Mindanao State University at Naawan (MSUN) hosted a face-to-face Research and Development (R&D) Consultation under the Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Health (DRR-CCAH) Program on March 12, 2026, in collaboration with the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) through its Research and Development Management Division.
Initially designed as a structured consultation, the activity transitioned into a more focused one-on-one coaching session upon the arrival of the PCHRD team. This approach allowed participating researchers to receive direct and tailored feedback to strengthen their proposals for the upcoming call for proposals.
Three MSUN proposals previously submitted during the 2025 call and now being prepared for resubmission were prioritized during the consultation. These include “Strengthening Community Resilience to Climate-Driven Health Risks: In Silico Modeling of Microplastic-Induced Renal Toxicity for Public Health Safety (MicroInSilico)” led by Dr. Rey Y. Capangpangan; “Ciguatera Under Rising Vulnerabilities and Environmental Change: Unveiling Climate-driven Ciguatera Risks to Reef Fisheries and Public Health in Zamboanga City (CURVE Ciguatera)” led by Ms. Gaireen D. Gaid; and “Vulnerability and Resilience: Assessing Disaster Response Strategies for Women and Girls in Flood-Prone Communities of Northern Mindanao” led by Ms. Claire Joy G. Mariquit.
In addition, four new proposals intended for the 2026 call for proposals were included in the coaching sessions. These include “Development of a Multi-Micronutrient Functional Saba Banana Flour Enriched with Malunggay and Enhanced Bioavailable Calcium from Fish Bone Waste Valorization” by Asst. Prof. Charry Neleene P. Canoy; “Metabolomics-Based Profiling of Selective Medicinal Plants Used by the Higaonon from Claveria, Misamis Oriental, Philippines” by Ms. Ma. Vanessa O. Balangiao; “Development and Validation of the SALIG Culturally Responsive MHPSS Pre-Disaster Preparedness Assessment Tool for Integrating Mental Health into DRRR Systems in Region X” by Asst. Prof. Voltaire M. Bernal; and “SPECTRUM-R10 (Systematic Psychosocial Evaluation and Comprehensive Tiered Response for Unique Minds – Region 10): Contextualizing BPS Mental Health Assessment and PBIS-RTI Mental Health Intervention Model among LGBT and EBD Students in Region X” by Asst. Prof. Sylvia C. Labial.
The consultation provided guidance on refining proposals, strengthening research design, aligning with DRR-CCAH priority areas, and ensuring responsiveness to climate-related health challenges. The one-on-one coaching format enabled in-depth discussions of each proposal’s technical, methodological, and impact components.
Through this initiative, MSUN continues to enhance its research capacity in climate change adaptation and public health, reinforcing its commitment to developing evidence-based solutions that support resilient and vulnerable communities.
