Achieving sans fanfare

Relegated to the sidelines of the news was the recognition given to a world-respected Filipino biologist-chemist as 2007 Scientist of the Year by the Harvard Foundation last month.

Hardly any major coverage was accorded to the fact that University of the Philippines-educated Dr. Baldomero M. Olivera did the country proud with his ground breaking pharmaceutical discoveries based on Philippine marine snails.

The Harvard Foundation each year presents the Scientist of the Year award to internationally acclaimed scientists for their contribution and achievement in the biological and physical sciences, and particularly their efforts to advance minorities and women in the science.

Olivera, now a distinguished professor at University of Utah, is continuing further studies on marine snails and cone shells endemic to Philippine waters even after he paved the way for the first commercially available marine drug in the world known as Prialt or Ziconitide

Better than morphine

Both drugs are touted to be more effective and safer than morphine in treating chronic pain. The US-based National Institutes for Health describes the drugs and Olivera’s discovery as such:

“The new medicine, called Prialt, or ziconotide, has its roots in a boy’s curiosity about the deadly poisons inside the beautiful shells he collected in his native Philippines. Now a professor of biology at the University of Utah, Dr. Baldomero Olivera analyzes the highly toxic venoms of these cone snails.

“Prialt is 1,000 times more powerful than morphine, but unlike morphine, it is not believed to be addictive. The FDA approved its use for chronic, intractable pain such as that suffered by people with cancer, AIDS or certain neurological disorders. It is delivered directly into fluid surrounding the spinal cord by external or implanted pumps ….”

Substances discovered by Olivera from other local marine snails are in clinical trials for other major ailments including epilepsy, neurological disorders, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and other related cardiovascular ailments.

Olivera graduated summa cum laude from UP in 1960. He took his PhD from the California Institute of Technology (1966) in Chemistry, did postdoctoral work at Stanford University School of Medicine, and was a fellow of the Damon Runyon Research Fund, Dept. of Biochemistry from 1966-1968.

He returned to the Philippines to become a research associate professor of Biochemistry at UP College of Medicine before returning to the US as professor in several universities.

Harvard Foundation director Allen Counter said Olivera’s notable contribution to molecular biology and pioneering work on conotoxins (substances found in marine snails used for pharmaceutical purposes) deserve special recognition.

Needed: A science godfather

Olivera stressed that government funding and support for scientific research and development initiatives must be increased to fully tap or maximize the country’s immense advantage.

In particular, he said that the field of marine biodiversity related to the discovery of new drugs is where the country has a competitive edge due to its rich marine biodiversity and marine wildlife.

There is in fact a proposed national biodiversity and drug discovery plan which the government and private sector may or must take a closer look at. Maybe, it is through this that local scientists and researchers can find new cures for old illnesses.

A concerted, no-nonsense move to boost the culture or consciousness to science and scientific research and encourage budding scientists by the government and private sector is what the science and research sector badly needs today.

Earning the reputation as a science and research capital of the region would have tremendous economic benefits.

Key to food security

The country is also wanting in technological advances in many key fronts, especially agriculture. A strong and vibrant agriculture sector anchored on scientific research and technological advances is a main ingredient to ensuring food security, a problem much of the world is grappling.

Currently, Filipino and foreign scientists at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) are looking at new ways to develop new genes of rice that can withstand extreme weather conditions, be it too much heat or too much rainfall.

The agriculture department called on the National Government and private sector to invest in scientific research and development as well as manpower which would also spur new farming technologies responsive to climate and other environmental changes.

Agriculture technology experts lamented that a mere P2.7 billion is allocated each year for research and development purposes. The governments of India, Korea and Japan spend more for such, and, obviously, reap more dividends.

Many other Filipinos have given inventions and discoveries to the world that paved the way for a better quality of life and provided answers to questions that have bugged many for generations. And there are many others nameless faces out there working to make their own contributions for the sake of their careers, their countrymen, country and humanity. To them all, our most heartfelt thank you!

Search for 4th poker millionaire

Philippine Poker Tour (PPT), the pioneer and leading proponent of non-wager poker skills tournaments, announced recently the launching of the continuing search for local poker talents. The 4th PPT Million-Peso Hold’Em Champion competitions, the only local tournament that guarantees the champion of a minimum of P1 million as prize, is scheduled to be held on 15th December 2007.

The champion of this event joins the elite group of PPT poker millionaires, namely, Dereck Bautista from Baguio City, Cris Parker, local expatriate business executive, and Kent del Rosario from Roxas City. These winners are now regular fixtures of both local and international competitions.

As in previous PPT Million-Peso tournaments, satellite competitions are being conducted to award winners FREE seats to the Main Event scheduled on 15th December. These satellites are held at the PLAYER’S DEN, clubhouse of PPT, located at 1786 A. Mabini, Malate, Manila

For details visit www.PhilippinePokerTour.com or call the PPT Secretariat at 812-0153, 0926-6452956, or 0920-9218891.

Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected].