The University of San Carlos (USC) through its Departments of Biology, Physics, and Pharmacy, hosted the 8th International and 16th National Annual Convention of the Philippine Society for Cell Biology (PSCB) on October 23–24, 2025 at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel in Cebu City.
This year’s convention marked a milestone as the first PSCB annual gathering held outside Luzon. With the theme “Convergence of Innovation for Cellular Biology,” the conference sought to advance scholarly exchange on cutting-edge research in cell biology by Filipino and international scientists.
A central feature of this year’s event was the strong leadership of the University’s biological sciences. The Department of Biology, led by Dr. Frances Edillo, head of the USC Mosquito Research Laboratory, served as the Chair of the Local Organizing Committee demonstrating USC’s academic stewardship in the life sciences. Dr. Rommel Bacabac of the Department of Physics and program leader of the Medical Biophysics Group-Center for Tissue Engineering and Biological Soft Materials, served as co-chair.
University of San Carlos President Fr. Francisco Antonio T. Estepa, SVD, Ph.D. welcomed the delegates followed by opening remarks from the PSCB President Dr. Vivian Panes of the Ateneo de Manila University. Nearly 200 students, faculty members, and scientists representing 21 higher education institutions, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and industry partners participated in the two-day event.
USC faculty members played active roles in the scientific discussions. Dr. Gerard Lee L. See, Dean of the School of Health Care Professions, delivered a plenary lecture on leveraging liquid crystals to enhance drug delivery to the brain. Dr. Joyce Rodriguez of the Department of Biology presented her work on metabolomics during the Young Minds Speak session.
A pre-conference workshop on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was also hosted at USC on October 22, 2025, led by Dr. Florencio Arce Jr. (Chair, USC Department of Pharmacy) and Dr. Jonie Yee (Chair, USC Department of Biology), further highlighting the University’s role in capacity-building for life science research. Throughout the conference, invited experts presented development in nanotechnology, multi-omics, mechanobiology, cellular analysis, and engineered photosynthesis. More than 33 research posters were showcased by students and young professionals nationwide.
In her closing remarks, Dr. Edillo extends her warm thanks to the participants and emphasizes the importance of adaptability and the continued pursuit of scientific excellence.
She cited Charles Darwin’s reminder, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change,” and that of St. John Vianney, “All our efforts are wasted if not offered to God.”
The successful convention reflects USC’s steadfast commitment to advancing scientific inquiry and contributing to the development of the nation’s research landscape through active engagement in professional scientific communities.