By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

The Philippine Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PSBMB) - Northern Luzon Chapter and the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) are hosting the 48th PSBMB annual scientific convention that is being held from December 1-4. 

With the theme “Facing North: Navigating the New Normal through Research Translation and Harmonization,” this year’s virtual international conference aims to tackle education, health, and data science in the new normal. 

More than 400 international and local scientists, researchers, and educators who have diverse backgrounds in the said field are participating in the annual scientific convention. 

The four-day event involves plenary and platinum sponsor lectures and exhibition of 47 scientific posters and 12 interactive trade exhibits. 

It also includes the Young Scientists’ Forum (YSF) which covers the Academia Sinica Lecture to be delivered by Kuo-Hua Huang and See-Yeun Ting, assistant research fellows of the Institute of Molecular Biology in Academic Sinica, Taiwan; and the presentation of five research studies on drug discovery by five researchers from the University of Santo Tomas. 

The virtual PSBMB General Assembly and Fellowship Night will also be held in the annual convention. 

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis, who is also the chair of PSBMB-NLC's local organizing committee, said the convention serves as a platform in fostering collaboration among the Society’s members.  

Dr. Agrupis encouraged the participants to “stay committed to our mission to advance research and education in biochemistry and molecular biology for the benefit of the natural resources, people and the country” during the opening program.

PSBMB National President Leslie Michelle M. Dalmacio said, “In light of the pandemic, we have seen the importance of accurate and precise diagnostics, and the persistence of anti-microbial resistance. The massive data that we now have has also opened new opportunities for basic and applied research,” she expressed. 

Keynoting the virtual convention’s opening ceremonies, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary Rowena Christina L. Guevarra shared the agency’s Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda, which covers research and development priorities and programs that translate research to beneficial outputs for the Filipinos. 

The annual convention’s closing ceremonies on Friday, December 4, will include the conferring of research, education and service awards, announcement and awarding of best poster presentations and YSF winners, and oath taking of new PSBMB Board of Directors. (StratCom)