Dr. Alfredo C. Acosta, a short-term Balik Scientist led the discussion of intestinal magnets as an alternative treatment for diabetes on his exit report presentation conducted last 10 March 2021, through Zoom Web Conferencing.

With a maximum peak of 103 participants, the event commenced as Dr. Jamie C. Montoya, Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Health, Research and Development cited the Philippines as one of the countries with the highest rate of diabetes mellitus. Further, he thanked Dr. Acosta for initiating the discovery of an alternative treatment to diabetes through his engagement to the Balik Scientist Program (BSP).

Dr. Acosta’s presentation proceeded as he was introduced by Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-de La Paz, Executive Director of his host institution, the University of the Philippines National Institute of Health (UPNIH).

Insulin injections and weight loss surgery are some of the existing treatments being used in the country as narrated by Dr. Acosta.

The problem with the existing treatments as mentioned is that some medical facilities located in the provinces are not equipped to conduct surgeries hence, treatment is not accessible to the patients. This also resulted in an additional cost for transportation. With this, the research about the anastomosis magnets emerged with the hope of an increased survival rate of diabetic patients.

Currently, the use of magnets has been extensively studied and according to Dr. Acosta, the research needs to be validated through animal experiments and subsequently be tested through clinical trials. Therefore, bridges between veterinarians at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños College of Veterinary Medicine and bioengineers and doctors of UP Philippine General Hospital shall be created.

Also, during Dr. Acosta’s engagement with the BSP, the Animal Surginnovation Laboratory (ASL) construction proceeded after the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) has been lifted in Metro Manila and is expected to be functional at the end of the year.

As the event moved forward, Dr. Acosta along with Dr. Cutiongco-de La Paz, Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla, and Dr. Teddy Herbosa established way forwards to further strengthen research in the Philippines, one of which is a biotech park that will be established in UP Manila to cover research commercialization of health innovations and to protect the intellectual property of researchers.

Dr. Acosta’s certificate of appreciation was then awarded by Dr. Rohani Cena-Navarro, a Research Faculty in UPNIH.

The event ended as Dr. Padilla encouraged everyone most especially the youth to continue dreaming for a heart of a Filipino is to serve its countryfolks.