The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD)
- is one of the three sectoral councils of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
- It is a forward-looking, partnership-based national body responsible for coordinating and
monitoring research activities in the country.
- was created on March 17, 1982 through Executive order No. 784. In 1987, Executive Order
No. 128 reaffirmed its existence and relevance. This directive reorganized the National
Science and Technology Authority into what is now the Department of Science and
Technology.
FUNCTION:
The Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) regulates, funds,
and monitors all of the public research activities in the country. PCHRD also implements a
utilization program to ensure research products are properly disseminated by their intended users.
The PCHRD website provides information about the council, its programs and services, and recent
council news and events.
VISION:
The PCHRD as the recognized lead provider of research-based solutions and innovations
to address health system needs by 2028.
VISION FOR THE PHILIPPINES SOCIETY:
A nation empowered by research-based knowledge, technologies and innovations in health
VISION FOR PCHRD:
The lead council that creates and sustains an enabling environment for health research in
the country
MISSION:
As the national coordinating body for health research, we provide central direction,
leadership and coordination of health research activities. To achieve this, we are committed to do
the following:
1. Formulate agenda, plans, policies, and strategies for health research
2. Mobilize resources to support health research
3. Develop and strengthen capacity for health research
4. Support the development of affordable, accessible, and quality S&T-based solutions and

innovations
5. Ensure the dissemination and utilization of health research outputs
6. Monitor and evaluate health research activities
7. Establish linkages and partnerships with local and international organizations
8. Promote good governance among health research organizations through efficient, effective,
transparent, and ethical health research management system
CORE VALUES:
Passion for excellence and innovation in public service
Culture of teamwork and collaboration
High regard for work ethics and integrity
Responsive personal effectiveness
Dynamic involvement in quality management system
QUALITY POLICY
"We are committed to provide research-based solutions and innovations in health, based
on the balance scorecard set by the Council, within the highest standards of professionalism, within
our core competency and available resources, in accordance to customer requirements, and in
adherence to ethical standards, applicable regulatory and statutory requirements.
We commit to continually improve the effectiveness of our QMS to enhance customer
satisfaction."
PCHRD LEADS THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH SYSTEM
Anchored on the objectives of promoting, facilitating and coordinating health research
activities to come up with more coherent research agenda which connect to and converge with the
wider health, economic, political, educational and S&T systems of the country, the DOST through
PCHRD, with the Department of Health (DOH), established the Philippine National Health
Research System (PNHRS), through a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on March 17,
2003. In 2007, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and University of the Philippines
Manila – National Institutes of Health (UPM-NIH) joined as core agencies of the PNHRS.
With the PNHRS in place, PCHRD’s role of coordinating health research and development
activities in the country has been reaffirmed. As a core agency of the PNHRS, the Council provides
the essential technical, financial and logistical support, in accordance with its mandate on research
and enable the PNHRS to contribute to the attainment of national and global health goals.

PCHRD RESEARCH PRIORITY AREAS
1. Pharmaceutical products
 development of diagnostics for control and prevention of priority diseases
 development of drugs/vaccines for local needs
2. Telehealth and Bioinformatics in Health
3. Natural products (herbal drugs and functional foods)
4. Other technologies and processes for priority health problems
GOVERNING COUNCIL:
CHAIR
 Sec. Fortunato T. de la Peña
Secretary
Department of Science and Technology
CO-CHAIR
 Dr. Francisco T. Duque III
Secretary
Department of Health
MEMBERS
 Dr. Jaime C. Montoya
Executive Director
Philippine Council for Health Research and Development
 Dr. Carmencita M. David-Padilla
Chancellor
University of the Philippines Manila
 Dr. Mediadora C. Saniel (private sector)
Chair
Infectious Disease Practice and Innovations
The Medical City
 Atty. Jose Maria A. Ochave (private sector)
President RiteMed Inc./

Senior Vice President
Business Development Group
United Laboratories, Inc.
 Dr. Lilian A. de las Llagas
Commissioner
Commission on Higher Education
 Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang
Executive Director
National Nutrition Council
 Dr. Charles Y. Yu (private sector)
Vice Chancellor for Research Services
De La Salle Health Sciences Institute
Research and Development (R&D) Grant
PCHRD funds research proposals that are aligned with the National Unified Health
Research Agenda (NUHRA) and Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda
(HNRDA).
The national template for health research and development efforts, NUHRA, guides the
health research sector on the health researches that address the most pressing health concerns of
the country. NUHRA specifies the areas and topics that need to be addressed in the next five years,
in line with global and national initiatives influencing the health sector. These research priority
areas are the following:
PCHRD Research Priorities
A. Diagnostics
B. Tuklas LunasTM (Drug discovery and development)
C. Functional foods
D. Nutrition and Food Safety
E. Biomedical Devices Engineering for Health
F. Information and Communication Technology for health
G. Re-emerging and Emerging Infectious Diseases
H. Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation
I. Mental Health

J. OMIC technologies for health (Platform technology across research priorities)
K. ARCHER Program
DOST-PCHRD Health Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers
To increase the number researchers who can conduct cutting-edge health researches in
the country, the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health
Research and Development (PCHRD) offers early-career researchers and scientists who have
recently earned their PhD degrees to spend extended period of research (1 to 2 years) and gain
invaluable experience working with prominent scientists abroad. The additional research training
will enhance their knowledge and skills to help them pursue a career in academia and research.
Likewise, the program will help prepare young researchers to become principal investigators in
the future.
The research will be carried out in cooperation with academic or research institutions
abroad. Applicant’s research must be aligned with the National Unified Health Research Agenda
(NUHRA) and Harmonized National Research and Development Agenda (HNRDA).
Support for Early Career Researchers
To inspire the next generation of researchers and research leaders, PCHRD provides a
variety of support for early career researchers ranging from participation in training and
workshops abroad, paper/poster presentation to conferences abroad, and publication. Early career
researchers are students/scholars who are graduate or postgraduate level up to 5 years post-PhD.
These opportunities will help the young researchers enhance their knowledge and skills to
ensure that our health research system stays abreast with the advances in health research. The
program also aims to attract new researchers and retain the excellent researchers by offering
these opportunities as we expand the country’s pool of researchers.
The Council recognizes the challenges of beginning researchers in pursuing a career in
research. The program aims to support outstanding researchers who have been accepted by
institutions abroad to participate in training/workshops, present research paper/poster in
conferences and scientific meetings, and publish a paper in peer-reviewed journals.
Consequently, providing an enabling environment for early career researchers as they start their
career in health research.

PCHRD Scholar’s Society
The DOST-PCHRD Scholarship Program is a major strategy to develop critical mass of
health researchers in the country. For 30 years, PCHRD has produced around 300 graduates in
the medical and allied health disciplines.
The PCHRD Scholars Society (PSS) was organized in February 7, 2007 and formally
launched in March 17, 2007 during the PCHRD’s 25th Anniversary celebration. The Society’s
aim is to promote research productivity among the new graduates and provide a forum for the
PCHRD Scholars to exchange health research information and to develop networking and
partnerships.