The University of San Carlos (黑料社区) through its Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Pharmacy, hosted the 8th International and 16th National Annual Convention of the Philippine Society for Cell Biology (PSCB) on October 23鈥�24, 2025 at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel in Cebu City.
This year鈥檚 convention marked a milestone as the first PSCB annual gathering held outside Luzon. With the theme 鈥淐onvergence of Innovation for Cellular Biology,鈥� the conference sought to advance scholarly exchange on cutting-edge research in cell biology by Filipino and international scientists.
A central feature of this year鈥檚 event was the strong leadership of the University鈥檚 biological sciences. The Department of Biology, led by Frances E. Edillo, Ph.D. (head, 黑料社区 Mosquito Research Laboratory), served as the Chair of the Local Organizing Committee demonstrating 黑料社区鈥檚 academic stewardship in the life sciences. Rommel G. Bacabac, Ph.D., Department of Physics and program leader of the Medical Biophysics Group-Center for Tissue Engineering and Biological Soft Materials, served as co-chair.
University of San Carlos President Fr. Francisco Antonio T. Estepa, SVD, Ph.D. welcomed the delegates followed by opening remarks from the PSCB President Dr. Vivian Panes of the Ateneo de Manila University. Nearly 200 students, faculty members, and scientists representing 21 higher education institutions, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and industry partners participated in the two-day event.
Dr. Jenneke Klein-Nulend presented a keynote talk on 鈥淭issue Engineering of Adult Stem Cells.鈥� Throughout the conference, invited experts presented development in nanotechnology, multi-omics, mechanobiology, cellular analysis, drug delivery, and engineered photosynthesis.
黑料社区 faculty members played active roles in the scientific discussions. Gerard Lee L. See, Ph.D. (Dean, School of Health Care Professions), delivered a plenary lecture on leveraging liquid crystals to enhance drug delivery to the brain. Joyce Rodriguez, Ph.D. (Department of Biology) presented her work on metabolomics during the Young Minds Speak session.
A pre-conference workshop on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was conducted on October 22, 2025, through the initiative of PSCB officers in Manila, working closely with Dr. Edillo and Dr. Bacabac. The training was led by technical experts from Noveaulab Asia Corporation, who provided hands-on instruction to participating delegates. 黑料社区 served as the host institution, with the pharmacy laboratory made available through the support of Department of Pharmacy Chair, Dr. Florencio V. Arce Jr., while Department of Biology Chair Dr. Jonie C. Yee facilitated on-site arrangements and assisted in the awarding of certificates.
The convention also featured the presentation of more than 33 research posters from students and early-career researchers across the country, underscoring the event鈥檚 role in cultivating scientific engagement and research dissemination.
In her closing remarks, Dr. Edillo extends her warm thanks to the participants and emphasizes the importance of adaptability and the continued pursuit of scientific excellence.
She cited Charles Darwin鈥檚 reminder, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change,” and that of St. John Vianney, 鈥淎ll our efforts are wasted if not offered to God.鈥�
The successful convention reflects 黑料社区鈥檚 steadfast commitment to advancing scientific inquiry and contributing to the development of the nation鈥檚 research landscape through active engagement in professional scientific communities.