An upgraded P5-million Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory was launched at Silliman University in Dumaguete City, boosting the school’s capacity for advanced molecular work and wildlife conservation research.
This first science research facility improvement at SU is supported by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development, Institution Development Division (DOST-PCAARRD IDD).
With this upgraded research laboratory, the DOST expects to strengthen wildlife conservation efforts in Negros Oriental and across the region.
Engr. Wilmar Lastimosa of DOST-PCAARRD IDD underscored the agency’s strong commitment to supporting research institutions through facility upgrades and human resource development.
Lastimosa said he is confident that the upgraded laboratory, together with complementary PCAARRD programs, will significantly contribute to the region’s biodiversity preservation goals.
“The challenges encountered only strengthened the dedication of everyone involved,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Dalisay Cabral of DOST-PCAARRD FERD emphasized the laboratory’s role as a symbol of scientific excellence and strong partnerships.
Cabral highlighted ongoing research on the genetic diversity and conservation of endemic and endangered species, noting that the upgraded facility enables higher-quality molecular work crucial for these studies.
“The technologies and environment established here will support wider research and development efforts—from wildlife genetics to biodiversity conservation,” she said.
She reaffirmed PCAARRD’s commitment to continue supporting the university’s expanding role in national scientific innovation.
Dr. Nadia Palomar-Abesamis, SU Biology Department faculty member and DOST-PCAARRD IDD-funded project leader, described the upgraded laboratory as the “fruition of what started off as simple aspirations.”
She recalled how the project began with modest needs—“one more PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), maybe one more micropipette”—that eventually grew into a larger vision driven by persistence and strong partnerships.
The department’s former 24.5-square-meter room has now been replaced by a modern 72-square-meter facility equipped for advanced molecular work, providing space to accommodate more researchers and more sophisticated scientific methods.
The laboratory was formally inaugurated on Nov. 20 at the SU campus.
Abesamis shared how a single email from a Filipino scientist abroad years earlier set in motion a series of “fortunate events” that helped secure research funding and eventually a multimillion-peso grant for laboratory enhancement.
“These outcomes were brought about because of the commitment of our faculty, the support of our staff and university, and the encouragement of our collaborators,” she said.
Abesamis emphasized that the laboratory is envisioned to serve not only the department but also other institutions in the province and region. | PIA
