RESEARCH AND EXTENSION

Principal Investigator: Dr. Ian Tabios
Co-PI: Dr. Eva Maria C. Cutiongco-de la Paz, Dr. Aloysius Domingo
Duration: 03/2022 to 12/2025
Funding Agency: DOST-PCHRD and CCXDP (USA)

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. 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. 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.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Ian Tabios
Co-Investigators: Dr. Sheriah de Paz-Silava, Dr. Ourlad Tantengco, Dr. Michelle Diwa
Duration: 10/2024 to 10/2026
Funding Agency: DOST under the VVRP

The gold standard in the diagnosis of genital HPV and HSV-2 infections is the PCR-based detection of viral nucleic acid from physician-collected genital swabs. Although highly accurate, this method involves an invasive and highly uncomfortable sample collection, which has been shown to negatively impact testing uptake. We aim to determine the diagnostic accuracy of molecular testing using self-collected specimens compared to the use of physician-collected genital swabs as reference standard. This project will provide a simplified testing workflow for HPV and HSV-2 that can be easily deployed in public health surveys, even in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) where access to physicians and cold chain support are limited.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Ian Tabios
Co-Investigators:  Raffy Fornillos, Dr. Ian Kendrich Fontanilla, Dr. Lydia Leonardo
Duration: 04/2024 to 12/2025
Funding Agency: Asian Cooperation Fund (China)

Irrigation canals in schistosomiasis endemic areas can habor the snail intermediate host. This is a potential source of contaminated water that can infect nearby farming communities. We aim to demonstrate the short-term impact of water conservancy projects to the distribution of snails. This project will provide evidence on the potential impact of water conservancy projects to disease transmission.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Ian Tabios
Co-Investigators:  Raffy Fornillos, Dr. Aleyla de Cadiz
Duration: 06/2023 to 04/2025
Funding Agency: OVCRD

Zoonotic trematodiases (schistosomiasis, heterophydiasis, fascioliasis, paragonimiasis) are among the most prevalent parasitisms in the Philippines, with the highest disease burden in underserved rural communities in Southern Philippines. They have complex life cycles involving one or two freshwater intermediate hosts, which are necessary in the perpetuation of disease transmission. This study aims to characterize the trematodes isolated from freshwater snails in selected trematodiases-endemic villages using morphological and molecular tools. The study will provide baseline data about the presence and diversity of zoonotic trematodes in snail intermediate hosts, which will be a significant contributing evidence on the emerging threat of trematodiases in certain parts of the Philippines, and hopefully ignite future studies on the field.