National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
University of the Philippines, Diliman

National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Cynthia P. Saloma, Ph.D.

Professor

PROFILE

Executive Director, Philippine Genome Center (2018 – Present)

Institute Director, National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (2012 – 2018)

PhD Physiology, Osaka University, Japan

MS Medical Sciences, Osaka University, Japan

BS Molecular Biology, Nagoya University, Japan

BS Fisheries, University of the Philippines, Visayas, Philippines

CONTACT

PUBLICATIONS

LABORATORY

  • Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology

Laboratory of Molecular and Cell Biology

The Laboratory of Molecular and Cell Biology (LMCB) specializes in the applications of cell and molecular biology techniques and research models with higher-level organization such as cell lines, tissues, organs, and whole animal models to elucidate the roles of genes in development. Students at the LMCB are trained in a wide variety of techniques that hone them into well-rounded individuals prepared for careers in research and molecular biology and biotechnology.

The LMCB also conducts workshop for junior and senior students who would like to do their undergraduate studies in the laboratory. The month-long workshops are held every summer and comprise modules for standard mouse breeding and basic molecular and cell culture techniques.

Research Area

Research at the LMCB covers a variety of topics that include isolation, expression, and characterization of anthozoan fluorescent proteins and venomous peptides from marine snails, genetic analysis of mouse hyperactivity, nanomaterials in cancer research, and the optimization of scaffolds in neural precursor cell cultures.

 

Selected Publications

Tablizo FA, Saloma CP, Castro MJR, Kim KM, Yangzon MSL, Lapid CM, Maralit BA, Ayes MEC, Yap JMC, Llames JS, Araiza SMM, Punayan KP, Asin ICA, Tambaoan CFB, Chong ALU, Padilla KSAR, Cruz RPS, Morado EKD, Dizon JGA, Cutiongco-de la Paz EM, de Guzman AR, Hao RNM, Zamora AA, Pacial DR, Magalang JAR, Alejandria M, Carlos C, Ong-Lim A, Salvaña EM, Wong JQ, Montoya JC, Singh-Vergeire MR. Detection and Genome Sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 Variants Belonging to the B.1.1.7 Lineage in the Philippines. Microbiol Resour Announc. 2021 May 6;10(18):e00219-21. doi: 10.1128/MRA.00219-21. PMID: 33958417; PMCID: PMC8103862.

Tablizo FA, Saloma CP, Castro MJ, Kim KM, Yangzon MS, Lapid CM, Maralit BA, Ayes ME, Yap JM, Llames JH, Araiza SM. Detection and genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 belonging to the B. 1.1. 7 lineage in the Philippines. medRxiv. 2021 Jan 1. doi: 10.1101/2021.03.04.21252557.

Bascos NA, Mirano-Bascos D, Saloma CP. Structural analysis of spike protein mutations in the sars-cov-2 p. 3 variant. bioRxiv. 2021 Jan 1. doi: 10.1101/2021.03.06.434059.

Quibod IL, Atieza-Grande G, Oreiro EG, Palmos D, Nguyen MH, Coronejo ST, Aung EE, Nugroho C, Roman-Reyna V, Burgos MR, Capistrano P, Dossa SG, Onaga G, Saloma C, Cruz CV, Oliva R. The Green Revolution shaped the population structure of the rice pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. ISME J. 2020 Feb;14(2):492-505. doi: 10.1038/s41396-019-0545-2. Epub 2019 Oct 30. PMID: 31666657; PMCID: PMC6976662.