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.