The Metro Manila Health Research Development Consortium (MMHRDC), under the Resource Mobilization Committee conducted the Webinar on Research Grants and Scholarships 2025. This is an annual event to promote awareness of the various research grants and scholarships available to students, researchers, and professionals, and to encourage active participation in programs that support academic and scientific advancement.

The event feature speakers from funding agencies such as Commission on Higher Education- National Capital Region (CHED-NCR), Department of Science and Technology – National Capital Region (DOST-NCR), Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) who discussed detailed information on the funding programs, eligibility requirements, and application processes on the available research grants and scholarships. Moreover, as well as experienced researchers who shared insights and personal experiences as scholars and grantees.

Speaker 1: Ms. Adelma Tercia, MSc from CHED-NCR provided an overview on CHED’s health research programs and activities aligned with the Philippines Development Plan 2023-2028. She also discussed eligibility criteria, application, evaluation processes, example projects, and priority areas for funding about each of the following programs: 

1. Grants-in-Aid Program for Research and Extension (GIA) which aims to enable Philippine HEIs to become platforms for research innovation and supports collaborative research aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
2. Initiated Institutional Development Grants (IDIG) which provide funding support to HEIs for upgrading or establishing research and instructional facilities.
3. Leading of the Advancement of Knowledge in Agriculture and Sciences (LAKAS) funded RDE projects examples which enhance research curricula through collaboration with local and international partners.
4. Capacity Building Programs initiatives, such as the BRIDGES program, which aims to strengthen institutional research agendas and promote partnerships.

Speaker 2: Ms. Melissa Bulao, MSc from DOST-PCHRD discussed the overview on PCHRD’s role as a sectoral council of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and as the lead coordinator of the Philippine National Health Research System. These roles include funding Health STI Projects and supporting conceptualization to utilization in every stage of health research. Some of the PCHRD R&D programs she mentioned were Drug Discovery and Development (“Tuklas Lunas”), Functional Foods, Nutrition and Food Safety, Re-emerging and Emerging Diseases, OMIC Technologies for Health, Diagnostics, Biomedical Engineering for Health, Digital and Frontier Technologies for Health, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in Health, and Brain and Mental Health.

Speaker 3: Ms. Rubee Ellaine Perez from DOST-PCHRD delves into the Institutions Development Division’s Human Resource Development (HRD) Program, which provides support for researchers at different stages of their careers. Ms. Perez outlined the five key components offered by the HRD program:

1. Undergraduate Thesis Grant in Natural Products which provides funding opportunities to undergraduate students conducting thesis on natural products with up to ₱75,000 in funding.
2. Graduate Degree Scholarships which provides programs to scientists who wish to pursue higher degree education and has 3 different offerings from local programs, international programs, and fellowship programs. 
3. Support for Early Career Researchers (SECR) which supports researchers (who have finished their studies) that want to participate in training and workshops, conference presentations, and publications abroad.

Speaker 4: Ms. Bianca Claudette Canlas from DOST-NCR presented an overview of the various funding opportunities, capacity development programs, conduct of technical consultancy services, and technology fairs and exhibits available through DOST-NCR. One of the key programs she highlighted was Smart and Sustainable Communities (SMART) Program, which promotes science, technology, and innovation-driven solutions for urban development and resiliency. Ms. Canlas also provided details on the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) support programs such as: 

1. Institution Development Program (IDP) which covers provision of support for upgrading of research laboratories and facilities of academic and research institutions.
2. Good Governance through Data Science and Decision Support System (GODDESS) which include descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive analytics using the data available (current and existing) coming from and provided by the institution or cooperating partner.
3. Regional Research Institution (RRI) Program which addresses the needs and priorities of the region and is aligned with the PCIEERD and R&D priority areas. 
4. Balik Saliksik Initiative for new PhD graduates who have obtained their PhD degree locally or abroad within the last three (3) years and whose specialization falls within the PCIEERD sectoral priority areas or the Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda in the Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology.

Speaker 5: Dr. Lorraine Kay D. Cabral, PhD shared her experiences as a scholar by describing her journey as an aspiring scientist way back in 2006 after realizing her passion for health research. With the title “I am the striving scientist – stories of a Filipina scholar”, Dr. Cabral highlighted how her interest in health research introduced her to the masters scholarship program in She then recounted her PhD application and acceptance to the DOST-PCHRD Foreign Graduate Scholarship in Molecular Biomedicine in close collaboration with the Fondazione Italiana Fegato (FIF) in Trieste, Italy.offered by the DOST-ASTRH, helping her enhance her technical laboratory skills in cytogenetics. She also recounted her PhD application and acceptance to the DOST-PCHRD Foreign Graduate Scholarship in Molecular Biomedicine in close collaboration with the Fondazione Italiana Fegato (FIF) in Trieste, Italy. She also collaborated with Philippine Liver Research Network and the ASEAN Liver Research Initiative. With this, she emphasized how lack of funding opportunities is one of the main challenges an aspiring researcher can encounter. 

Speaker 6: Dr. Anna Karen C. Laserna, PhD presented her experiences by recounting her journey of being a DOST-SEI scholar for her undergraduate studies in Chemistry at the UPLB, and later a PhD scholar under the National University of Singapore (NUS) Research Scholarship. “My Balik Scientist Journey (so far)… Supporting Research with Advanced Analytical Technologies”– As Dr. Laserna titled her presentation wherein she highlights pertinent research skills in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. She also mentioned her short term Balik Scientist Program (BSP) engagement from October 2020 to April 2021 at the DLSU CIF in Biñan, Laguna, which she emphasized that her rationale for opting to engage in this program is in reflection of the DLSU CIF goals of elevating the quality of scientific research both in DLSU and the entire country

🔗 To know more about the programs mentioned, please visit the pertinent links:

• Grants-in-Aid Program for Research and Extension (GIA) –  Call of Proposals and Downloadable Forms and Application Process
• Initiated Institutional Development Grants (IDIG) – Application and Downloadable Forms
• Undergraduate Thesis Grant in Natural Products – Application (2024)
• Graduate Degree Scholarships and DOST-PCHRD Foreign Graduate Scholarship – Foreign Graduate Scholarship (2025)
• Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) support programs – About DOST-NCR
• Balik Scientist Program (BSP) – About BSP Program

The discussion was held via Zoom last July 26, 2025, from 8:30 AM until 12:30 PM. The registration was free and open to all interested participants, with a total number of 242 attendees from different organizations and institutions such as Adamson University, Asian Eye Institute, Asian Hospital and Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Centro Escolar University-Manila, Commission on Higher Education National, Capital Region, De La Salle University, DOH – Metro Manila Center for Health Development (Former DOH-NCR; MMCHD), DOST – Food and Nutrition Research Institute, DOST – Industrial Technology Development Institute, Environmental Management Bureau, Far Eastern University, Far Eastern University – Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation, Makati Medical Center, Olivarez College, Our Lady of Fatima University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila – College of Medicine Philippine Christian University, Philippine Heart Center, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, DOH – Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, St. Paul University Manila, Symmetrix Research Consultancy, Co, The Tambalista Inc., Trinity University of Asia, University of Santo Tomas, University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Inc, University of the Philippines Manila, Zuellig Family Foundation, The Medical City, and Philippine Orthopedic Center.

Let’s give light to various research funding and scholarship opportunities available through MMHRDC member institutions to further encourage academic and scientific advancement!