EDITORIAL - Support for R&D

Throughout the COVID lockdowns, US-based Dominican priest Nicanor Austriaco became a familiar face, as a molecular biologist working with the OCTA Research group. His explanations were so useful in making sense of many aspects of the public health crisis that then president Rodrigo Duterte openly said he was considering tapping Austriaco as the new secretary of health. A flustered Austriaco said being a priest, he could not accept such a position.

What he could do, even as a priest, was carry out research and development on genetically modified yeast to produce an oral vaccine against COVID-19. With the global pandemic threat now much reduced, Austriaco continues his R&D on the yeast-based vaccine, whose results he hopes to use in producing affordable vaccines not just against the coronavirus but also for other diseases such as African swine fever.

The undertaking deserves full support from the government and other stakeholders. Father Austriaco is now a Balik-Scientist, which qualifies him for a modest stipend and benefits such as free air fare. But the R&D itself needs solid funding. The Department of Science and Technology, which runs the Balik-Scientist program, has provided a grant of P4.4 million to the University of Santo Tomas, where Austriaco is setting up a molecular laboratory for his vaccine research. The priest is a visiting biological sciences professor in UST.

While the P4.4 million is a boon, it is clearly not enough. As the country learned at the height of the pandemic, microbiology equipment is expensive. Major pharmaceutical companies can spend hundreds of millions of dollars developing a single drug. Father Austriaco is still looking for additional donors for his R&D.

What the government can do is cut the red tape for Austriaco’s work, from the procurement of needed materials to the processing of permits or licenses. He has said what takes just days in the US can take months in the Philippines. Since his work is being undertaken in coordination with the DOST, it should be easy for the government to facilitate the requirements for the research.

If the R&D proves successful, it will not only be a proud moment for the country and its science community, but will also mean the availability of affordable vaccines for both human and animal needs. Father Austriaco has said he wants to produce readily available, efficacious vaccines at significantly lower prices. The government should do everything to facilitate the attainment of that goal.