy in Tissue-Cultured Ilocos White Garlic” placed second and third respectively.
In the Accompanying Poster - Research Category, the ASIN Project earned second place for “Potential Saltern Sites in the Philippines “Science-Driven Mapping to Identify Ideal Salt Production Sites,” and third place went to the study on the “Upregulation of Amylases in Limosilactobacillus Fermentation PJ11 Isolated from Endemic Dioscoreaceae Enhances Utilization of Starch of its Natural Substrate.”
For the Accompanying Poster – Development Category, the ASIN Project took Best Poster for, “Salt Production Practices in the Philippines: Challenges, Insights, and Innovations” while placing second is a study on “Blending Traditional and Digital Media: A Complementary Extension Approach in Promoting Sustainable Goat Production Practices in Ilocos Norte, Philippines.”
In the Undergraduate Thesis Competition, the research project titled, “Effect of Chemotheraphy and Thermotheraphy on the Virus Incidence Reduction in Tissue-Culuture Ilocos White Garlic” secured second place. Meanwhile, first place in the Graduate Thesis Competition is the study on “Molecular Identification, Disease Mapping, and Development of Diagnostic Protocol for Viruses Affecting Garlic in the Ilocos Provinces, Philippines.”
Finally, in the Reverse Pitching Competition of SILLAG, an MMSU entry called “EEZGuard” got second prize, and the “Integrated Coastal Modeling System” of CoastER earned third prize.
These achievements reflect MMSU’s impactful research and innovation initiatives, which are expected to help provide solutions to real challenges in the communities.
NBERIC, Prof. Rhian Jaymar Ramil, Mae Rose Maoirat-Abad, Rodge Carl Vea, Lord Ian Galano
Dec, 04, 2025 04:54:pm
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