The Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) has opened its second call for applications for the 2026 Undergraduate Thesis Grant in Natural Products, offering financial support to students whose research focuses on plant-based natural products native to the Philippines with direct human health applications.
Under the program, up to four qualified thesis proposals per region may receive funding of as much as Php 75,000 each. The grant is intended to encourage more undergraduate research in natural products and help strengthen the country’s pool of future researchers in the field. It also supports the DOST-PCHRD’s Drug Discovery and Development or Tuklas Lunas program, which aims to develop safe, effective, and affordable alternative medicines from local natural resources.
Projects covered by the grant must begin by January 2027 and be completed by May 2027. Ongoing projects are not eligible.
Benefits
- Grant support of up to Php 75,000 per approved thesis proposal
- Up to four qualified proposals per region may be funded
- Opportunity to contribute to research on Philippine indigenous plants with human health applications
- Completed projects will be included in an oral research presentation competition to recognize and share innovative work in natural products
Qualifications
The call is open to 3rd or 4th year undergraduate students in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Nursing, and Health and Allied Sciences, including programs such as Biology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Medical Technology, and Nutrition and Dietetics.
Applicants must have a thesis proposal centered on natural products from terrestrial plants native or indigenous to the Philippines, with direct relevance to human health. Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, and Dental Medicine students are not eligible.
Advisers must have a solid academic or professional background in natural products, preferably in areas such as biochemistry, pharmacognosy, or medicinal chemistry. Each adviser may supervise only up to two teams or individual applicants at a time.
Document Requirements
- Accomplished research proposal form with college seal
- Proposed Line-Item Budget with expense breakdown, signed by the applicants and thesis adviser
- Endorsement letter signed by the university head and college dean
- Certificate of plant authentication from an herbarium or recognized authority
- Applicable clearance/s, depending on the nature of the study
- Full curriculum vitae of the student/s and adviser
Incomplete applications will not be included in the shortlisting process.
Schedule of Activities
| Activity | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Thesis Proposal Application Period | September–October 2026 |
| Submission Deadline to the Regional Health Research and Development Consortium (RHRDC) | October 31, 2026 |
| Endorsement of Shortlisted Proposals to DOST-PCHRD | November 10, 2026 |
| Review and Evaluation of Thesis Proposals | November–December 2026 |
| Release of Grants to Selected Scholars | December 2026–January 2027 |
| Research Study Implementation | January–May 2027 |
| Submission of Completed Research Studies to DOST-PCHRD | 1st week of June 2027 |
| Finalist Selection | June–July 2027 |
| Oral Research Presentation and Announcement of Winners | August–September 2027 |
Procedure How to Apply
Applicants must submit all required documents by email to their respective Regional Health Research and Development Consortium (RHRDC).
The RHRDC secretariat will first screen and shortlist entries. Qualified submissions endorsed by the regions will then undergo evaluation by the PCHRD Awards Secretariat and the Selection Committee. Proposals will be rated based on relevance, technical merit, investigator capacity, and budget appropriateness. To qualify, an application must earn at least 75 points.
Application Form
The application requires a prescribed research proposal form and a Line-Item Budget form, both listed by DOST-PCHRD as part of the submission package.
Deadline
The deadline for submission of applications to the respective RHRDC is October 31, 2026.