30 October 2025 — Manila, Philippines.
The University of the Philippines – National Institutes of Health (UP-NIH) and the Department of Clinical Epidemiology (DCE) of the UP College of Medicine welcomed representatives from the TB HIV Innovations and Clinical Research (THINCR) Foundation and the Emory Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) group in a courtesy visit aimed at fostering research collaboration and strategic partnership development.

The visiting delegation from Emory University–CDC CTU included Dr. Colleen Kelley, Principal Investigator; Ms. Tanisha Sullivan, Assistant Director of Research Programs and Coordinator; and Ms. Hannah Houston, Associate Director for Programs. Representing THINCR Foundation were Dr. Melchor Victor G. Frias IV, President; Dr. Ma. Tarcela S. Gler, Vice President; and Mr. Mark Anthony A. Lansangan, Administrative Officer.

The UP-NIH delegation was led by Dr. Marissa Alejandria, Executive Director of UP-NIH; Dr. Marie Carmela Lapitan, Deputy Director for Administration and Finance and Director of the Institute of Clinical Epidemiology; and Dr. John Mark Velasco, Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives and Emerging Programs. The Department of Clinical Epidemiology (DCE), UP College of Medicine, was represented by Dr. Nina Castillo-Carandang, Chair, and Dr. Carlo Irwin Panelo, Assistant Chair for Administration.

The courtesy visit served as a venue to discuss potential collaborations in clinical research, particularly in the areas of tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and other infectious diseases. Both Emory-CDC CTU and THINCR Foundation expressed interest in working with UP-NIH and DCE to strengthen research capacity, promote knowledge exchange, and contribute to evidence-based health innovations in the Philippines and beyond.

This engagement marks an important step toward building sustainable, cross-institutional research partnerships that address pressing health challenges and foster innovation in clinical epidemiology and infectious disease research.