Adult neurologist Kristine Joyce Porto, an expert in molecular medicine and neurogenetics, has spotlighted her work on a pioneering neurogenetics program that seeks to translate advanced genetic research into direct patient care.
The program at Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) particularly targets the trend of Filipinos experiencing stroke at increasingly younger ages.
“This isn’t just a study. It is a personal commitment… This is the beginning of a pathway for Filipino patients to access genomics here at home,” Porto said during the 11th Balik Scientist Program Convention.
The initiative traces its origins to a clinical encounter early in the doctor’s career, where a young father suffered a fatal stroke that might have been prevented with existing genetic information. It was this experience that pushed Porto to pursue her lifelong mission to harness genetics to prevent tragedy.
Upon her return to QMMC as a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Balik Scientist, Porto’s analysis of patient data revealed a rise in early-onset stroke among Filipinos.
This alarming finding had prompted QMMC to propose a research grant and subsequently its first DOST-funded research project, the Early-Onset Stroke Study.
The work has since received approval in principle, credited for paving the way for establishing the first neurogenetics laboratory within a Department of Health (DOH) hospital.
