The National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, also known as NIMBB, is a research institute of the
University of the Philippines. It has four branches which are located in
UP Diliman (NIMBB-Diliman),
UP Los Baños (BIOTECH-UPLB),
UP Manila
The University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) is a state-funded medical and research university located in Ermita, Manila, Philippines. It is known for being the country's center of excellence in the health sciences, including health professio ...
(National Institutes of Health-IMBB/BIOTECH-UP Manila) and
UP Visayas (NIMBB-UP Visayas/BIOTECH-UP Visayas).
BIOTECH laboratories are accredited and recognized by Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Food and Drugs, Department of Health, and Bureau of Animal Industry.
Research and Extension Programs
Research and Extension at BIOTECH covers five main areas:
Biotechnology for Agriculture and Forest Program
The Biotechnology for Agriculture and Forestry Program is the country's center of agribiotechnology researches on biofertilizers, microbial biodiversity for reforestation and agricultural waste treatment.
Biotechnology Program for Food, Feeds and Specialty Products
BIOTECH discovers and upgrades technologies to produce high value foods, feeds, additives, specialty products, and develops efficient detection kits to ensure quality and safety. The program explores sources, properties and application of
functional foods such as nutraceuticals, probiotics from GRAS Lactic Acid Bacteria and yeast.
Nutraceuticals are the functional foods such as omega-3, 6 and polyunsaturated fatty acids from structured lipids like coconut and local seed oil. The institute also intensifies improvement, application and commercialization of existing
DNA-based detection kits and industrial
enzymes
Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrate (chemistry), substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecule ...
.
Natural Products
Biotechnology for Natural Products Program applies modern and conventional scientific techniques to discover pharmaceutically-important compounds produced from local isolates and to develop plant cell culture systems as a source of high-value secondary metabolites (drugs). The program uses bioinformatics, computational software, and tissue culture technology for the identification and mass production of identified novel compounds. Continuing efforts are exerted to promote and commercialize BioVac-HS and BioVac-FC, the vaccines against Pasteurella multocida which causes fatal hemorrhagic septicemia and fowl cholera, respectively.
Biotechnology for Industrial and Environmental and Energy Program
Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology searches for cost-effective and renewable fuel sources to help lessen the impact of
oil price increases. The program focuses on the discovery and development of robust microorganisms to improve biofuel production. It also develops biological binders or biosurfactant, biopolymers, and heat-resistant enzymes, for wastes degradation and bioremediation.
Technology Transfer/Training and Business Development
Technology Transfer/Training and Business Development Program packages BIOTECH information and facilitates its proactive exchange among the scientists-researchers and Institute clients. The program also embarks on various technology transfer and commercialization approaches. Among its services include biotechnology promotion, training and internship, product and technology marketing, database management and communication support services.
Facilities and Services
Philippine National Collection of Microorganisms (PNCM)
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The PNCM is a repository of microorganisms
A microorganism, or microbe,, ''mikros'', "small") and ''organism'' from the el, ὀργανισμός, ''organismós'', "organism"). It is usually written as a single word but is sometimes hyphenated (''micro-organism''), especially in olde ...
containing over 2000 strains of bacteria, yeasts, filamentous fungi, algae
Algae (; singular alga ) is an informal term for a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. It is a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from unicellular mic ...
and protozoa
Protozoa (singular: protozoan or protozoon; alternative plural: protozoans) are a group of single-celled eukaryotes, either free-living or parasitic, that feed on organic matter such as other microorganisms or organic tissues and debris. Histo ...
. It is the biggest laboratory of its kind in the country.
It is a member of the World Federation of Culture Collections and serves as the headquarters of the Philippine Network of Microbial Culture Collections. PNCM has active linkages with culture collection laboratories here and abroad.
Central Analytical Services Laboratory (CASL)
CASL handles routine chemical analysis of food, feeds,
plants,
soils,
fertilizers,
water,
wastewater,
raw materials
A raw material, also known as a feedstock, unprocessed material, or primary commodity, is a basic material that is used to produce goods, finished goods, energy, or intermediate materials that are feedstock for future finished products. As feedst ...
, by-products of
fermentation
Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. In food ...
processes, and even
cosmetics. It modifies and standardizes analytical methods for applications to specific samples, as well as develops new analytical techniques.
The laboratory implements and maintains a high quality system based on ISO 17025 guidelines for laboratory competence. CASL is accredited/recognized by the Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Food and Drugs, Department of Health, and Bureau of Animal Industry.
Electron Microscopy Service Laboratory (EMSL)
The EMSL contains transmission and scanning
electron microscopes. This laboratory provides structure analysis of biological and non-biological samples by light photomicroscopy and the ultra-structure analysis of samples by scanning and transmission electron microscopy.
Enzyme Laboratory (EL)
The EL offers services to determine the different
enzyme activities or samples for
food
Food is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or fungal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is inge ...
, feeds and other industrial applications. Enzyme assay indicates the effectiveness of a given enzyme to a specific substrate and serves as a quality control tool.
It also accepts contract researches on the production and application of industrial enzymes.
Fermentation Engineering and Service Laboratory (FESL)
The FESL provides technical support for optimizing upstream process parameters through R&D collaboration, as well as optimizing product recovery and downstream process parameters.
National Immunological Testing Laboratory (NITL)
The NITL is the diagnostic center for the rapid detection of mycotoxins and
plant,
food
Food is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or fungal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is inge ...
, and
feed pathogens. The laboratory can determine the concentrations of the mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1 and M1, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, fumonisin and red tide toxins to as low as 5 ppb.
Faculty
*Dr.
Reynaldo L. Garcia Reynaldo is a Spanish given name from the German name Reinhold. Notable people with the name include:
* Reynaldo Aguado Montealegre (born 1960), Nicaraguan activist
* Reynaldo Aimonetti (born 1943), Argentine footballer
* Reynaldo Anderson (born 1 ...
, an expert in biomedical research and biotechnology was appointed as a full professor at the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and also serves as University of Philippines System director of the Technology Transfer and Business Development Office.
* Dr Ron Leonard Dy
* Dr Wilberto D. Monotilla
* Dr Cynthia P. Saloma
* Dr Cynthia T. Hedreyda
* Dr Vermando M. Aquino
* Dr Anita M. Bautista
* Dr Pia B. Bagamasbad
* Dr Denise Noelle M. Bascos
* Dr Neil Andrew D. Bascos
* Dr Eloise I. Prieto
* Dr Benedict A. Maralit
Images
File:UPCollegeofSciencejf3188 09.JPG, Historical marker
File:UPDilimanMolecularBiologyjf3193 09.JPG, Facade
File:UPCollegeofSciencejf3188 08.JPG, Right facade
References
Biotech-UPLB websiteUP Diliman College of Science
External links
Website
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Agricultural research institutes
Biological research institutes
Botanical research institutes
Molecular biology institutes
Microbiology organizations
University of the Philippines College
Research institutes in the Philippines
Organizations based in Laguna (province)
Los Baños, Laguna
Agricultural organizations based in the Philippines