Patients of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), particularly kidney transplant recipients, are benefiting from research projects funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that provide advanced diagnostic services, free medicines, and improved post-transplant care, an official said Friday.

In an interview, Dr. Maria Theresa Bad-ang, head of the SPMC Kidney Transplant Institute (SKTI), said DOST has been a key partner in research and development efforts by funding studies and laboratory equipment, while SPMC conducts the research and delivers services to patients.

Among the major initiatives is a PHP31-million study on cytomegalovirus (CMV), a viral infection that can damage transplanted kidneys and contribute to organ rejection if left undetected.

The project currently covers 40 kidney transplant recipients, who are being monitored for six months at no cost.

Aside from free laboratory tests, patients diagnosed with CMV also receive medications funded under the study.

Through the project, DOST funded the acquisition of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machine worth about PHP2 million.

Bad-ang said it is the first PCR machine in a government-retained hospital in the country dedicated to detecting CMV among transplant patients.

“It is a virus that can damage the kidney after transplantation. The study enables us to detect the virus early and provide the necessary medicines. This is DOST-funded, and the project is nearing completion,” she said.

Bad-ang said transplant recipients previously had limited access to CMV testing, with samples often sent outside Davao City for analysis.

The PCR equipment now allows SPMC to detect the virus earlier and provide prompt treatment, reducing the risk of kidney damage and transplant failure.

“We can now accurately determine whether a patient has the virus and immediately start treatment,” she added.

Beyond kidney transplant care, Bad-ang said the PCR machine may also be used to assist immunocompromised patients, including those undergoing cancer treatment and those with leukemia.

The collaboration between DOST and SPMC forms part of broader efforts to strengthen research-driven healthcare services in Mindanao and improve patient outcomes through innovation and technology. (PNA)