RIITMC-IRB HISTORY
WHEN The Veterans Regional Hospital (VRH) has its Residency Training Programs in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and Pediatrics fully accredited in 2014, it sensed the need to establish an Institutional Review Board (IRB) for its research protocols. VRH envisioned the creation of a Research Ethics Committee that conforms to national and international standards. Two members attended trainings on Basic and Advanced Programs for Research Ethics Review at the National Institutes of Health-University of the Philippines, Manila (NIH-UPM).
Dr. Danilo Antonio A. Alejandro and Daisy J. Dulnuan participated in the Training-Workshop on Principles of Health Research Ethics and Good Clinical Practice as well as Standard Operating Procedures for Ethics Review Committees.
On April 15, 2015, Dr. Cirilo R. Galindez, the Medical Center Chief of Hospital formally recognized the VRH-IRB as mandated by the Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB) to be chaired by Dr. Daisy J. Dulnuan and co-chaired by Dr. Danilo Antonio Alejandro. The members were Drs. Richard C. Lopez, Ma. Selina P. Rupisan, Michelle R. Maniquis, Miss Clarita M. Dontogan, Atty. Zozimo P. Kimayong and Mrs. Evelyn Cabanting. Non-affiliate members include Mr. Cesar T. Medulla, Jr and Dr. Bonifacio V. Ramos.
On September 28, 2018, thru Republic Act 11081, the Veterans Regional Hospital changed its name into Region 2 Trauma and Medical Center(R2TMC), so as the name of the Research Ethic Committee into R2TMC-IRB. R2TMC is now a tertiary training hospital with the Departments of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Anesthesia and Surgery also became accredited for residency training. Currently, the following members are Dr. Daisy J. Dulnuan, as the chairperson, Dr. Maria Selina P. Rupisan, Dr. Michelle R. Maniquis, Miss Clarita M. Dontogan. Mrs. Thelma V. Tolentino, Atty. Zozimo P. Kimayong, Dr. Jason Arnold Maslang, Mr. Albert Garcia and Ms. Christine Louise N. Andaya as secretary staff.
In line with the hospital’s vision, the administration has been very supportive so that all of the R2TMC-IRB members are being sent for trainings, workshops and conventions – both national and international. Upon satisfying all necessary PHREB requirements and recommendations, the R2TMC-IRB was awarded the Certificate of Accreditation as Level 2 until September 2020. R2TMC-IRB aims to maintain and upgrade its accreditation to level 3 in the year 2023.
VRH-IRB Date Established: September 23, 2014
Level 1: April 15, 2015
Level 2: May 4, 2016
Level 3: May, 2023