A PROFESSOR from the UST Department of Pharmacy has been feted with the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) Achievement Award for her contributions to drug delivery and natural product innovations.
Prof. Agnes Llamasares-Castillo, a fellow at the Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences, specializes in developing natural products and pharmacological treatments for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, osteoarthritis, and myeloid leukemia.
The awarding ceremony took place during NRCP’s 92nd general assembly and annual scientific conference on March 13 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay.
The award recognizes NRCP members for their “remarkable impact within their fields.”
Among Castillo’s notable research is a study on Tinospora crispa, locally known as makabuhay, a plant traditionally used for medicinal purposes. She examined its extracts’ ability to manage osteoarthritis, revealing promising results in reducing cartilage damage and alleviating pain.
Her work has been published in journals such as Current Enzyme Inhibition, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, and Neurotoxicology.
Recently, Castillo was part of another research initiative aimed at identifying solutions for insomnia, which examined 39 sleep-enhancing plants.
In 2021, she received the Best Mentor in Health Research Award from the Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Health Research and Development.
She was also feted with the 2023 Outstanding Pharmacist Award in Research by the Philippine Pharmacists Association, Inc.
Most recently, Castillo received the 2025 Faces of PACOP Award (Research Category) from the Philippine Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, recognizing her contributions to pharmaceutical research.
