Mariano Marcos
State University

Faculty, students haul awards in R1 health research confab

By Ian Paul Villanueva 

Faculty and student researchers of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) earned top awards during the 2026 Regional Research Conference of the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium (R1HRDC) on June 5 at the University of Northern Philippines in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.

The research conference gathered research presenters from R1HRDC member institutions and featured contested oral and poster presentations in both student and professional categories. Several teams of the MMSU Center for Histomodeling and BioComputing in Applied Biomedical Research (HiBAR) and the MMSU Department of Pharmacy garnered top placements.

Besting other contenders in the Oral Presentation Student Category, pharmacy student Phiel Adrian Gabriel Chelim seized first place for presenting the study, “Phytochemical Screening and In Vitro Assessment of the Hepatoprotective Potential of the Aqueous Fraction of 𝘚𝘺𝘻𝘺𝘨𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘮 Ethanolic Extract Against MASLD-Induced Primary Mouse Hepatocyte Cell Model.” 

He represented his team from the MMSU Department of Pharmacy, comprising himself as the lead proponent, along with fellow students Ian Harvee Mabuti, Nestor Ryu Oao, Jeanwell Rasay, and Deinn Amor Yadao, under the guidance of Prof. Ma. Danica Ines-Ramil.

Also garnering first place was the team of students Iona Adriele Charis Valdez and Jenina Chloe Wenceslao in the Poster Presentation Student Category for their study, “Liver Tissue and Leukocyte Condition in Male ICR Mice (𝘔𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘴) Exposed to E-cigarette and Alcohol,” which they co-authored with Mr. Charles Earvin George Sagun, Dr. Doreen Domingo, and Ms. Jessica Asuncion. 

The pair was followed by fellow students Anne Jayleen Felina and Francine Let Guerrero, who placed third in the same category. Their co-authors are Ms. Grace Sheila Jalani, Dr. Domingo, and Ms. Asuncion in the study, “Testicular Histology and Sperm Quality of Male ICR Mice (𝘔𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘴) Exposed to E-cigarette Aerosols and Alcohol.”

Also placing in the Oral Presentation Student Category was the team of Princess Mae Lagasca and Neomie Coleen Sacro, who clinched second place for their study, “Histopathological and Molecular Alterations in Pulmonary Tissues of Male ICR Mice (𝘔𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘶𝘴) Following Combined Exposure to E-Cigarette Aerosols and Alcohol.” They were recognized alongside their co-authors Ms. Jimmbeth Zenila Fabia, Dr. Domingo, and Ms. Asuncion. 

Completing the list of winners from MMSU is Ms. Asuncion, who won first place in the Oral Presentation Professional Category. She presented the study, “NF-kB1-Mediated Hepatocyte Proliferation is Activated in Alcohol-Damaged Liver Using Snail Slime,” which she co-authored with Ms. Jerile Mae Casmiro (main author), Ms. Donna Fronda, Dr. Melvin Bagot, Dr. Gail Domeq Tanawit, Dr. Peter James Gann, and Dr. Domingo.

MMSU’s wins at the research conference reflect not only the ever-growing relevance of research among its students and staff but, more importantly, its sincere commitment as an institution to strengthening health research in Region 1.

Anchored on the theme, “Harnessing Ethical AI for Relevant and Impactful Health Research," the conference was widely attended by researchers, educators, healthcare professionals, and innovators to explore technologies and responsible research practices in advancing health outcomes and scientific discovery.

R1HRDC is a consortium of several private and public universities and colleges, hospitals and medical centers, government agencies, and other health-related institutions, in which MMSU is a member.