The University of San Carlos Medical Biophysics Group (MBG) signed a tripartite memorandum of agreement with Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital (CDUH) and the Department of Science and Technology Industry Technology Development Institute (DOST ITDI) on February 10, 2023. 

Also held before the ceremony was the pre-implementation meeting for the three projects included in the Niche Centers in the Regions (NICER) program awarded by DOST to the MBG to establish a Center for Tissue Engineering and Biological Soft Materials at USC.

The Niche Centers in the Region (NICER) for Research and Development is a research program under the Science for Change Program (S4CP) for Higher Education Institutions aimed to develop and improve technologies in that region. 

The University’s MBG, together with its collaborators CDUH and DOST ITDI, officially received the grant last November 2022. The USC MBG NICER Program has three project components, namely, 3D-BTM with Dr. Rommel G. Bacabac (program and project leader), 3D-CBol with Rhodesa U. Cruzet (project leader, CDUH); and 3D-ABi with Dr. Marianito Margarito (project leader, ITDI). These projects will focus on the development of biomedical devices utilizing local carrageenan materials. 

Representatives from the partner institutions signed a pledge to foster research within the region. Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Atty. Joan Largo, CDUH Hospital Administrator Chadelsa Binondo, and ITDI Director Dr. Annabelle Briones were the signatories of the said pledge.

The event was attended (see below) by the project leaders and their research groups, and representatives from the USC Research, Development, Extension, and Publications Office, DOST Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), DOST S4CP, and industry partner MCPI Corporation. DOST ITDI also joined the meeting virtually.