by Koozae Calvin Umali | Hachimoji
The National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines (NAST PHL), along with the Health Sciences Division of NAST PHL, conferred the 2021 Geminiano T. de Ocampo Visionary Award for Medical Research (GTOVAMR) to Academician Camilo C. Roa Jr. during its lecture and award ceremony last September 15, due to the academician’s service to the nation that benefited the Filipino people in the field of pulmonary medicine.
Acd. Roa is a retired professor from the University of the Philippines Manila College of Medicine, who for over 30 years, combined his academic expertise, scientific knowledge, inventive skills, and transformational leadership in improving the field of pulmonary medicine in the country. Along with his protegé, Dr. Abundio Balgos, and other colleagues at the Philippine General Hospital, Dr. Roa developed the first prototype of Ginhawa (ReliefVent), which is a high quality portable mechanical ventilator that can be used by all ages, with an operation cost of 40% lower than commercially portable ventilators. Three variations of a redesigned prototype, Ginhawa 2, are expected to be finished, which will be utilized by COVD-19 patients suffering from respiratory failure.
‘’The [Philippines] is a pulmonary country,’’ Acd. Roa emphasized in his lecture entitled ‘’Lung Function Test: Need for Filipino Reference Values’’. Dr. Roa highlighted that lung diseases are among the top ten causes of mortality here in the Philippines. He also explained how SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, can easily target our body, unlike tuberculosis. Acd. Roa then proceeded to explain the importance of lung function tests, which is another tool to diagnose and treat pulmonary diseases other than the chest x-ray image. These tests have reference values, and Dr. Roa explained that the values from published foreign references cannot be used as standards here in the Philippines due to the differences in morphometric factors such as race. Thus, as the principal investigator of the study, Acd. Roa published the reference value standard for Filipinos in their study ‘’Normal Standards for Ventilatory Function Test in Adult Filipinos,’’ in 1987, the first reference study in an Asian population, which was further validated by their study in 2007. The regression equations show that Filipinos have lower values than caucasian and western populations. These normative values are vital for pulmonologists to diagnose and measure the true prevalence of pulmonary illnesses such as obstructive lung diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to allow for early medical interventions and treatments.
Launched in 2013 in memory and in honor of National Scientist Geminiano T. de Ocampo, the GTOVAMR is given biennially to recognize clinician researchers who have created the vision for medical research in the country through their outstanding work that have blazed and/or pioneered the trail for medical innovations and health research and development. The award likewise aims to acknowledge clinician researchers who have created and traversed new frontiers in medicine through significant contributions to the fund of medical knowledge or the advancement of clinical practice in the country, and medical research that have significantly impacted on the lives of the Filipino people.
Acknowledged as the Father of Modern Philippine Ophthalmology, Dr. de Ocampo exemplified excellence in the field of ophthalmology and medical research and is a man of many firsts. He established the first eye hospital in the Philippines, the De Ocampo Eye Hospital. He also established the Philippine Eye Research Institute, the first eye hospital and research institution for basic ophthalmology in the Philippines. Dr. de Ocampo was also the first Filipino to design a corneal dissector, the first Filipino to perform the first successful corneal transplant, and the first National Scientist in the field of ophthalmology.
The 2021 GTOVAMR Lecture and Awarding Ceremony was made possible in partnership with the Dr. Geminiano T. de Ocampo Medical Research Foundation, Inc. and the de Ocampo family. It was attended by the members of NAST PHL, along with the family of National Scientist de Ocampo, represented by his daughter, Mrs. Leticia de Ocampo-Elegado. The event was moderated by Dr. John Mark S. Velasco, 2014 Outstanding Young Scientist Awardee.
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