Researchers presented recent findings in their respective fields in the third Research Forum organized by the Research and Innovation Office (RIO) on September 30, 2019 at the RITM Auditorium. 

In light of the current Dengue outbreak in the country, Virology Department’s Ms. Ava Kristy Sy presented updates on the laboratory-confirmed dengue cases while Ms. Kristine Joy Privaldos talked about the results of the genetic analysis of the dengue serotypes in the Philippines.  

Three researches awarded with RIO’s Small Research Grant in 2017 and in 2018 were also presented in the forum.

Microbiology Department’s Ms. Melissa Mondoy presented her study on identifying prevalent Leptospira serovars in samples referred to the Leptospirosis Unit of the NRL for Emerging and Re-emerging Bacterial Diseases (NRL-ERB) from June-December 2017, using the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT).

In connection, Ms. Ma. Joanna Clarisse Sorino of the Special Pathogens Laboratory (SPL)  presented the results of the study entitled “Seroprevalence of anti-hantavirus IgM in Leptospira Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) negative serum samples submitted to the Microbiology Department at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in the year 2017.”

Meanwhile, Head of SPL, Dr. Catalino Demetria presented the findings of their study evaluating the rabies antigen detection kit used for rabies diagnosis.

Following the Research Forum, RIO will be conducting the RITM Annual Research Conference in December 2019.

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by Reina Manongsong, Communication and Engagement Office