A study entitled “Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Enhanced Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy for Affordable Breast Cancer Subtyping” won the “Best Project of the Year” award at the BPI-DOST Innovation Awards 2025 celebrated on December 4, 2025, at the Edsa Shangri-La, Manila.
The groundbreaking study integrated FTIR spectroscopy with AI to identify breast cancer hormone receptors benchmarked against the gold standard of Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Offering a faster and more cost-effective diagnostic approach, the project aimed to expand access to precise cancer diagnostics, especially in resource-limited healthcare settings across the Philippines.
The award-winning research was presented by student-researchers 饾棤饾棶饾槄饾棽饾椈饾棽 饾棓饾椆饾棽饾槄饾棶饾椈饾棻饾椏饾棶 饾棗饾棽 饾棖饾棶饾榾饾榿饾椏饾椉, 饾棟饾棶饾榾饾椇饾椂饾椈饾棽 饾棫饾椀饾棽饾棶 饾棜饾棶饾椏饾椉饾椈饾棿, 饾棶饾椈饾棻 饾棖饾椀饾棽饾椏饾椏饾槅 饾棓饾椈饾椈饾棽 饾棪饾棽饾椏饾椏饾棶饾椈饾椉.
The undergraduate students who participated in the research were Renee George, Kathyrin Magsanay, Aleezah Claire Maguigad, Andrea Noelle Navarro, Gabrielle Ricci Mandac, and Kenaiah Ramos. It was conducted in collaboration with Maura Isais, Peter Guillen Abandador, Norely Gil, Maria Sarah Lenon, MD, Maria Celestine Trinidad, MD, Angelin Acryl Baldomar, and Engr. Rock Christian Tomas.
The roster of Thomasian researchers was guided by their mentor 饾棧饾椏饾椉饾棾. 饾棧饾椂饾棶 饾棤饾棶饾椏饾椂饾棽 饾棪饾棧. 饾棓饾椆饾棷饾棶饾椈饾椉, 饾棧饾椀饾棗 of the Department of Biological Sciences.
Reaffirming its commitment to nurturing young innovators who are creating science and technology driven solutions to national issues, the BPI-DOST Innovation Awards 2025 was staged by The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), through its social development arm, BPI Foundation (BPIF), Department of Science and Technology 鈥� Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII), and the DOST-National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP).