Mariano Marcos
State University

MMSU engages DOST Balik Scientist to boost natural product research

By Benedict Jay Collado

To elevate natural products research and its integration in the community, Mariano Marcos State University has partnered with Japan-based researcher Dr. Andrea Roxanne Anas through the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Balik Scientist Program from July 2026 to January 2027.

Dr. Anas, a researcher from Meijo University's Faculty of Pharmacy in Nagoya, Japan, will be hosted by MMSU’s Center for Cellular and Molecular Medical Research (CMED) and the university’s Research Directorate. Her engagement aims to accelerate technology transfer, upgrade local research capabilities, and strengthen international research networks.

Throughout her six-month stay, the Balik Scientist will collaborate closely with faculty members, researchers, and students across various academic fields, including Biology, Pharmacy, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, and Agriculture. 

The structured schedule of activities includes a three-part academic lecture series focusing on advanced high-precision molecular sorter and scale, natural product discovery, and high-resolution molecular machine applications in biological research. 

This partnership will center on two major research initiatives using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry: profiling Ilocos garlic cultivars to develop and validate a chemical fingerprint scanner for local varieties, and profiling probiotic metabolites to identify compounds with therapeutic potential.

Additionally, she will facilitate specialized hands-on training workshops on instrumentation, method optimization, and bioinformatics data analysis.

The partnership will also drive curriculum refinement for the BS Pharmacy program in Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. The university will also establish a memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iloilo Science and Technology and Meijo University to strengthen linkages for more research advancements. 

To formally inaugurate this collaboration, the university hosted a welcome program for Dr. Anas last August 4, where she outlined her strategic vision and research objectives for her tenure.