Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
Bringing science, collaboration, and innovation under one roof, the Max Planck Institute (MPI)–Germany, MSU-IIT, and Central Mindanao University (CMU) joined forces to host a significant International Symposium and Training Workshop on Parasitology on July 23, 2025, at the CMU College of Nursing Audio-Visual Room.
This event sprang from a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement signed in 2024 among the three institutions, aiming to advance collaborative research in Entomo-nematology—a field at the forefront of global health and biodiversity studies.
With the theme “Rapid Advances in Parasitic Research,” the symposium featured Dr. Matthias Hermann, a leading expert from MPI-Germany, who delivered a keynote address on “The Global Landscape of Parasitic Infections.” His talk covered topics ranging from molecular diagnostics to zoonotic spillover and public health strategies. He also shared updates on his entomological research in the Philippines.
The program continued with a virtual presentation by Dr. Poe Poe Aung of the Malaria Consortium (Thailand), who emphasized the One Health Approach in addressing malaria—an integrated strategy linking human, animal, and environmental health.
Dr. Bernard D. Calo of CMU, together with his mentor Dr. Alan P. Dargantes, presented their fieldwork on Trypanosome Detection and Tabanid Diversity in Agusan del Sur. Mr. Yves Paul M. Montero of the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) offered a compelling perspective with his study on Endoparasitic Nematodes in Invasive Gastropods.
The symposium brought together participants from major universities and research institutions across Mindanao, fostering a dynamic platform for knowledge-sharing and scientific collaboration.
Thanks to the collective efforts of the Office of International Relations, the Office of the Vice President for Research, Development, and Extension, Office of the Public Relations and Information, College of Nursing, College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Agriculture, and the Center for Biodiversity Research and Extension in Mindanao (CEBREM), the event was a success—laying the groundwork for more cross-border research and training initiatives. (Information from the Office of International Relations)
