London School of Hygiene Alumni Profile

 

Dr. Gangcuangco completed the MSc in Clinical Trials program of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in November 2021. 

Link to the blog: LSHTM Alumni Profile

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa

 Dr. Gangcuangco joins the Hawaii Center for AIDS, University of Hawaii at Manoa, as Assistant Professor of Medicine in July 2022.

Link: https://manoa.hawaii.edu/hicfa/?page_id=1156

Gregory House Foundation Award Dinner

The Hawaii Center for AIDS under the leadership of Dr. Cecilia Shikuma joins Gregory House Foundation in their fundraising dinner on November 23, 2019 at the Sheraton Waikiki. During the event, pharmacist Fred Cruz was also honored for his dedication in ensuring access to antiretrovirals among people living with HIV in Hawaii and the Pacific.

Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco with Fred Cruz, PharmD, this year's Kahu Malama Awardee

World AIDS Day Declaration at the Hawaii State Capitol

The Hawaii Center for AIDS, the Hawaii State Department of Health, and the Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center join the governor in November 22, 2019 at the World AIDS Day proclamation — calling for everyone to join hands to achieve zero stigma, zero AIDS-related deaths, and zero new infections in Hawaii.

Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco, Dr. Dominic Chow, Gov. David Ige, Ms. Maya Barney, and Ms. Debra Ogata-Arakaki

Forward Thinkers Conference

Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco was invited by the Saint Luke’s Molecular Medicine Society and the University of the Philippines-Physician Scientists Association to talk about barriers to HIV cure at the third Forward Thinkers International Conference in Manila.

Dr. Gangcuangco at St. Luke's College of Medicine, Quezon City, Philippines | Sept 28, 2019

Dr. Gangcuangco and Prof. Shigeyuki Kano, President of the Japanese Society of Tropical Medicine

Dolutegravir in the Philippines

Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco delivered a lecture at San Lazaro Hospital on advances in HIV treatment and prevention. One of the key topics discussed were integrase inhibitors, newer antiretroviral agents that are better tolerated than the current available regimens in the Philippines.

Dr Louie Mar Gangcuangco, Dr. Ana Risa Sayo (infectious disease), and Dr. Chris Smith (Asst. Prof, Nagasaki University-London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine)

The Hawaii Center for AIDS presented research works at the 10th International AIDS Society Conference in HIV Science held in Mexico City in July 2019.

Dr. Lishomwa Ndhlovu co-chaired a session at the HIV/Hepatitis B Cure symposium. He also presented a poster on methamphetamine use and T-cell exhaustion in HIV.

Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco with “The Berlin Patient,” Timothy Brown, the first patient cured of HIV.

Dr. Cecilia Shikuma, director of the Hawaii Center for AIDS, and Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco standing in front of the research poster on CD4 T-cell exhaustion and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Brooks Mitchell, PhD candidate, presented a poster on HIV reservoir and neurocognitive impairment.

Abstracts available at:

http://programme.ias2019.org/Abstract/Abstract/2423

http://programme.ias2019.org/Abstract/Abstract/2620

http://programme.ias2019.org/Abstract/Abstract/2617

28th Annual Honolulu AIDS Walk

The Hawaii Center for AIDS joined the community at the 28th Annual Honolulu AIDS Walk held at Kapiolani Park on June 30, 2019.

Scientific Publishing Seminar

Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco was invited by the Philippine Society for Medical Oncology and Merck Philippines to deliver a talk on scientific writing and publishing.

Dr. Gangcuangco is an HIV researcher for the Hawaii Center for AIDS and has published over 50 scientific abstracts and international peer-reviewed journal articles. He has served as a peer-reviewer for various journals, including The Lancet HIV, The British Medical Journal, and Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Expanding Research Collaborations with the Philippines

(From left to right: Vice Chancellor for Research, Dr. Franco Teves, Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco, Dean Clowe Jandonero, and Vice Dean Mimmie Mamauag)

Dr. Gangcuangco delivered a lecture on HIV pathogenesis and chronic complications of HIV at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) in November 29, 2018. The invitation was extended by Prof. Clowe Jondonero, Dean of the MSU-IIT College of Nursing as part of their international lecture series with the theme Advancing Nursing Practice in the 21st Century. 

The lecture was attended by more than 200 nursing students, faculty members, and Dr. Franco Teves, Vice Chancellor for Research of MSU-IIT. Other guests include fellow Balik (returning) Scientists of the Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Arnie Alguno and Prof. Arnold Lubguban.

The Philippines is experiencing the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the western Pacific region, registering more than 1,000 new HIV cases per month. Research collaborations on HIV pathogenesis and prevention are warranted to help curb the epidemic.

HIV Awareness interview at Net 25's Taumbahay

Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco invited at the TV show 'Taumbahay' to discuss about HIV awareness

HIV Awareness discussion with veteran broadcaster Ms. Melly Tenorio

Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco served as a guest at Atraksiyon Integrasyon program of Radyo Pilipinas which aired on July 15, 2018

Dr. Gangcuangco talks about HIV testing and prevention in DWDD

Dr. Gangcuangco discusses the importance of early HIV testing and methods of HIV prevention in the radio program 'Kasama Ka Kaibigan' with Mr. Rommell San Pascual and Mr. Redentor Oro (July 10, 2018)

Dr. Gangcuangco urges the government to make PrEP and integrase inhibitors available nationally

During the opening of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) held in Davao City last July 6, 2018, Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco, a Balik Scientist (Returning Scientist) Awardee of the Department of Science and Technology, urged the Philippine government to make pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and integrase inhibitors available in the entire country. He believes that these are the missing pieces in HIV prevention and treatment in the Philippines. PrEP is currently available from a few treatment hubs in Manila. The first line regimen for HIV remains to be lamivudine-tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-efavirenz (LTE), the only daily one pill regimen for HIV available in the Philippines.

National Science and Technology Week 2018 held in Davao

Science for the People

Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco joined eleven other Balik Scientists (Returning Scientists) as guest of honor at the National Science and Technology Week held in Davao City, Mindanao. No less than the President of the Republic of the Philippines, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, graced the event as key note speaker.

With more scientists, researchers and engineers returning to the Philippines, the Balik Scientist Law aims to address the brain drain plaguing our country. 

The Balik Scientists engaged in cultural activities, enjoyed local Filipino food, and donned the national costume barong. It was indeed a weekend of fellowship, collaboration and celebration. 

Dr. Louie Gangcuangco talks about chronic complications of HIV

Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco at CROI 2018 (Boston, Massachusetts)

Department of Science & Technology confers the "Balik Scientist" Award to Dr. Louie Gangcuangco

Hon. Fortunato de la Pena, secretary of The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and USec. Carol Yorobe conferred the Balik Scientist (Returning Scientist) Award to Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco last December 1, 2017 at Sofitel Hotel & Conference Center in Manila, Philippines.

Dr. Gangcuangco is a recipient of the award for his contributions to HIV research. He is currently working with doctors from the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital and the Hawaii Center for AIDS to investigate immune activation and neurologic complications of HIV among Filipinos.

The certificate reads: "In recognition of your contributions and continuing support to the initiatives of the DOST; In helping nurture and expand research and development capability and expertise... all over the country"

Dr. Louie Gangcuangco's novel endorsed at CNN Philippines

Faustine Luell Angeles, HIV awareness advocate and founder of the organization "Pedal for HIV," talks about how understanding within the gay community is key to acceptance, respect and addressing the stigma against the virus.

Mr. Luell Angeles cited Dr. Louie Gangcuangco's novel, "Orosa-Nakpil, Malate" as a book that honestly depicts the LGBT community of Manila and how we can holistically address the HIV epidemic through respect and understanding.

Clip courtesy of CNN Philippines:

HIV start-up meeting with the University of Hawai'i

Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco facilitated the visit of Scott Bowler, laboratory trainor and MSc in Tropical medicine candidate, and Dr. Cecilia Shikuma, Director of the Hawai'i Center for AIDS last November 13, 2017 to jumpstart the research collaboration with the University of Hawai'i and the Philippine General Hospital.

The research protocol entitled, "Immune activation dynamics of HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy in the Philippines" is an IRB-approved project of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital and the Hawaii Center for AIDS-University of Hawaii. The primary goal of the study is to describe the degree of immune activation/inflammation among HIV-infected patients in the Philippines. This study will also look at the neuro-psychiatric performance of the HIV patients in the Philippine General Hospital.

The principal investigator from the Philippine General Hospital is Dr. Marissa Alejandria. Dr. Christian Francisco will serve as the project leader, and Ms. Concepcion Ang of the Medical Research Laboratory will supervise the lab operations of the study. Dr. Gangcuangco will serve as the over-all research liaison between the two institutions.

(Left  to Right) Kenneth Bongulto, (lab tech); Jerome Villena (research associate), Concepcion Ang (lab supervisor), Dr. Christian Francisco (project leader, PGH), Dr. Marissa Alejandria (principal investigator, PGH), Dr. Cecilia Shikuma (principal investigator, Univ. of Hawaii), Dr. Louie Gangcuangco (research liaison and returning scientist, Univ. of Hawaii), and Scott Bowler (lab trainor, Univ. of Hawaii).

Dr. Louie Gangcuangco invited to be the technical writer of the Diarrhea Guidelines of the Philippines

Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco, with his excellent medical writing skills and extensive international publication experience, was invited to be the Technical Writer and Editor of the Acute Gastroenteritis Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Philippines. This joint project of the Department of Health and the Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases is very important in a country where cholera, Salmonella, and other forms of food-borne and water-borne infections remain common.

The guidelines are set to be released in March 2018.