The Mammalian Cell Culture Laboratory (MCCL), headed by Dr. Sonia D. Jacinto, maintains different human cancer cell cultures which are especially used in researches aimed towards discovery of potential anticancer drugs. Focusing on extracts from various Philippine endemic terrestrial plants, the MCCL aims to move the cancer research in the country forward. With the help of various agencies such as the Natural Sciences Research Institute (NSRI), Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development (OVCRD) of UP Diliman and the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), the MCCL is able to support undergraduate and graduate thesis students who work on studies involving cancer. In 2013, with the help of DOST-PCHRD, the MCCL was tasked to establish a National Bioassay Facility that can support studies on drug discovery and development especially on diseases like cancer, diabetes and hypertension among others.
Sonia D. Jacinto
Professor, UP Scientist I
Head of Laboratory
Ahmad Reza Mazahery F. Mazahery, Ph.D.
Project Leader
Project Title: Elucidation of the dose-dependent regulatory effects of key TGF-Beta Signalling Molecules on the Proliferaton and Metastatic Behavior of Various Epithelial Cancer Cell Lines
Maria Bianca Tereza Cruz
Science Research Specialist
Project Title: Development of Biorepository Facility for Plant Extracts/Compounds for Drug Discovery
Patricia Anne Lim
Science Research Specialist
Project Title: Development of Biorepository Facility for Plant Extracts/Compounds for Drug Discovery
Paul Christian Vicente
Science Research Specialist
Project Title: Development of Biorepository Facility for Plant Extracts/Compounds for Drug Discovery
Maevel Romero
Project Development Officer
Project Title: Development of Biorepository Facility for Plant Extracts/Compounds for Drug Discovery
Geraldine Quina
Laboratory Aide
Project Title: Development of Biorepository Facility for Plant Extracts/Compounds for Drug Discovery
Rachelle Anne Dante, M.Sc.
Science Research Specialist
Project Title: Screening for Immunomodulatory and Anticancer Activities of Herbal Extracts from Palawan, Samar, Panay, and Sierra Madre
Katherine Walo
Laboratory Aide
Project Title: Screening for Immunomodulatory and Anticancer Activities of Herbal Extracts from Palawan, Samar, Panay, and Sierra Madre
Ranelle Janine Asi
University Research Associate
Project Title: Elucidation of the dose-dependent regulatory effects of key TGF-Beta Signalling Molecules on the Proliferaton and Metastatic Behavior of Various Epithelial Cancer Cell Lines
Norielyn Abalos, M.Sc.
PhD student
Regina Joyce Ferrer, M.Sc.
Instructor
PhD Student
Biosafety cabinet
Cryogenic storage tank
Freeze dryer
HPLC
Incubator for Cell Culture
Inverted Fluorescence Microscope
Multimode reader for reading absorbance, fluorescence and luminescence
Pharma Ref
Refrigerated Centrifuge
Rotary evaporator
Water Purification System for Ultrapure WaterOn-Going Research Projects
1. Development of Biorepository Facility for Plant Extracts/Compounds for Drug Discovery (DOST-PCHRD)
2. Screening for Immunomodulatory and Anticancer Activities of Herbal Extracts from Palawan, Samar, Panay, and Sierra Madre (DOST-PCHRD)
- Acebedo AR, Amor E, and Jacinto. 2014. Apoptosis-inducing activity of HPLC fraction from Voacanga globosa (Blanco) Merr. on the human colon carcinoma cell line, HCT116. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 15: 617-622.
- Dapat E, Jacinto S, Efferth T. 2013. A phenolic ester from Aglaia loheri leaves reveals cytotoxicity towards sensitive and multidrug-resistant cancer cells. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 13:286.
- Olarte EI, Herrera AA, Vilasenor IM, Jacinto SD. 2013. In vitro antitumor properties of an isolate from leaves of Cassia alata L. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 14: 3191-3196 .
- Ragasa CY, Torres OB, Shen C-C, Mejia MGR, Ferrer RJ, Jacinto SD. 2012. Chemical constituents of Aglaia loheri. Pharmacognosy Journal 4(32): 29-31.