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The Region 1 Health Research and Development Consortium (R1HRDC), through its Research Utilization Committee (RUC), in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), successfully conducted a Health Research and Development Information Network (HERDIN) Orientation on July 22, 2026, via Zoom teleconference. The activity gathered 59 participants from the R1HRDC’s member institutions across the Ilocos Region.

The orientation aimed to familiarize participants with HERDIN and its role in providing access to health research information in the Philippines. It also encouraged researchers and institutions in Region 1 to make their completed studies more accessible by contributing them to the platform. 

The Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), in partnership with the Region 1 Health Research and Development Consortium (R1HRDC), successfully conducted the Capacity-Building on Intellectual Property and HearTNovation on July 21, 2026, at the University Review Center of Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte. The activity brought together researchers, faculty members, healthcare professionals, and representatives from R1HRDC member institutions to strengthen their knowledge of intellectual property (IP) and innovation in health research.

The program officially opened with welcome remarks from Dr. Leah J. Buendia, Undersecretary for Research and Development and Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Executive Director of DOST-PCHRD. This was followed by messages of support from Dr. Leo B. Solis, Chairperson of R1HRDC, and Dr. Maria Lourdes K. Otayza, Medical Center Chief II of Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH&MC) and R1HRDC Project Leader. Both emphasized the importance of strengthening researchers' capacities to protect intellectual property and maximize the value of health research through innovation and technology commercialization. 

The Region 1 Health Research and Development Consortium (R1HRDC), in partnership with the University of Northern Philippines (UNP), successfully conducted the 2026 Regional Research Conference on June 5, 2026, at the University of Northern Philippines in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.

Anchored on the theme “Harnessing Ethical AI for Relevant and Impactful Health Research,” the conference brought together students, professionals, researchers, institutional leaders, healthcare representatives, and partner agencies from R1HRDC member institutions and participating organizations for a day of research presentations, knowledge exchange, and discussions on responsible and community-responsive health research. As artificial intelligence continues to transform research, data analysis, and decision-making, the conference provided a timely platform to explore how AI can be used ethically and meaningfully to advance health research. 

The Region 1 Health Research and Development Consortium – Capacity Building Committee (R1HRDC-CBC) successfully conducted a two-day training titled “AI-Powered Health Data Analysis Using Power BI and Orange Data Mining” on May 26–27, 2026, at El Cielito Hotel, Baguio City, Benguet. Dr. Thelma D. Palaoag served as the resource speaker and facilitated discussions and hands-on workshops on the use of Power BI and Orange Data Mining for data visualization, analysis, and interpretation.

The Region 1 Health Research and Development Consortium (R1HRDC) highlighted excellence in health research during its 1st Quarter CY 2026 Management Committee MANCOM Meeting, held on April 15, 2026, via Zoom, where the best-performing institutions and individuals for Calendar Year 2025 were formally recognized.

The awarding ceremony, led by Dra. Unity Cortez of the Capacity Building Committee served as a defining moment of the meeting, celebrating the remarkable achievements of partner institutions and researchers who demonstrated outstanding commitment to advancing health research in the region in CY 2025. The recognition underscores R1HRDC’s continuing efforts to promote a culture of innovation, collaboration, and evidence-based practice.