ResBac MVP: Restoring antibiotic activity using Bacteriophages against Methicillin- and Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in advanced Pharmacologic and infection models
2027-2029 (Upcoming)
ResBac MVP investigates bacteriophages as an alternative therapeutic strategy against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, addressing antimicrobial resistance as a recognized biosecurity threat. In addition to characterizing local methicillin-resistant (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant (VRSA), and heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate (hVISA) strains and their lytic phages, we will establish the country’s first hollow fiber infection model to evaluate phage-antibiotic synergy under clinically relevant dosing conditions. This multi-disciplinary project is a collaboration with The Medical City Clinical and Translational Research Institute and the University of Santo Tomas BEATS laboratory.
Principal Investigator
Karl Evans R. Henson, MD, MSc
Funding Agency
DOST Philippine Council for Health Research and Development
ABLe Study: Clinical Prognosis and Molecular Epidemiology of Bacteremia Caused by Third-Generation Cephalosporin-Resistant (3GCR) Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp.: An International Multicenter Observational Study
The ABLe Study aims to characterize the clinical prognosis and molecular epidemiology of bacteremia caused by third-generation cephalosporin-resistant (3GCR) Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. across Southeast Asia and Japan. In addition to clinical outcomes such as mortality and current treatment practices, the study will perform whole genome sequencing to map antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and resistance mechanisms. This international, multicenter observational study is sponsored by the Japan Institute for Health Security and coordinated through the Acacdemic Research Organization Alliance for Southeast and East Asia (ARISE), with Philippine sites at the Philippine General Hospital, West Visayas State University, and Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Medical Center. The NCBB’s participation in the ABLe Study is part of its effort to curb antimicrobial resistance, an emerging biosecurity threat worldwide.
Principal Investigator
Karl Evans R. Henson, MD, MSc
Funding Agency
Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) / Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) / Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS)
One Health AMR Scoping Review: One Health and Antimicrobial Resistance in ASEAN: A Scoping Review of Research Evidence, Gaps, and Policy Opportunities
The One Health AMR Scoping Review aims to map and synthesize published and grey literature on antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use across human, animal, plant, aquaculture, food system, and environmental sectors in ASEAN member states from 2016 to 2025. In addition to an ASEAN-wide evidence-gap matrix, the review will produce policy-relevant recommendations aligned with the five pillars of the Quadripartite One Health AMR Research Agenda. Findings will directly inform the research agenda of a future One Health Study Group to be hosted by NCBB, the Center’s first step towards becoming a national leader in One Health research.
Principal Investigator
Karl Evans R. Henson, MD, MSc
Funding Agency
UP Manila NIH Commissioned Research Grant
Pre-XDeTech TB: Low-Cost TB-MacroArray-AI Detection Technology for the Molecular Diagnosis of MDR and Pre-XDR Tuberculosis
2024 – 2027 (Ongoing)
Pre-XDeTech aims to develop a low-cost, highly sensitive, LAMP-CRISPR-based method that identifies MDR and Pre-XDR TB cases directly from sputum samples. In addition to a diagnostic test, we will also develop AI model that can identify the risk for drug-resistant TB cases based on clinical data. This multi-disciplinary project is a collaboration with University of California San Francisco, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, University of the Philippines Diliman- College of Engineering, and the Ateneo de Manila University- Ateneo Research Institute of Science and Engineering.
Principal Investigator
Raul V. Destura, MD, MBA, FPSMID
Funding Agency
DOST Philippine Council for Health, Research and Development
US, National Institute of Health
Innovating Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Susceptibility Testing with a Novel and Rapid Non-Culture Based Phenotypic Test Using MPT64 Biomarker
2023 – 2028 (Ongoing)
We use the principles of culture MPT64 DST to develop a sputum MPT64 DST chemiluminescence-enzyme immunoassay that will provide results in 48-72 hours from the time of sputum collection. This innovative diagnostic technology is expected to meet the WHO high priority target product profiles for rapid DST and will transform TB management by enabling early initiation of effective treatment based on rapid drug susceptibility data. This project is a collaboration between the University of California San Francisco, Research Institute of Tuberculosis Japan, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, and selected Philippine TB-DOTS facilities.
Principal Investigator
Raul V. Destura, MD, MBA, FPSMID
Funding Agency
US, National Institute of Health
Discrimination of Immune Epitopes Against African Swine Fever (DIE-ASF) (Development of an Immunohistochemical Assay for the Diagnosis of African Swine Fever in the Philippines)
2024 – 2025 (Ongoing)
The project will identify and produce antigenic epitopes specifically circulating in the country to aid in the future study of ASFV and its disease control. The recombinant products of this endeavor will enable subsequent investigation and analysis of the host immune response to ASFV as proposed within the program. A collaborative environment involving the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), De La Salle Araneta University (DLSAU), UP-NIH and UPLB is in place to allow sustainability of the project. Altogether, this project will be focusing on the mapping of locally circulating ASFV epitopes, expression of purified antigens and application of these antigens in an assay format using immune sera.
Principal Investigator
Gianne Eduard L. Ulanday, RMT, MPH, PhD
Funding Agency
DOST Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development
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