RESEARCH AND EXTENSION
Ongoing Research Projects
Investigating the Epidemiology of XDP
Project Leader: Dr. Eva Maria C. Cutiongco-de la Paz
Co-Project Leader: Dr. Ian Tabios
Duration: 03/2022 to 06/2024
Funding Agency: DOST-PCHRD and CCXDP (USA)
Rationale: X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism (XDP) or Lubag is a debilitatingly severe neurodegenerative disease that affects males with maternal ancestry tracing back to the Panay region of the Philippines. The characterization of the genetic prevalence of the causative gene will provide a better understanding of the burden of disease in the Philippines and help decision makers to determine where investments in health care should be targeted for this uniquely Filipino disease.
Objectives: We aim to estimate the genetic prevalence of XDP in the Philippines using randomly selected biobanked de-identified residual dried blood spots (DBS) from the Philippine Newborn Screening Program, which provides a nearly complete representation of the population.
Expected Output: Our study will serve as reference for further research, clinical guidelines, and public health policymaking. More importantly, a similar workflow for the study of other diseases common to the Filipino population may be developed, tested, and validated in the future. We also involve and train graduate students in the implementation of the project, to add to the country’s experts in OMIC applications in health research.
Novel Strategies To Detect Sexually Transmitted Viruses in the Female Genital Tract (NO STD)
Project Leader: Dr. Ian Tabios
Project Staff: Dr. Sheriah de Paz-Silava, Dr. Ourlad Tantengco
Duration: 2024-2025
Funding Agency: DOST
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Demonstration of water conservancy combined with schistosomiasis control system in the ASEAN
Project Leader: Dr. Ian Tabios
Project Staff: Raffy Fornillos
Duration: 04/2023 to 12/2025
Funding Agency: Asian Cooperation Fund (China)
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Identification of high-risk areas for Taenia solium active transmission in the Philippines
Project Leader: Dr. Ian Fontanilla
Project Staff: Dr. Ian Tabios, Raffy Fornillos
Duration: 06/2021 to 12/2024
Funding Agency: WHO WPRO
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An integrative diagnostic approach in detecting human and animal schistosomiasis in situations of varying levels of prevalence in the Philippines
Project Leader: Raffy Fornillos
Project Staff: Dr. Ian Tabios, Dr. Ian Fontanilla
Duration: 07/2021 to 12/2024
Funding Agency: WHO TDR
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Development of novel detection tools for the integrated surveillance and monitoring of helminthic NTDs of Mutual Public Health Importance in the Philippines and China
Project Leader: Dr. Ian Fontanilla
Project Staff: Dr. Ian Tabios, Raffy Fornillos
Duration: 06/2021 to 12/2024
Funding Agency: DOST and MOST (China)
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Determinants of acquisition, persistence, and clearance of oncogenic cervical human papillomavirus infection in a cohort of women in rural and urban Philippines using a multi-OMICS approach (DEFEAT HPV)
Project Leader: Dr. Sheriah de Paz-Silava
Project Staff: Dr. Ian Tabios
Duration: 02/2022 to 02/2025
Funding Agency: DOST
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Monitoring drug Efficacy through Multi-Omics Research Initiative in Alzheimer’s Disease (MEMORI-AD)
Project Leader: Dr. Fresthel Monica M. Climacosa
Project Staff: Dr. Ian Tabios
Duration: 02/2022 to 02/2025
Funding Agency: DOST
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Research Activities
Laboratory Experiments
Punching of blood cards
PCR Reagent preparation
Realtime PCR assay
Maintenance of snail aquaria
PCR reagent preparation
Training of laboratory analyst
Fieldwork
Public health forum
Malacological survey
Field microscopy
Field interviews
Processing of stool specimens
Animal blood collection
Recent Publications
Francisco AG, Reyes JC, Tabios IK, Cruz CJ, Ang MA, Heralde III FM, Lacuna AR, de Paz-Silava SL. Seroprevalence of human adenovirus type 5 neutralizing antibodies in the Philippines. Plos one. 2023 Dec 1;18(12):e0293046.
Manalo DL, Bolivar JK, Yap PR, Gomez MR, Saldo ZP, Espino MJ, Dilig JE, Fornillos RJ, Perez SA, Baga RA, Sunico LS, Fontanilla IC, Leonardo LR. From Perpetual Wetness to Soil Chemistry: Enumerating Environmental and Physicochemical Factors Favoring Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi Snail Presence in the Municipality of Gonzaga, Cagayan, Philippines. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2023 Dec 29;9(1):9.
de Paz-Silava SLM, Tabios IKB, Tantengco OAG, Climacosa FMM, Velayo CL, Lintao RCV, Cando LFT, Perias GAS, Idolor MIC, Francisco AG, Catral CDM, Chiong CM, Dalmacio LMM. Determinants of Acquisition, Persistence, and Clearance of Oncogenic Cervical Human Papillomavirus Infection in the Philippines Using a Multi-Omics Approach: DEFEAT HPV Study Protocol. Healthcare. 2023; 11(5):658.
Cando LF, Perias GA, Tantengco OA, Dispo MD, Ceriales JA, Girasol MJ, Leonardo LR, Tabios IKB. The Global Prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni, S. japonicum, and S. haematobium in Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2022 Nov 4;7(11):354.
Apostol-Nicodemus L, Tabios IKB, Limpoco AGO, Domingo GDP, Tantengco OAG. Psychosocial Distress among Family Members of COVID-19 Patients Admitted to Hospital and Isolation Facilities in the Philippines: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Clin Med. 2022 Sep 5;11(17):5236.
Tabios IKB, Sato MO, Tantengco OAG, Fornillos RJC, Kirinoki M, Sato M, Rojo RD, Fontanilla IKC, Chigusa Y, Medina PMB, Kikuchi M, Leonardo LR. Circulating microRNAs as biomarkers of hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis japonica patients in the Philippines. Diagnostics. 2022 Aug 5;12(8):1902.
Tabios IKB, Sato MO, Tantengco OAG, Fornillos RJC, Kirinoki M, Sato M, Rojo RD, Fontanilla IKC, Chigusa Y, Medina PMB, Kikuchi M, Leonardo LR. Diagnostic Performance of Parasitological, Immunological, Molecular, and Ultrasonographic Tests in Diagnosing Intestinal Schistosomiasis in Fieldworkers From Endemic Municipalities in the Philippines. Front Immunol. 2022 Jun 14;13:899311.
Lintao RCV, Cando LFT, Perias GAS, Tantengco OAG, Tabios IKB, Velayo CL, de Paz-Silava SLM. Current Status of Human Papillomavirus Infection and Cervical Cancer in the Philippines. Front Med. 2022 Jun 20;9:929062.
Cruz TT, Llanes KK, Toledo JM, Catabay JA, Fornillos RJ, Fontanilla IK, Paller VG. Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Ascaridoid Parasites of Philippine Decapterus species. Journal of Nematology. 2022 Feb;54(1).
Fornillos RJ, Que GC, Mendoza RV, Fontanilla IK, Ong PS. Molecular Identification of the Chinese Pond Mussel Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834) from Mindoro and Leyte Islands, Philippines. Science Diliman. 2021 Jul 1;33(2).
Completed Research & Extension Projects
Seroprevalence of Human Adenovirus 5 Neutralizing Antibodies in an Adult Population from Urban Philippines: Implications on Adenoviral Vector-Based SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines
Project Leader: Dr. Sheriah Laine M. de Paz-Silava | Project Staff: Dr. Ian Tabios
Duration: 02/01/2021 to 01/31/2023 | Funding Agency: DOST
Demonstrating the Genotyping Applications in Health of Residual Dried Blood Spots (rDBS) Collected by the Philippine Newborn Screening Program using X-linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism (XDP) as Disease Model
Project Leader: Dr. Ian Tabios | Co-Project Leaader: Dr. Eva Maria C. Cutiongco-de la Paz
Duration: 01/1/2023 to 12/31/2023 | Funding Agency: NSRI
Institute of Biology, College of Science
University of the Philippines Diliman
You may send your inquiries to pubhealthbio.upd@gmail.com