Philippines to position itself as Asia's next clinical research hub

Philippines eyes role as Asia’s clinical research hub

Logan Kal-El M. Zapanta 
Inquirer.net
06 October 2026

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is seeking to position itself as Asia’s next clinical research hub, with a new center of excellence targeted to open in Manila within the year through a partnership with British Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca.

The planned Clinical Trial Centre of Excellence is being developed by AstraZeneca with De La Salle University (DLSU), the Department of Science and Technology and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).

t will be established within the DLSU Knowledge, Innovation, Science and Technology Zone and serve as the first of three planned pillars of a broader health ecosystem, alongside a Cancer Command Centre and a Cardio-Renal-Metabolic Centre.

The Department of Trade and Industry said it would work with AstraZeneca and other government and academic partners to streamline regulatory approvals and explore a one-stop-shop model to support clinical research.

Currently, AstraZeneca supports more than 28 ongoing and planned clinical trials across over 150 sites nationwide, involving more than 1,000 Filipino patients enrolled since 2022.

AstraZeneca has invested more than P3 billion in Philippine clinical trials over the past six years, covering research in areas including oncology, respiratory and immunology, and cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases.

The company has also partnered with AC Health and its Healthway Medical Network to expand clinical trial capabilities to more hospitals, including facilities outside traditional research centers.

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said expanding the industry could create higher-value employment for doctors, nurses, researchers and other health professionals while giving more patients access to clinical research.

“Just as we built the IT-BPM industry from call centers into a globally competitive knowledge-services sector, we see clinical research and health information management as the Philippines’ next growth industry,” Roque said.

Separately, AstraZeneca and Peza are developing a proposed Multi-Stakeholder Health Innovation Hub within the economic zone network following an agreement signed in August 2025.

Its flagship Oncology Innovation Center is envisioned to use artificial intelligence for early lung cancer detection while expanding patient-support systems and strengthening health-care workforce capabilities.

The initiatives were discussed during Roque’s visit to AstraZeneca’s Discovery Centre in Cambridge, United Kingdom. INQ

Adamson and Mapua universities secured spot in World University Ranking 2026

Adamson, Mapua make debut in 2026 QS World University Rankings

SHERYLIN UNTALAN

GMA Integrated News

19 June 2025

Six Philippine universities have secured spots in the latest Quacquarelli-Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2026 as two more educational institutions made a debut. 

Adamson University and Mapúa University entered the global rankings for the first time.

Adamson landed in the 1,001–1,200 bracket while Mapúa was listed in the 1,401+ —joining the ranks of leading institutions worldwide and expanding the country’s academic presence on the global stage.

“This remarkable achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to quality education, global standards, and Vincentian excellence—ensuring accessible, transformative learning for all,” Adamson University said in a statement.

“Together, let’s continue to strive with purpose, serve with heart, and soar even higher as we shine brighter on the world stage.”

Mapúa University also celebrated the milestone in a Facebook post.

"Mapúa University makes a historic debut in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, securing a spot among the world’s top institutions… This milestone is a powerful testament to our unwavering commitment to global excellence in education,” it said.

While new entrants made headlines, the country’s “Big Four” universities continued to lead the national standings.

The University of the Philippines remained the country’s highest-ranked university, placing 362nd globally despite slipping from 336th last year.

Ateneo de Manila University recorded the only upward movement among Philippine schools, rising slightly to 511th from 516th worldwide.

“This latest performance in the QS World Rankings is a testament to the dedication and excellence of the entire Ateneo community,” said Ateneo president Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ in a statement.

“It affirms that Ateneo can stand alongside the world’s leading institutions—not just in academic reputation, but in making a meaningful impact through teaching, research, and service.”

De La Salle University (DLSU) placed third among Philippine schools at 654th, a slight drop from its previous placement in the 641–650 bracket.

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) held firm in the 851–900 bracket, maintaining its status as the fourth highest-ranked Philippine university. UST also posted an improved overall score of 19.9, with gains across all ten QS performance indicators.

The QS World University Rankings assesses institutions across a range of criteria, including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, research impact measured through citations per faculty, and internationalization through faculty and student diversity. Additional metrics now also consider sustainability and institutional impact.—AOL, GMA Integrated News

DLSU: Philippines can achieve upper middle-income economy status this year 2024

No need to wait long: Upper-middle economy status coming this year —DLSU

Story by Alden M. Monzon 
Inquirer.net
09 July 2024

The Philippines can achieve upper middle-income economy status this year, earlier than the government’s projection that such status is attainable only by 2025, according to the De La Salle University (DLSU).

The forecast was made using DLSU’s software ANIMO Annual Model version 2.0, which calculated that the country’s gross national income (GNI) per capita would hit $4,572.86 by the end of this year.

“We have the exchange rate depreciating. So, in a sense, the numerator is smaller. Also, the population growth is lower,” Mariel Monica Sauler, an associate professor at the DLSU Department of Economics, told the Inquirer on the sidelines of a briefing organized by the university at the Makati Diamond Residences.

GNI per capita, or the total amount of money earned by a country’s people and businesses, is computed by converting the GNI to US dollars and dividing it by the population.

The Philippines has languished in the lower middle-income group of economies since 1987, making 37 long years of trying to expand its economy in step with population growth. This is the classification for economies with per capita GNI of between $1,146 and $4,515.

According to the latest classification from the World Bank, upper middle-income economies deliver a per capita GNI of at least $4,516 to as much as $14,005.

Beyond 2024, DLSU has projected that the country’s per capita GNI would rise to $4,892.85 next year, $5,225.09 in 2026, $5,521.59 in 2027 and $5,9191.40 in 2028.

To speed up its economic progress, DLSU economics professor Jesus Felipe said the Philippines should put more focus on its manufacturing sector and modernize the agriculture industry.

“We lack firms that produce products that compete in international markets. We need an industrial policy centered on the creation of competitive firms that make high-quality products,” he added. INQ