PGC MINDANAO
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Established in 2019.

Establishment year

Bring 'Omics' Research in Mindanao

Our Goal

Our Team

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​Dr. Lyre Murao
Project Leader and Diagnostics and Lab Project Staff

lemurao@up.edu.ph


Lyre Murao is an Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines Mindanao who spends half the time teaching and half on research, both of which she loves. She teaches subjects related to anything of the micro scale- from molecules to microbes and cells- but  goes hunting for nasty zoonotic viruses when outside the classroom. Her love for minute things started with her undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at UP Diliman, which eventually specialized into molecular virus research during her graduate studies at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA and Nagasaki University, Japan. She then continued to work on antiviral drug discovery and development as a Marie Curie Fellow under the EUVIRNA program at Okapi Sciences, Belgium (currently known as ViroVet). In 2014, she grabbed the opportunity to return to the Philippines through the UP Balik PhD Program, though which she started establishing inter-disciplinary research teams and collaborations. She is currently the project leader of the PGC Mindanao Satellite Facility, which she thinks is the perfect opportunity to raise and mentor more home-grown molecular biologists from Mindanao
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​Dr. Annabelle Novero
Research and Development - Project Staff

aunovero@up.edu.ph

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Annabelle U. Novero, PhD, holds the rank of Associate Professor 6 at the College of Science and Mathematics, UP Mindanao and a special appointment as UP Scientist 1 (2018-2020; 2013-2015) from the UP System. Her research interests include plant tissue culture and biotechnology, genetics, genomics, and biodiversity assessment with focus on sago palm and coconut. Two of her current research projects are Vulnerability Assessment of Coastal Areas in Davao Gulf to Climate-Related Hazards (CHED-funded), and Mass Propagation and Pilot utilization of plumule-derived plantlets of Tall and Dwarf Coconut Thru Coconut Somatic Embryogenesis Technology (DOST-PCAARRD-funded). Dr. Novero earned her PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Melbourne, Australia, Master of Science in Botany from Colorado State University, USA, and BS Agriculture major in plant pathology from UP Los Banos. Dr. Novero teaches Fundamentals of Biology, Intermediate Botany, Cell and Molecular Biology, Scientific Research Process, and Undergraduate Seminar.
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   Dr. Joel Hassan Tolentino
   Research and Development - Project Staff
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Dr. Aleyla De Cadiz
Research and Development - Project Staff

aedecadiz@up.edu.ph

​Dr. Aleyla Escueta- De Cadiz is an Associate Professor of the Department of Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies, College of Science and Mathematics at the University of the Philippines Mindanao. She received her Master in Science in Public Health major in Medical Microbiology from UP Manila and her PhD in Medical Science major in Parasitology from Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine in Gunma, Japan. Aside from being a registered Medical Technologist, she recently received a certification from the Philippine Academy of Microbiology as a Registered Microbiologist. After her ten-year career as a Research Assistant working on Malaria, Schistosoma and Entamoeba research projects in UP Manila, she joined UP Mindanao as a tenured faculty. She teaches Microbiology, Microbial Ecology and Parasitology.  She is currently involved in the Drug Discovery of Health Products research project funded by DOST- PCHRD and together with Dr. Joel Hassan Tolentino, established the Medium-throughput Bioassay Laboratory in UP Mindanao for screening of plants with potential anti-lung cancer property. 
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Dr. Ritchie Mae Gamot
Bioinformatics - Project Staff

rtgamot@up.edu.ph
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​Dr. Ritchie Mae Gamot takes advantage of nature-inspired solution methodologies, its variation and numerical methods to solve various scientific optimization problems across the field of mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics. These nature-inspired optimization algorithms, which she undertook with BS Applied Mathematics and BS Computer Science research students, include Genetic Algorithms, Particle Swarm Algorithm, Tabu Search, Intelligent Water Drops Algorithm, Firefly Algorithm, Ions Motion Algorithm and Salp Swarm Algorithm, among others. She had applied these problems to facility location problems, atomic cluster optimization, antenna array optimization, bin-packing problems, travelling salesman problem and more recently profit maximization of a supply chain network model and evacuation center and early warning devices location allocation problems.
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Dr. Giovanna Fae Oguis
Bioinformatics - Project Staff

groguis@up.edu.ph


​​Dr. Oguis earned her Bachelor's degree in Applied Mathematics with Latin honors, Cum Laude, at the University of the Philippines Mindanao (UPMin) last 2007 after which she was hired as an instructor of the same institution for 5 years. She then pursued her straight Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics at Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Sergey Meleshko with differential equations as her specialization track. Less than a year after graduation, she was rehired at UPMin as an Assistant Professor for which her research works include Lie group analysis of differential equations and the application of nature-inspired meta-heuristics algorithms for solving optimization problems. As of February 2019, she finished 7 modules under the DOST-PCIEERD data science track by Coursera.
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            Prof. Rovi Gem E. Villame
            Diagnostic and Lab - Project Staff

​            revillame@up.edu.ph
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​Prof. Cyrose Millado
Diagnostic and Lab - Project Staff

​csmillado@up.edu.ph


Cyrose Silvosa Millado has a BS Biology Major in Cell Biology from University of the Philippines Mindanao, and MSc in Plant Genetics and Crop Improvement from University of East Anglia. At present, she is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies, University of the Philippines Mindanao. Her research projects fall under the fields of applied biology and plant propagation of Pitcher Plant, Nipa Palm, and selected crops. She is further interested in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy using plants, plant biotechnology, postharvest physiology, and conservation, propagation and proper utilization of indigenous and/or endemic crops of the Philippines.
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​Prof. Lief Erikson Gamalo

gamalolief@gmail.com

Prof. Lief Erikson Gamalo, MSc. is currently a faculty of the Department of Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies, University of the Philippines Mindanao. In 2018, he finished his Masters degree at the University of the Philippines Los Baños under the DOST-ASTHRDP scholarship.  He is a member of the Phi Sigma Biological Honor Society (Alpha Chi Chapter) and the International Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Chapter 045 in recognition of his excellent academic record in UPLB. Moreover, he is also a member of the Philippine Society of Parasitology and the recently established Asian Primatological Association. His research interest is on wildlife conservation, wildlife parasitology and primatology.
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​Wilson F. Aala
University Research Researcher

wfaala@up.edu.ph

Mr. Wilson F. Aala, Jr. obtained his bachelor’s degree in Biology and master’s degree in Genetics at the University of the Philippines Los Banos. Concurrent with his graduate studies, he also became part of the Saba Mutagenomics Program, and later with the Coconut Genomics Program (Project IV) both at the University of the Philippines Los Banos. He also became part of the Rice Salinity Group and International Network for the Genetic Evaluation of Rice at the International Rice Research Institute. He also became a member of the Institute of Herbal Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila. He is currently a University Researcher I at the Philippine Genome Center – Mindanao Satellite Facility in Davao City, Mindanao. He specializes in plant biotechnology, genetics, and bioinformatics.



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Joan T. Acaso
University Research Associate 

jtacaso@up.edu.ph
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Paul Lorenzo A. Gaite
​University Research Associate

plgaite@gmail.com
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Paul Lorenzo A. Gaite earned his Master of Science in Marine Science, major in Marine Biotechnology, at The Marine Science Institute (MSI), and his Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB), both at the University of the Philippines - Diliman Campus. He was also a research associate in several DOST-funded research projects related to seaweed biotechnology and genetics of algae- and associated microorganisms. His Master's thesis is entitled "Functional Diversity of Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes) in a Metagenome Obtained via Next Generation Sequencing of Seaweed Farm Sediments". These experiences led to his current research interests primarily in metagenomics and other DNA-related -omics and bioinformatics.


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Michael G. Bacus
University Researcher Associate

mgbacus@up.edu.ph

Michael G. Bacus is a graduate of BS Biology at the University of the Philippines Mindanao. His undergraduate research experience focused on the detection and risk-factor modelling of rotavirus A circulation in backyard pig farms. Later on, he was involved with a study on zoonotic pathogens in bats particularly on Leptospira and Coronaviruses. His research interest includes species barcoding, microbiology, molecular biology and systematics, as well as mechanistic and spatial modelling of infectious diseases."

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Joel C. Navarro, Jr.
Laboratory Technician

​jcnavarro1@up.edu.ph

Joel C. Navarro Jr. earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology Major in Medicinal Horticulture class 2018, His research interest is on Antimicrobial Activities of Herbal plants, his Bachelors Thesis is entitled “Antibacterial Activities of Sambong (Blumea balsamifera) against Staphylococcus epidermidis ”, further interest in Molecular Biology since he Joined Philippine Genome Center, He was also an intern in the University of the Philippines Mindanao. Right after graduation he worked at VXI global and was promoted supervisor in just three months. At present he is more focus in Improving his knowledge in Biology at atomic level.

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Christian Labrador
Laboratory Technician

cclabrador@up.edu.ph

Christian C. Labrador, obtained his bachelor’s degree in Agriculture (Soil Science major) at Visayas State University in Baybay City, Leyte. He work on Soil Fertility Evaluation of Irrigated Lowland Rice areas in Hinunangan, So. Leyte, Philippines. He became part of the two Banana export company (Sumifru Philippines Corporation and Nader and Ebrahem S/O Hassan Inc.) under Research and Development department for 3 years in Davao City. He work on Soil and Plant Nutrition dealing with new fertilizer (foliar and ground) and herbicide trials and Soil Survey for expansion of plantation. He is currently a Laboratory Technician II at the Philippine Genome Center Mindanao Satellite in Davao City, Mindanao.


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Ediflor S. Yanong
Project Development Officer

esyanong@up.edu.ph
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Marian S. Luayon
​Project Assistant

msluayon@up.edu.ph


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Janessa V. Villota
​Information Officer

​jvvillota@up.edu.ph
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Michelle Ann A. Ociones
​Clerk

maociones@up.edu.ph
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Jocelyn D. Aurelio
​Clerk

jdaurelio1@up.edu.ph
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  • About
  • News and Events
  • Services
  • Gallery
  • Team
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Equipment