RESEARCHERS

Ray Albert La Rosa

FIRST QUARTER

Ray Albert E. La Rosa currently serves as a Research and Scientific Writer under Research Services – Research Support and Development at De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute (DLSMHSI), and is also a Principal Investigator for nationally endorsed health studies approved by the DOST-PCHRD. A proud DLSMHSI alumnus, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Public Health at the same institution.

Albert is a certified clinical research professional (Level 1, BEI Resources, USA) and a member of ACRP and CCRPS, reflecting his commitment to global health research standards. His portfolio includes high-impact studies in biomedical innovation, environmental microbiology, and health behavior. Notably, he developed a pioneering sterilizing system against airborne pathogens, which was a finalist in the 1st Biotekalusugan Competition by DTI-BOI. He has presented at regional and institutional colloquia and led research in Taal Volcano Island, developing diagnostic toolkits for Batangas communities.

In leadership, Albert served as Executive President of the Biological Sciences Association and was a founding leader of DLSMHSI's Biotechnology Association. He has also held roles in various student councils and academic groups. Recognized as Alumni Inducting Officer and Guest of Honor for St. Paul College Island Park Batch 2025, he has earned honors in international academic competitions, including the International Youth Math Challenge and the International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition (Germany), where he was named Official Ambassador to the Philippines. Albert represents a new generation of Filipino scientists committed to innovation, policy, and community-centered science for health equity and sustainability.

Timothy Jay L. Bengala, RPh, MS

SECOND QUARTER

Timothy Jay L. Bengala, RPh, MS, is an Assistant Professor at the Dr. Mariano Que College of Pharmacy, De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of the Philippines-Manila and a Master of Science in Pharmacy from the Philippine Women’s University. His research focuses on herbal medicine pharmacokinetics, drug-herb interactions, and the development of analytical tools such as Weak Affinity Chromatography (WAC) for quality control and bioavailability studies.

With extensive experience in both academia and international research, Mr. Bengala has collaborated with institutions such as Nanyang Technological University and the University of the Philippines-Manila. His recent projects include studies on salbutamol-lagundi interactions, corticosteroid-lagundi interactions, alpha-amylase inhibition, and the application of chemometrics in herbal medicine processing. His research advocacy is to develop new methods and tools to ensure the safety and quality of herbal medicines.

Myrna Estrada, MD, MBA, FPARM

THIRD QUARTER

Myrna S. Estrada, MD, MBA, FPARM, is a senior clinician in the Clinical Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at De La Salle University Medical Center and a Professor at the College of Medicine of De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute.

A lifelong Lasallian, Dr. Estrada has dedicated her work to advancing rehabilitation medicine through the integration of robotics and neuroscience. Her research focuses on developing innovative technologies that improve the recovery and quality of life of patients with stroke, mobility limitations, and other neurologic conditions.

Dr. Estrada is part of the De La Salle University – Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Technologies (DLSU-EDA-IBEHT) NeuroTech: Neurorobotics Technology Center, a multidisciplinary center that explores the use of neuroscience, robotics, and artificial intelligence for patient rehabilitation. Within the center, she led the iBALIK project from 2022 to 2023 and served as a medical collaborator on the SELLA project, which develops a virtual reality–based neurofeedback training system designed to help stroke patients recover cognitive and motor function. Presently, she is a medical collaborator for the TAYO Robotic Assistive Mobility Table Project, which aims to assist patients with mobility transitions from lying down to standing up. These projects aim to support rehabilitation therapists by providing immersive rehabilitation activities and more in-depth monitoring of patient progress.

She is also the counterpart Philippine Project Lead and Clinical Lead of the internationally funded collaborative research project titled TULAY (Tulong Ugnayan ng Lingap At gabaY), supported through a 4-year grant from the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which supports high-quality applied health research in low- and middle-income countries. TULAY partnered with the University of Plymouth, led by Prof. Bridie Kent, and with Bridges Self-management from St. George's University of London, led by Prof. Fiona Jones. Bridges is a core partner of TULAY, providing the established Bridges co-design leadership training that specializes in co-produced stroke recovery resources that align with the NIHR's emphasis on patient and public involvement.

Beyond her clinical and academic work, Dr. Estrada’s enduring advocacy is to improve the lives of persons with disabilities by making rehabilitation more accessible, effective, and empowering through technology.