Augustinian educator is one of Asia’s top 100 scientists

It is always with deep gratitude that we celebrate the wins of our faculty members at the University of San Agustin. Their journey towards reaching greater heights in their field of expertise is no easy task.

Years of studying and practice, forming collaborative relationships with other experts in the field, and enriching their knowledge and skills through various experiences in their home country and abroad proved to be an arduous but fulfilling realization that with hard work, commitment, and continuous learning goals are being achieved.

The University of San Agustin has always strived to encourage and support the enrichment of its academic personnel’s pursuit for professional growth as teachers, researchers, and mentors, honing the minds of generations after generations of Augustinians.

With all the years they have been part of this community as educators, we are proud and thankful for their dedication and capability in promoting progress and development in society.

One of the celebrated educators in the university is Prof. Jonel P. Saludes, Ph.D. who has been selected as one of the Top 100 Asian Scientists for 2021 by the Asian Scientist Magazine.

The magazine is an organization based in Singapore which chooses only the best scientists who won a national or international prize in 2020 or have made significant accomplishments in scientific discovery or leadership that benefit academia or industry.

This year’s list features scientists from Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam and covers a range of expertise from life science, molecular imaging, to quantum computing.

Dr. Saludes, the Associate VP for Research and Global Relations and Director of USA’s Center for Natural Drug Discovery and Development (CND3), was awarded the 2020 Gregorio Y. Zara Award for Basic Science Research for his research into chemical biology of natural products from organisms.

His scientific research on natural compounds from plants and marine sources directed to the discovery of antituberculosis compounds from noni plant, discovery of compounds from marine sponges for diabetes and fungal infection, discovery of compounds from beneficial marine bacteria for treatment of skin infections, discovery of compounds from honey that are useful in antibacterial formulation and discovery of cholesterol-lowering compound in pineapple.

Also, his research on the new method of drug delivery indicated the discovery of small proteins that could be used to deliver drugs in cancer cells and discovery of small proteins that are potential antibacterial agents.

Dr. Saludes earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of San Agustin (cum laude), master’s degree in natural products chemistry at the University of Sto. Tomas (summa cum laude), doctorate degree in organic chemistry at the University of California Davis, and postdoctoral fellowship in chemical biology at the University of Colorado Boulder.

He was conferred the title Full Professor by the Board of Trustees of the university on account of his qualification and expertise in his chosen field.

He is the first Augustinian to receive this recognition.