By Aljon P. Tugaoen

Mariano Marcos State University hosted the 2nd Regional Convention and Scientific Meeting: A Virtual Conference conducted by the Philippines Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - Northern Luzon Chapter at the Center of Flexible Learning on October 24, 2022.

With the theme "Emerging Techno-Apps for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,” the convention was attended by over 400 participants composed of biology students, faculty members, and researchers from 43 schools and agencies. The event was held in cooperation with the MMSU’s department of biological sciences.

Dr. Doreen Domingo, president of the Philippines Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - Northern Luzon Chapter, welcomed the participants and encouraged them to pursue academic discourse at great length.

In her message, MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis highlighted the importance of continuous research to further the impact of science and technology to the communities the university is serving. PSCA further expressed how biochemistry and molecular Biology holds ‘a very special place in her heart.’

Dr. Mudjekeewis D. Santos, President of PSBMB National, highlighted the need for the development of new technologies and the continuous flow of quality scientific output with PSBMB at the frontier of research. He further stressed that the knowledge in biochemistry and molecular biology must fuel basic societal progress.

The convention was opened with a lecture on Possibilities for Protein, Proteomics, and Metabolomics Analysis in the Philippines by Dr. Neil Andrew D. Bascos, a professor of University of the Philippines – Diliman. This was followed by a talk on Gene Expression Regulation by Crispr/Cas9 by Prof. Peter James Icalia-Gann, an associate professor of MMSU and graduate research assistant at the University of Arkansas, USA; and Metagenomics: Approaches for Microbial Analysis by Dr. Minerva Fatimae H. Ventolero, science research specialist of the Department of Agriculture Metagenomics capped the convention and scientific meeting for the day.

PSBMB is geared toward a vision and realization of more research collaborations and networking of colleagues in the academe, industry, and research institutions in the region in the areas of biochemistry and molecular biology. (HYL, StratCom)