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Pilarita T. Rivera, MD, PhD
Professor

Dr. Pilarita T. Rivera is a professor of the Department of Parasitology of the College of Public Health, University of the Philippines, Manila. She graduated from the UP College of Medicine, trained on the immunology and molecular biology of malaria and other parasitic diseases in Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and USA; and finished a PhD (Medical Science) in Gunma University, Japan.

As a researcher, Dr. Rivera has obtained research grants from WHO, GTZ, UP Manila, DOH, DOST-PCASTRD and PCHRD, has maintained research collaboration with Japanese researchers, and has her research output published in local and international journal articles and monographs, and delivered as oral presentations and posters in local and international scientific conferences and meetings. Some of these are listed in http://www.biomed experts.com.
Dr. Rivera’s active research career has enriched and advanced the teaching of parasitology to both undergraduate and graduate students, and has earned for her several professorial chairs and publication awards. Likewise, practical application of her researches has contributed to the revitalized malaria and other parasitic disease control programs of the DOH, with Dr. Rivera as a technical consultant and member of the malaria technical working group. Foremost of these engagements is the conduct of training on malaria microscopy for barangay microscopists, and training of trainers and implementers on integrated microscopy for medical technologists at the regional, provincial and municipal levels.
As an active member of both American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, and the Japanese Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, a reviewer in local and international journals on parasitic diseases and public heath, and member of the editorial board of Acta Medica, Dr. Rivera continues to keep up the standards of parasitic disease research not only in the academe, but amongst the wider scientific community.

As an administrator, Dr. Rivera was chair of the Department of Parasitology for 3 terms, during which physical improvements of the student laboratory, research and service laboratories, animal room, conference and faculty offices; and acquisition of new equipment were done to provide better learning and working conditions. Computerization of department functions, faculty/staff output and reports was done to support teaching, research and extension services. As assistant to the Dean for research, planning and development, and with full support of the 7 departments of the college, Dr. Rivera has placed the groundwork to establish a fully functional research office, provide a nurturing research environment and promote a more vibrant and inclusive research culture, and relevant research outputs in the college.

Contact:
ptrivera@up.edu.ph


Publications

  • Angeles JM, Mercado VP, Rivera PT. Behind enemy lines: immunomodulatory armamentarium of the schistosome parasite. Frontiers in Immunology. (2020); 11; 1018
  • Maramba-Lazarte CC, Rivera PT, Villacorte EA. Philippine Tsaang Gubat (Ehretia mecrophylla) and Ampalaya (Momordica charantia L) Leaf Extracts Lack Amoebicidal Activity in vitro. Acta Medica Philippina. (2020); 54 (1);
  • Matsumoto-Takahashi ELA, Rivera PT, Villacorte EA, Angluben RU, Jimba M, Kano S. Factors determining job satisfaction of malaria community microscopists in Palawan, the Philippines: a cross-sectional mixed-methods study. International Health, Oxford Academic. , https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihaa015. (2020); ;
  • Macalanda AC, Angeles JM, Moendeg KJ, Dang-Trinh MA, Higuchi L, Kirinoki M, Chigusa Y, Leonardo LR, Villacorte EA, Rivera PT, Goto Y, Kawazu S. Schistosoma japonicum cathepsin B as potential diagnostic antigen for Asian zoonotic schistosomiasis. Parasitology Research. (2019); ;
  • Angeles JM. Goto Y, Kirinoki M, Lenardo LR, Moendeg, KJ, Ybanez AP, Rivera PT, Villacorte EA, Inoue N, Chigusa Y, Kawazu S. Detection of canine Schistosoma japonicum infection using recombinant thioredoxin peroxidase-1 and tandem repeat proteins. The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science. (2019); 81 (10); 1413-1418
  • Angeles JM, Leonardo LR, Goto Y, Kirinoki M, Moendeg KJ, Suganuma K, Villacorte EA, Rivera PT, Inoue N, Chigusa Y, Kawazu S. Positivity of Schistosoma japonicum eggs in dogs and water buffaloes in the Philippines and its implications to public health. Japanese Journal of Veterinary Parasitology. (2018); 17 (1); 20-24
  • Macalanda AMC, Angeles JM, Moendeg KJ, Dang TMA, Higuchi L, Inoue N, Xuan X, Kirinoki M, Chigusa Y, Leonardo LR, Villacorte EA, Rivera PT, Goto Y, Kawazu S. Evaluation of Schistosoma japonicum thioredoxin peroxidase-1 as a potential circulating antigen target for the diagnosis of Asian schistosomiasis. The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science. (2018); 80 (1); 156-163
  • Matsumoto-Takahashi, E. L. A., Tongol-Rivera, P., Villacorte, E. A., Angluben, R. U., Jimba, M., & Kano, S. Bottom-up approach to strengthen community-based malaria control strategy from community health workers’ perceptions of their past, present, and future: a qualitative study in Palawan, Philippines. Tropical Medicine and Health. (2018); 46 (1); 24
  • Moendeg, K. J., Angeles, J. M. M., Nakao, R., Leonardo, L. R., Fontanilla, I. K. C., Goto, Y., Kirinoki, M., Villacorte, E.A, Rivera, P.T., Inoue, N., Chigusa, Y. & Kawazu, S. Geographic strain differentiation of Schistosoma japonicum in the Philippines using microsatellite markers. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, e0005749. (2017); 11 (7);
  • Belleza, M. L. B., Reyes, J. C. B., Tongol-Rivera, P. N., & Rivera, W. L. Subtype analysis of Blastocystis sp. isolates from human and canine hosts in an urban community in the Philippines. Parasitology international. (2016); 65 (3); 291-294
  • Cruz, C. J. G., Labreque, M., Goh, M. C., & Rivera, P. T. APDS (Automated Parasite Detection System) for field malaria diagnosis in the Philippines. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. (2016); 47(4); 600-606
  • Matsumoto-Takahasi, ELA, Tongol-Rivera, PN, Villacorte, EA, Angluben, RU, Junko Yasuoka, Shigeyuki Kano . Determining the impact of community awareness-raising activities on the prevention of malaria transmission in Palawan, the Philippines.. Parasitology International. (2015); 63; 519-526
  • Agoncillo AR, Coronacion KAEB, Dagdag JTT, Matira MSC, Pamintuan NKE, Soriano CSM, Salamat MSS, Saniel OP, and Rivera PT. Factors Associated with Non-Compliance with Anti-Malarial Treatment among Malaria Patients in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Acta Medica. (2015); ;
  • Soares Magalhães RJ, Salamat MS, Leonardo L, Gray DS, Carabin H, Halton K, McManus DP, Williams GP, Rivera P, Saniel O, Hernandez L, Yakob L, McGarvey ST and Clements ACA. Mapping the Risk of Soil-transmitted Helminthic Infections in the Philippines. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2015; C0003915. (2015); 9(9);
  • Matsumoto-Takahashi ELA, Rivera PT, Villacorte EA, Angluben RU, Jimba M and Kano S. Patient Knowledge on Malaria Symptoms Is a Key to Promoting Universal Access of Patients to Effective Malaria Treatment in Palawan, the Philippines. PLOS/One. (2015); ;
  • Belleza MLB, Cadacio JLC, Borja MP, Solon JAA, Padilla MA, Rivera PT and Rivera W. Epidemiologic Study of Blastocystis Infection in an Urban Community in the Philippines. Journal of Environmental and Public Health . (2015); ;
  • Moendeg KJ, Angeles JM, Goto Y, Leonardo LR, Kirinoki M, Villacorte EA, Rivera PT, Inoue N, Chigusa Y, Kawazu S. Development and optimization of cocktail-ELISA for a unified surveillance of zoonotic schistosomiasis in multiple host species. Parasitology Research. (2015); 114(3); 1225-8
  • Angeles JM, Leonardo LR, Goto Y, Kirinoki M, Villacorte EA, Hakimi H, Moendeg KJ, Lee S, Rivera PT, Inoue N, Chigusa Y, Kawazu S. Water buffaloes as sentinel animals for the surveillance of zoonotic schistosomiasis. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. (2015); 93(7); 511-512
  • Moendeg KJ, Angeles JM, Leonardo LR, Goto Y, Kirinoki M, Villacorte EA, Rivera PT, Inoue N, Chigusa Y, Kawazu S. Development and optimization of cocktail-ELISA for a unified diagnosis of zoonotic schistosomiasis in multiple host species. Parasitology Research. (2014); 114(3); 1225-1228
  • Saniel O, Leonardo L., Rivera P. et al. A National Baseline Prevalence Survey of Schistosomiasis in the Philippines Using Stratified Two-Step Systematic Cluster Sampling Design.. Journal of Tropical Medicine. (2012); ;