Passing on Skills,
Raising the Standard

In the Philippines, the field of Laboratory Animal Science (LAS) continues to grow—driven by passionate mentors who dedicate their expertise to advancing animal welfare, ethical research, and scientific excellence. With the theme “Passing on Skills, Raising the Standard,” this month’s feature highlights the pivotal role of expert mentorship in ensuring the next generation of LAS professionals are well-equipped to meet global standards.

A landmark event in this journey is the birth of the Philippine Association of Laboratory Animal Science (PALAS)—a collective effort to formalize a community of professionals committed to raising the bar for laboratory animal care and use in research and education. PALAS aims to strengthen national capabilities by fostering mentorship, promoting continued learning, and advocating for humane and ethical practices.

We also take pride in showcasing local training success stories, where experienced mentors have guided aspiring professionals toward competency and confidence. These stories are more than achievements—they are testaments to the power of knowledge transfer and the value of dedicated leadership in scientific communities.

At the heart of this movement are individuals who have championed Laboratory Animal Science in the Philippines through decades of service and advocacy. In this issue, we speak with three highly respected figures who have shaped the local LAS landscape with their vision, leadership, and commitment to mentoring others.

1. Can you take us back to 1988 — what inspired you and the other founders to start a laboratory animal science organization in the Philippines?

My introduction to laboratory animal medicine began with a course at the University of the Philippines College of Veterinary Medicine (UPCVM), taught by Dr. Joseph Masangkay. The subject opened my eyes to the immense potential of this field in the Philippines, particularly its applications in education, testing, and research. When I later took a research position, it became clear to me that experimental animals would be integral to my profession, and I knew I needed to deepen my knowledge in this area.

At that time, to my knowledge, the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) was the only institution in the country maintaining “clean” rodents exclusively for research. Through PVMA conventions, I also learned about SICONBREC, which was breeding cynomolgus monkeys in Tanay, and A.T. Viri, which supplied laboratories both locally and abroad with wild-caught monkeys from Philippine forests. Several academic and research institutions regularly used animals for teaching, testing, and research, though most were not engaged in breeding. A notable example was the now-defunct Serum and Vaccine Laboratory of the Department of Health, where goats were utilized for rabies vaccine production.

PALAS (Philippine Association for Laboratory Animal Science) was established in 1988 while I was at RITM. It was a transitional period for laboratory animal science in the Philippines, full of uncertainty about what might come next. Two years earlier, I had completed formal training in Laboratory Animal Medicine at Japan’s National Institute of Health in Tokyo. Following my training, I introduced the first SPF (specific pathogen-free) colony of Balb/c mice at RITM. Before my training, we had already been breeding conventional mice introduced by Japanese consultants through the JICA program. We had a dedicated facility for mice, rabbits, and guinea pigs on the second floor of RITM’s research wing, which was later expanded into a separate building to include feed processing, a shower room, and individually ventilated cages for small laboratory animals.

We bred and maintained both inbred and outbred mice to support the needs of RITM’s Virology, Bacteriology, Pathology, and Parasitology departments. These animals were used for bioassays, electron microscopy studies, hybridoma production, and schistosomula generation. Conventional rabbits and guinea pigs were maintained (though not bred), and at one point, gerbils were introduced by JICA consultants. We also began microbiological monitoring of laboratory animals during this time.

The idea of forming a professional group for veterinarians specializing in laboratory animals emerged from my intra-mural discussions with Dr. Noel Miranda who was closely working with me at that time. When I opened up this idea in a discussion I had with Dr. Enrique Carlos, he strongly supported it. It became clear to me that he had already envisioned such an organization. Dr. Carlos exerted efforts to gather veterinarians involved with experimental animals, including colleagues from SICONBREC and, maybe, some personnel from BAI. The original Articles of Incorporation for PALAS were signed at RITM, with Dr. Carlos arriving one day with the document ready for signatures. Dr. Miranda, then working with me at RITM, was also among the founding members.

I believe it was Dr. Carlos who coined the name PALAS, as the name was already written on the incorporation document when we signed it. As far as I recall, I had no part in naming the organization. I distinctly remember Dr. Carlos expressing that his primary wish was simply to see the organization launched before he moved on to other pursuits in the industry.

2. What were the biggest challenges you faced in those early years, and how did you overcome them?

This question is best directed to Dr. Miranda who succeeded me as President. Only a few months after my election, I accepted a position with a company abroad and had to leave my post at RITM. It was he who faced these challenges firsthand as they unfolded.

3. How did you gather support from the scientific community to formalize the organization at a time when LAS was still a niche field locally?

At that time, the scientific community engaged in the use of laboratory animals had not yet formed an organized body. Researchers and practitioners remained largely isolated—separated from us at RITM and from one another due to the absence of formal contact or communication channels. At RITM, Dr. Miranda and I spent countless occasions discussing how this field could grow, first within the institute and later beyond the walls of our home institution. We were still young then, full of ambition and hope for what a new organization might accomplish.

Members from SICONBREC eventually got connected with us through professional gatherings. In truth, there were only a handful of us with a genuine interest in laboratory animal science, but persuading a few fellow veterinarians to join our cause was not difficult, especially with a zealous leader like Dr. Enrique Carlos, who had a remarkable gift for planting new ideas in the minds of young veterinarians. We were neither dismayed nor overly concerned about our small numbers. Our sights were firmly fixed on the day when laboratory animal science would take root and flourish as a recognized field of practice in the country.

4. Looking at today’s LAS landscape in the Philippines, what developments make you feel proudest as a founder?

As a co-founder, I am deeply gratified to see the organization’s membership expand into a vibrant network that now reaches nearly all major academic and research institutions in the country. The regular trainings and scientific meetings, engaging not only young veterinarians but also students and early-career researchers, are shaping a new generation of well-trained and dedicated “science warriors.”

Most remarkable of all is how the advancement of animal research in the Philippines has progressed hand in hand with the promotion of animal welfare. Today’s widespread awareness among researchers of the ethical responsibility in the care, handling, treatment, and use of laboratory animals stands as clear proof that the efforts of PALAS are fully aligned with its mission and vision.

5. If you could give one piece of advice to the next generation of LAS leaders, what would it be?

The continued growth of this field rests largely on the vision and commitment of the organization’s leaders and members. I especially hope that the next generation of leaders will uphold our tradition of excellence grounded in integrity and sustained by motivation, energy, dedication, and talent. It would be truly heartening to see these future leaders not only preserve what has been built but also blaze new trails, fostering innovations that advance animal welfare and develop novel animal models for critical diseases.

1. How did you first become involved in conducting LAS training in the Philippines?

I first became involved when I joined the University’s IACUC and became a member of the Philippine Association for Laboratory Animal Science.

2. What core values or principles do you emphasize when teaching proper laboratory animal use?

I emphasize that the use of animals in research is a privilege, not a right. Because animals cannot speak for themselves, we have a duty to uphold the highest standards of care, compassion, and respect. Protecting their welfare is not only an ethical responsibility but also essential for producing valid and reliable scientific results.

3. Can you share a memorable training experience that made you realize the importance of your work?

One memorable experience was when we trained future IACUC members, many of whom traveled from different regions of the Philippines to attend. It was significant because several universities were only just beginning to establish their IACUCs, and our training helped lay the foundation for responsible animal research in those institutions.

4. How do you adapt your training to address both scientific rigor and animal welfare in different Philippine institutions?

I adapt by considering the unique context of each institution, such as their available resources, research focus, and level of experience in laboratory animal science. While I emphasize compliance with international and local standards, I also provide practical strategies that can be realistically implemented locally. This way, trainees learn how to balance scientific rigor with strong animal welfare practices, regardless of the size or capacity of their institution.

5. What trends in laboratory animal use and care should trainees be most prepared for in the coming years?

One key trend is the increasing use of machine learning and digital tools to evaluate animal behavior, which can enhance both scientific rigor and welfare monitoring.

1. What motivated you to mentor others in the field of laboratory animal science?

To advance the laboratory animal science in the country. With a small number of professionals in this field, the transfer of knowledge and technical skills  to the young ones are important to strengthen biomedical science which includes lab animal science. Mentoring  also includes guiding and helping them in pursuing their graduate degrees and advance trainings abroad.  We need more young people in the academe, research institutions, government, private industry to be engaged in this field for the betterment of health science.

2. How do you balance teaching technical skills with instilling a strong sense of ethics and responsibility in your mentees?

Proper guidance and giving them respect and trust when I train them. Always reminding them the right ethics and practice honesty in all undertakings. Being honest even with their mistakes and pointing out  learnings from their mistakes. Promoting the culture of trust, and team work which can build their confidence. Giving them the opportunity to speak their ideas and allowing them to execute the technical skills at their own pace. Allowing them to grow in the field and giving them the opportunity to lead a study, present in international and national conferences, publish papers in international and national journals, and mentor graduate and undergraduate students. 

3. What is the most important lesson you hope every scientist you’ve mentored will carry forward?

To be a good person in all aspect. As a good person:

1. one will conduct the research with high integrity and honor

2. one will respect and carry out the activity with other members of the research team

3. one will adhere to proper research ethics (e.g. prioritizing family members with different expertise over research team members, claiming that all data presented are his) and intellectual propriety along with team members

4. one will ensure that all members of the research team will equally participate in the undertakings and benefit from the output of the team

5. one will not enrich himself (e.g. awards, promotion, monetary compensation, presentations abroad, etc.)  at the expense of the research team 

6. research is not about the number of publications but the quality and significance of the research addressing a national or global problem which ensures generation of new knowledge and quality publications shared to colleagues.

4. Can you share a success story of a mentee who went on to make significant contributions to Philippine LAS?

Dr. Rohani Cena-Navarro, an advisee of mine who took the challenge of being employed in UP-NIH after doing her graduate studies in South Korea, organized and heads the UP Manila IACUC, organized regular lab animal workshops for the benefit of different stakeholders, and established the Behavioral Neuroscience Research and Laboratory in UP Manila and conducting significantly relevant studies to address addiction in the country

5. In your view, what qualities make an exceptional laboratory animal scientist in the Philippine setting?

   1. good vision and mission

   2. highly knowledgeable, organized and superb technical skills

   3. good leadership and team player skills

   4. constant reading and updating to stay relevant in the field

   5. mentoring young faculty, professionals and students in the field

   6. practice high  moral integrity and respect for colleagues and team members

   7. practice proper research ethics and intellectual propriety

   8. offer voluntarily our services for our country (e.g. as technical consultant or reviewers proposals, etc.)

   9. advocate of multi-professional and multi-institutional collaboration 

Most of what I stated were the same learnings, words of wisdom, and trainings that I got from my mentors. Dr. Grace de Ocampo (former Dean of UPCVM) and Dr. Kei-ichiro Maeda (former Dean University of Tokyo and former Prof in Nagoya University).