THE VISAYAS State University and the University of the Philippines Manila have formalized a partnership to strengthen academic and research initiatives.

A memorandum of agreement was signed last month, building on their ongoing research project titled “Effects of a Westernized Diet on the Gut Microbiome, Metatranscriptome, and Metabolome of School-Aged Children in Leyte: A Follow-up Study.”

This study is part of the Asian Microbiome Project, a multinational initiative involving Kyushu University, Japan. Researchers from Kyushu University visited VSU in August 2024 to further collaborate on microbiome studies.

Through the agreement, VSU and UPM will collaborate on educational programs, faculty and student exchanges, curriculum development, and joint research efforts across multiple disciplines.

Dr. Michael Tee, UP Manila Chancellor, emphasized the importance of meaningful partnerships to better serve communities. VSU President Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes welcomed the partnership, particularly as VSU prepares to open its own College of Medicine, which could lead to future collaborations with UP Manila’s College of Medicine.