The series of disease outbreaks the country experienced in 2009 such as the A(H1N1) influenza virus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and dengue has turned out to have a silver lining as they led to the establishment of a state-of-the art facility devoted to genomics and biotechnology on the University of the Philippines (UP) campus in Diliman, Quezon City.
PGC unveils its DNA Sequencing Core Facility
The Philippine Genome Center (PGC) officially opens its DNA Sequencing Core Facility to provide sequencing and genotyping services to academic research groups in the country and to the wider scientific community.
DSCF Official Launch
The Philippine Genome Center DNA Sequencing Core Facility has finally opened its doors! The facility held its launch today and is now fully operational and ready to serve the whole Filipino scientific community. DOST Secretary Hon. Mario G. Montejo and University of the Philippines President Alfredo E. Pascual led the official ribbon cutting ceremony.
National Science & Technology Week 2013
DSCF, together with CFB, participated in this year’s annual National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) exhibit hosted by DOST held in SMX last July 23 to 27. The PGC Core Facilities’ booth featured educational videos, virtual tours of the labs, a video game on DNA sequencing, as well as brochures and other print materials about our scope of study and services.
Scientists from New York University’s Department of Biology visit PGC
Dr. Anne Plessis and Ines Pires, scientists from Dr. Michael Purugganan’s Laboratory in New York University’s Department of Biology, went to visit to the Philippine Genome Center last Thursday, July 11, 2013.
QIAgility Automated Liquid Handler Training
Last June 6, 2013, we had our training for the QIAgility Automated Liquid Handler. The QIAgility will aid in the high-throughput sample preparation of the DNA Sequencing Core Facility.
Ion Torrent PGM and Proton Training
Last May 6 to 9, we had our training on the Ion Torrent PGM and Proton next generation sequencers in the DSCF laboratory. The training was conducted by Life Tech Field Application Specialists Eileen and Suthee, with the help of Life Tech local rep Medtest’s own FAS, Katherine. Our training covered the workflow of the Ion Torrent.
DSCF attends the 2013 Illumina Asia Pacific Scientific Summit
Last April 21-24, 2013, Dr. Cynthia Saloma and research assistant Krizelle Alcantara traveled to Phuket, Thailand to attend the 2013 Illumina Asia Pacific Scientific Summit. It is a premier regional customer event hosted by Illumina which brought together scientists from renowned research institutions in the Asia Pacific, including Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, and Australia, as well as from the US and Germany.
Forensic DNA technology: A powerful tool for judicial reform
Dr. Maria Corazon A. De Ungria, director for the Program Forensic and Ethnicity of the Philippine Genome Center, published this article in the Star Science column of the Philippine Star on January 25, 2013.
What is a Filipino? Looking at our DNA for the answers
Excerpt from the article that came out at GMA News Online on January 28, 2013.
What’s your mix? Remember that infamous advertising campaign a few months ago, which raised the ire of the Philippine public? Extolling the virtues of Filipinos who were “mixed” —part-Filipino, part something else— it was really meant to be a celebration of diversity, but many saw it as praising the part-foreign among us.