The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) recently named the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and Visayas State University (VSU) as Tuklas Lunas (literally, cure discovery) Centers.

Tuklas Lunas Centers will serve as hubs of natural products research for drug development. Last year, DOST-PCHRD named the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) as its first Tuklas Lunas Center to serve the Mindanao area.

Apart from being centers for research, MMSU, VSU, and MSU-IIT will also facilitate collaborative research with other institutions in their respective areas.

As such, they will receive research and equipment grants from DOST-PCHRD.

“We are very happy that we have been chosen because it means our research efforts are being recognized. Of course, the equipment and research grant will greatly help in capacitating our faculty and students. We are also glad that our institution will have the opportunity to contribute for the country’s research effort in natural products research for drug discovery,” said Dr. Edgardo Tulin, vice president for planning and resource generation of VSU.

The criteria for choosing Tuklas Lunas Centers include excellent research and development track record, competitive staff, and institutional capacity. Tuklas Lunas Centers are part of DOST-PCHRD’s effort to accelerate drug discovery research in the country.