Aquatic Biology Research Laboratory

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.