Newborn screening advocate named UPM chancellor

MANILA, Philippines - Dr. Carmencita David-Padilla, director of the Newborn Screening Reference Center of the National Institutes of Health (NHI) and executive director of the Philippine Genome Center, is the University of the Philippines-Manila’s new chancellor. Her three-year term is from Nov. 1, 2014 to Oct. 17, 2017.

Padilla has made major contributions to the country in the field of health including the following:

• Setting up the genetic services at UP Manila in 1990, clinical services at the Philippine General Hospital and laboratories at the NIH’s Institute of Human Genetics. These currently service patients from different parts of the country.

• Setting up newborn screening services in 1996. NBS services are currently available in more than 5,000 hospitals and birthing centers.

• Setting up fellowship program in Clinical Genetics (2000) and MS Genetic Counseling (2011) at the UP College of Medicine.

• Setting up the Philippine Genome Center in 2009. This is a research unit of the UP system with five programs (health; agriculture, livestock and fisheries; biodiversity; forensics and ethnicity; ethics, legal and social issues) and two core facilities (DNA sequencing core facility and core facility for bioinformatics).

• Crafting and lobbying for the Newborn Screening Act of 2004, the legal basis for the implementation of the comprehensive newborn screening program.

• Crafting and lobbying for the passage of the Rare Disease Act of the Philippines.

“My vision for UP Manila is anchored on UP’s mandate to perform its unique and distinctive leadership role in higher education and development as stated in the UP Charter. I envision UP Manila as the National Center of Health Research and Development for the Filipino people, building on the outstanding accomplishments of its dedicated academic community,” Padilla said.

“Under my leadership, UP Manila will continue its quest for leadership and academic excellence in the fields of health, natural sciences, social sciences, arts and the humanities. With a nurturing environment for accelerated change and innovation, UP Manila will continue to grow academically and keep its competitive advantage,” she said.

Padilla will be ably supported by her new team of vice chancellors: Nymia Pimentel-Simbulan,  academic affairs; Arlene Alcid-Samaniego, administration; Eva Maria Cruz Cutiongco-De La Paz, research, and NIH executive director and Michael L. Tee, planning and development and IPPAO director

Among is a recipient of the following: The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) 1994; Awardee for Medicine (Medical Genetics), Philippine Jaycees, 1996; Lingkod Bayan Award, Civil Service Commission, 2004; The Outstanding Filipino Physician, JCI Senate and DOH, 2007; DOST Outstanding Science Administrator Award, 2012 and one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World.