The Eastern Visayas Health Research and Development Consortium (EVHRDC) in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology – Balik Scientist Program (DOST-BSP) hosted by Dr. June Bryan de la Peña, a Balik Scientist, and a native of Capoocan, Leyte who is a Post-doctoral Research Fellow in the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the USA for the second time.
The Balik Scientist Program of the Department of Science and Technology aims to encourage Filipino scientists abroad to come back and strengthen the Science and technology capabilities of local researchers in different industries to serve as a catalyst in making an impact in the field of research or even in their chosen expertise.
Dr. de la Peña finished his bachelor’s degree in Nursing at Western Leyte College. He completed his master’s degree and Ph.D. in Pharmacy majoring in neuropharmacology at Samyook University in Seoul, South Korea. His expertise includes neuroscience, neuropharmacology, and functional genomics. Through DOST’s Balik Scientist Program, he decided to come back to the Philippines to serve his countrymen by sharing his knowledge and vast experience in neuroscience research with the different member institutions of the consortium.
He started his Engagement at the Samar State University (SSU) in Catbalogan City, Samar where he visited the different laboratories of SSU and provided recommendations on how they could maximize their impressive research facilities in conducting research work that could benefit the University and the region. Next, he conducted a Science Outreach Activity for the students of the Philippine Science High School – Eastern Visayas Campus (PSHS-EVC) in Palo, Leyte where he shared his journey of becoming a neuroscientist. This was followed by a similar science outreach activity at Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) in Naval, Biliran where he conducted a lecture entitled: “How I Became a Neuroscientist: Challenges and Opportunities for aspiring neuroscientists”. He discussed his breakdowns and breakthroughs throughout his career, his passion for research, and how neuroscience gave him the life he never imagined having.
Dr. de la Peña ended his BSP engagement for the year 2022 when he, together with the delegates from Visayas State University (VSU), PSHS-EVC, and EVHRDC conducted experiential learning at the University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu City and University of San Agustin (USA) in Iloilo City. The team had a consultation meeting and benchmarking activity in USC’s Animal Laboratory Facility and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and in USA’s Tuklas Lunas Center last December 14-16, 2022. The three-day trip motivated the consortium and its member institutions to produce collaborative research to produce globally competitive studies that could create an impact not just in the field of scientific research but also in society by addressing health challenges in Region VIII.
Though Dr. de la Peña’s engagement was short it was able to benefit students and researchers. Moreover, it was able to capture the goal of the BSP by promoting information exchange and accelerating the flow of new technology into the country through strengthening the scientific and technological manpower of the academe and public and private institutions. The program’s objective is to encourage Filipino scientists and technologists to return and reside in the Philippines and share their expertise for the development of the country.
