Microbiological Research and Services Laboratory

Join the PCMicRO Logo Design Competition!

DEADLINE EXTENDED to June 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Don't miss the chance to showcase your creativity.

📣📣📣DEADLINE EXTENDED📣📣📣

We want to make sure everyone has enough time to perfect their concepts. We are officially extending the submission deadline to June 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM.

If you’ve already submitted your design, your entry is safe and secure.

Don't miss this second chance to showcase your creativity!

The MRSL successfully conducted a "𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐜𝐢𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 (𝐋𝐀𝐁) 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬" last May 5-8, 2026 at UP Diliman Natural Sciences Research Institute.

Participants include faculty members and research staff of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU).

Dr. Maria Auxilia T. Siringan, Head of the Microbiological Research and Services Laboratory and Deputy Director for Research and Extension Services (DDRES) of the UP Diliman Natural Sciences Research Institute, served as one of the plenary speakers during the 26th Regional Convention and Scientific Meeting of the Philippine Society for Microbiology, Inc. - Northern Luzon Chapter (PSM-NL 26) held at the Rafael L. Lazatin Memorial Audio Visual Center at the Pampanga State Agricultural University in Magalang, Pampanga on March 26-27, 2026.

In line with the convention theme, “Harnessing Microbial Power: Strengthening Ecosystems and Communities in the North”, Dr. Siringan presented her paper entitled, “Exploring the Plant Growth-Promoting Potential of Bacteria from Bamboo and Corn Rhizosphere” on March 26, 2026.

PSM-NL26, attended by more than 100 participants from the academe, government institutions and the industry, was a successful event and dynamic venue for exchanges of concepts, new knowledge, expertise and experiences in the field of microbiology and its relevant disciplines, such as agriculture, biotechnology, genomics and environmental sciences.

The Microbiological Research and Services Laboratory (MRSL) of the UP Diliman Natural Sciences Research Institute conducted an in-house training on “Biological Spill Response” held on March 24, 2026 with Mr. Angelo DV. dela Tonga, University Researcher I and Certified Biosafety Officer (CBO) at the UPM National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the UP Manila National Institutes of Health, as resource speaker and trainor.

The training was conducted to equip MRSL research and technical support staff in handling biological spills in a microbiology laboratory setting. The training course is part of the continuing capacity building program of the MRSL to ensure safety and work efficiency in undertaking its daily operations.

Congratulations to all RMicro Certification Examination passers! 🎉🎉

In line with the UPD announcement, MRSL will adopt a half-day work-from-home arrangement on Wednesday, April 1. Regular onsite work resumes on April 6, 2026.

The PsychoLAB team of the Microbiological Research and Services Laboratory, UP Diliman Natural Sciences Research Institute, and the Nice4Gut® team of the Integrative Research Laboratory, UP Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines - Diliman, continue to explore the probiotic and psychobiotic potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from Philippine fermented foods. Both teams operate under the renewed research program 𝙂𝙪𝙩2𝘽𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣: 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙁𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙒𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨, which screens LAB from local fermented foods for neuroactive potential and effects on behavior and immunity.

This milestone was highlighted during the site visit and re-orientation meeting conducted by the Nutrition and Food Safety Unit, R&D Management Division of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, Department of Science and Technology (DOST PCHRD) with the implementing agencies, together with UP Diliman offices that play vital roles in the successful implementation of the project.

𝙂𝙪𝙩2𝘽𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 continues to advance probiotic and psychobiotic research for mental wellness. 🧠🧫🔬

Mr. Joshua Veluz and Mr. Paul Christian Gloria, Research Associates under the DOST PCHRD-funded PsychoLAB Project hosted by the Microbiological Research and Services Laboratory, attended the DOST National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) Annual Scientific Meeting as Associate Members.

The event was held last March 16, 2026 at the Reception Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center. Last year, Mr. Veluz, Mr. Gloria, and Ms. Cielo Relucio-San Diego took their oath as Associate Members of NRCP.

We congratulate Mr. Veluz, Mr. Gloria, and Ms. San Diego for being part of NRCP! To more research work!

Mr. Paul Christian Gloria, of the DOST PCHRD-funded PsychoLAB Project hosted by the Microbiological Research and Services Laboratory, joined the three-day workshop on "Bioinformatics for MS-Based Metabolomics Annotation." This event was organized by the Philippine Metabolomics Network, De La Salle University, Universiteit Antwerpen, Ghent University, DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute, and funded by VLIRUOS.

The workshop was led by metabolomics experts Dr. Karen Laserna of the DLSU Central Instrumentation Facility, Dr. Wout Bittremieux, Dr. Julia Gauglitz, and Mr. Alejandro Cantu. They tackled topics on spectrum annotation and molecular networking, and made use of tools such as mzMine, GNPS, and SIRIUS.

We thank the organizers for selecting Mr. Gloria among the pool of applicants, as this will help advance the metabolomics endeavors of PsychoLAB and MRSL for mechanistic- and hypothesis-driven studies.

Some photos were taken from photos shared by the DLSU organizers.