The Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development (BCHRD) was established by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD), in order to make life better for the Bicolanos through health research. It was organized here Region V in 2007 where Ago Medical and Educational Center became its first base agency.
By the virtue of the Memorandum of Agreement between the PCHRD and DOST and Bicol University (BU), the BCHRD is now based in BU , Legaspi City, with Dr. Fay Lea Patria Lauraya, President of Bicol University as the Chairperson and Dr. Alma Banua as the consortium Director.
The primary objective of BCHRD is to institute/strengthen the system of collaboration in Bicol to develop and enhance capacity of research institutions within the region which has interest and engage in health and related researches, as a strategy to improve the health conditions of the Bicolanos.
This 2012, the BCHRD had thirteen members, comprised of the lead agencies and regular members. The lead agencies are: Department of Science and Technology, Department of Health and Commission on Higher Education and the regular members are: Ago Medical and Educational Center, Ateneo de Naga University, Aquinas University, Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital, Bicol University, Universidad de Sta Isabel, University of Nueva Caceres, and University of Saint Anthony and an additional two members institutions: Bicol Medical Center and Partido State University
It has four committees, which shall backstop the Consortium Director by performing their assigned functions. These committees are the: Research and Development, with Dr. Marlyn Daguno as Chair, Ethics Review Committee, with Ms. Sandy Lasa as Chair, Capacity Building Committee, with Ms. Laarni Salcedo as Chair and Research Information, Communication and Utilization Committee, with Dr. Rafaelita Lucena as Chair.
The consortium had conducted the following activities for 2012: 1) Inventory of Health and Health Related researches, researchers and facilities; 2) Agenda Setting and Strategic Planning; 3) Basic Ethics Training, 4) Research proposal Writeshop and 5) HERDIN training.
By 2013, it will continue to pursue its Vision to be a nationally recognized prime mover of excellent health and health-related researches responsive to the needs of the Bicolanos towards improved quality of life.
The consortium have four committees, the respective chairpersons were elected during the 1st Committee Meeting
