LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — A Filipino veterinarian is among five distinguished academics from Southeast Asia named recipients of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) Regional Professorial Chair for Academic Year 2026–2027.
Professor Adrian Ybañez of Cebu Technological University (CTU) was selected for his work in veterinary science, public health, and research development.
He will deliver a public lecture under Searca’s Sustain initiative — Sustaining Transformation through Agricultural Innovation in Southeast Asia — alongside awardees from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.
Since 2012–2013, Searca has conferred the award on 72 academics in recognition of contributions to research, instruction, and innovation for agricultural and rural development in the region.
Ybañez holds the rank of Professor VI at CTU. His research focuses on zoonotic diseases, molecular diagnostics, and animal health.
He was named Outstanding Young Scientist by the Department of Science and Technology-National Academy of Science and Technology (DOST-NAST) in 2020, included in the Top 100 Asian Scientists list in 2022, and was recognized as Outstanding Veterinarian in Education by the Philippine Veterinary Medical Association in 2023.
For the professorial chair, he will present his work titled “Livestock Vector-borne Diseases and Their Impact on Animal Health and Economy,” which will examine how vector-transmitted diseases affect livestock productivity and farm incomes.
Here are the other 2026–2027 awardees:
Malaysia – Food safety and poultry genomics
Associate professor Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis of Universiti Putra Malaysia received the chair for food science and technology. Based at UPM’s Faculty of Food Science and Technology, he specializes in food toxicology and food safety.
Faizal has collaborated with institutions in Asia and Europe, and with the International Atomic Energy Agency and initiatives within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
He has been listed among the world’s top 2 percent of scientists by Elsevier and Stanford University for three consecutive years. His research relates to food safety policy, risk assessment, and emerging contaminants.
Faizal will deliver his work titled “Genomics-Driven Authentication of Village Chicken: Identifying Breed-Specific Biomarkers for Sustainable Poultry Development in Southeast Asia.”
Indonesia – Livestock reproduction and biobanking
Professor Bambang Purwantara of IPB University was awarded for veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences.
With over four decades in academe, he has advanced research in artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and molecular fertility studies to improve cattle productivity and support food security.
His work also covers biodiversity conservation, including studies on native Indonesian cattle.
His lecture is titled “Assisted Reproductive Technology and Biobanking in Animals: Challenges and Opportunities in the Genomic Era.”
Singapore – Nanotechnology for sustainable agriculture
Professor Ng Kee Woei of Nanyang Technological University was recognized for research in nanotechnology, nanotoxicology, nanosafety, and sustainable materials for biomedical, food, agricultural, and security applications.
His work includes applications in wound healing, tissue engineering, and hydroponics. He has more than 160 journal publications and over 13,000 citations. In 2025, he received the American Chemical Society Salute to Excellence Award and was elected Academician of the Asia Pacific Academy of Materials.
He has also served as an invited expert for the World Health Organization.
Ng will speak on “Improving Sustainability in Agriculture through Innovations in Growing Media Technology.”
Thailand – Biofortified rice and nutrient management
Professor Chanakan Prom-u-thai of Chiang Mai University was selected for contributions to agronomy and rice science. As Director of the Lanna Rice Research Center, she focuses on rice productivity, quality, and sustainability.
With her team, she has developed more than ten rice varieties enriched with iron, zinc, anthocyanins, and vitamin E. Her research also addresses nutrient management to help increase yields while lowering production costs.
She will deliver “Biofortification for High-Yield, Nutrient-Dense Rice Through Nutrient Management.”
About the Award
The Searca Regional Professorial Chair is part of the center’s Sustain initiative. It provides a platform for leading Southeast Asian academics to share research and promote regional collaboration in agriculture and rural development.
Searca, based in Los Baños, Philippines, is a regional center of excellence working on agricultural innovation and inclusive growth in Southeast Asia.