Structural biologist saves lives through research

Dr. Eduardo Padlan’s distinguished work in the field of structural biology is life-saving. Padlan, who did early work in the use of crystallography in solving protein structures, is the recipient of this year’s Concepcion Dadufalza Award for Distinguished Achievement.

He was honored in a ceremony held at the Pulungang Claro M. Recto of the Bulwagang Rizal in UP Diliman recently.

Padlan’s work in the structures of antibodies and antigens has significant use in the field of molecular immunology. The surface of antibodies has features that enable them to tightly bind with antigens, which then enable the antibodies to cure diseases.

Through the process of “humanization” of antibodies, anti-tumor antibodies can attack cancer cells, which they would not normally do, as the antibodies would not recognize the cancer cells as a threat since they are of the same genetic makeup.

A similar process can be used for the creation of vaccines for constantly evolving viruses and pathogens such as the common flu virus and HIV.

Padlan graduated from UP in 1960 with a degree in Physics, and earned his MS in Computer Science and Ph.D. in Biophysics from Johns Hopkins University. He later joined the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) where he continued his work with antibodies and antigens.

In 1998, he returned to the country as Balik Scientist, under the sponsorship of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and later became an adjunct professor and research consultant/adviser at the MSI, the National Institute of Molecular Biology (NIMB), and other UP and non-UP institutions. He was one of the first three corresponding members of the National Academy of Science and Technology in 2003.

In her introduction, Dr. Gisela Concepcion of the UP Marine Science Institute (MSI) introduced Padlan by mentioning his numerous achievements abroad, and his desire to apply his discoveries to technology useful to Filipinos and the world at large.

She also revealed that Padlan wanted to become a medical doctor like his parents but that as a pre-med student, he was convinced by a professor to take up physics instead.

Concepcion noted that although Padlan is a doctor of biophysics and not a medical doctor, he still saves lives through his research.

The Concepcion D. Dadufalza Award for Distinguished Achievement is given to individuals who have been affiliated with the University of the Philippines and have exhibited outstanding merit in scholarship, university citizenship and professional involvement; in short, individuals who have made a difference in society and have made the university truly proud.

The award, funded by a graduate of the university who requests anonymity, aims to keep alive the selfless vision and values of Dadufalza.

Previous recipients of the award are: Dr. Cesar Saloma of the National Institute of Physics; Dr. Romulo Davide of the Department of Plant Pathology of the College of Agriculture in UP Los Baños; University Professor Emeritus Dr. Edgardo Gomez of the Marine Science Institute; Dr. Glecy Atienza of the Department of Filipino and Philippine Literature; Dr. Martesio Perez of the Department of Neurosciences of the College of Medicine in UP Manila; and Dr. Jose Dalisay Jr. of the Department of English and Comparative Literature.