
Maria Corazon de Ungria
Head
DNA Analysis Laboratory
Natural Sciences Research Institute
University of the Philippines Diliman
AsianScientist (Jun. 21, 2017) – Our genes can tell us about who is responsible for a crime, where we came from and our common humanity. This is what Dr. Maria Corazon de Ungria, head of the DNA Analysis Laboratory at the University of the Philippines Diliman, believes and works hard to actualize in her home country, the Philippines.
de Ungria, who won the Philippines Promising Star Award in 2016, has worked tirelessly to use science in the service of justice, helping to draft legislation regarding the use of DNA evidence to improve the criminal justice system and launching the Innocence Project, an organization that seeks to help inmates in different Philippine penal colonies who claim to have been wrongfully convicted.
In this interview for Asia’s Rising Scientists, de Ungria shares more about how she feels science can be a catalyst for change, particularly in our troubled times.
- How would you summarize your research in a tweet (140 characters)?
As a DNA forensic scientist, I am committed to maximizing the use of DNA to strengthen the criminal justice system and to protect the human rights of any individual regardless of origin, creed or social status.
- Describe a completed research project that you are proudest of.
I am proudest of the three year project (2002-2005) where we tested the feasibility of post-conviction DNA testing in the Philippines. At that time, the Philippine government had the death penalty for 52 crimes, which was the highest amongst countries that still had this punishment. However, many lawyers and human rights advocates opposed the death penalty because of the issue of wrongful convictions, which was highly plausible given the state of the Philippine criminal justice system then.
With financing from the European Union, we were able to test procedures for handling different types of biological samples, including those from actual sexual assault investigations and human remains that were recovered from suspected torture and extrajudicial killing cases. We were also able to collect samples from some regional groups and indigenous communities, in order to expand the Philippine genetic database. Using those samples, we were able to generate genetic data that supported our theory that Philippine groups and indigenous communities may not be one homogenous population.
Our researchers made regular visits to the National Penitentiary which housed the maximum security prison and death row. We were able to gather generate DNA test results that could have been used to exonerate the convicted persons in these cases, although there was no legislation or government policy that allowed the postconviction appeals at that time. We reported the study results in numerous lectures/workshops with government agencies including the Philippine Supreme Court, non-government organizations and educational institutions.
Because of our work, the Philippine Judicial Academy asked for technical assistance in formulating the Rule on DNA Evidence. We worked to incorporate as much relevant science as possible in the Rule, including the section on postconviction DNA testing. In 2007, the Rule on DNA Evidence was promulgated by the Philippine Supreme Court which now serves as guide for the judiciary at the local and national levels.
- What do you hope to accomplish with your research in the next decade?
As head of the DNA Analysis Laboratory of the Natural Sciences Research Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman, I actively promote the use of DNA technology as a tool for finding justice in the field commonly known as forensic genetics. My team develops and validates methods for analyzing two different types of biological samples that are commonly isolated in crime investigations.
We have also been working on expanding the Philippine DNA database that already contains samples from mainstream populations, to include volunteers from indigenous communities. The Philippines has over 110 ethnolinguistic groups, many of which are considered indigenous peoples. I strongly advocate for the use of excellent science in nation building, recognizing the power of science in broadening the base from which we can find creative and novel solutions for the problems that afflict society. For me, DNA is a powerful catalyst for change and I work to be a change-maker to put science at the service of the Filipino people.
In the next ten years, I would like to have been able to collect samples from all Philippine mainstream and indigenous populations in order to establish and maintain an extensive Filipino DNA biobank. Samples archived in this biobank can be used to expand the Philippine reference database for population genetic studies that have forensic and health applications. In addition, genetic data can be compared within and across Philippine groups as well as surrounding populations in order to provide answers to questions posited by linguists, anthropologists and archaeologists on human migration from Africa to Asia and Oceania.
I dream of working with scientists of different disciplines in compiling our discoveries in a single resource database, and using the Filipino people as our common focus. The Philippine information database can then be a powerful tool for other Asian scientists interested in this field. In an age of conflict and social unrest, I would like to highlight our shared or common humanity across different cultures.
- What motivated you to go into your field of study?
Science satisfies my passion for discovery and finding order amidst chaos. After finishing my PhD dissertation in Sydney, Australia and returning to the Philippines, I became aware that very few Filipino research scientists were engaged in active research in the Philippines. In 2017, the estimated ratio of scientists is 189 per one million Filipinos.
Hence, my personal motivation was to add to the relatively few scientists that stayed in the Philippines and to encourage young students to pursue research careers in science. I chose forensic genetics then and am now crossing over population genetic studies because of the evident contributions of these fields in the legal, social and cultural arena. For as long as there is purpose in the science that I do, then I am prepared to work hard to overcome whatever challenges that exist.
- What is the biggest adversity that you experienced in your research?
The biggest difficulty in my research is the lack of appreciation by many groups, including those at the university and other government agencies, that forensic science must be founded on excellent science. Basic scientific research must be conducted before any method or technology is used. Moreover, maintaining the apolitical and non-adversarial nature of our work continues to be a major challenge for us as we work to promote the science in forensic science.
- What are the biggest challenges facing the academic research community today, and how can we fix them?
I would say that the lack of scientific and administrative positions in the laboratory is the biggest challenge for the academic research community. Scientists are unable to focus on research when they are given other tasks that could have been assigned to administrative personnel. The dearth of long-term funding and delays in the release of research budgets also pose significant challenges to the laboratory.
- If you had not become a scientist, what would you have become instead?
I think I would likely be a professional travel blogger because I love to discover new places, to learn new things and to share these new discoveries with my family and friends. Being a scientist allows me to do this to a certain extent, when I travel to attend conferences or meetings, to participate in educational campaigns and lectures and to do field work needed for some of our research projects.
- Outside of work, what do you do to relax?
I love learning and discovering new things and places. Outside of work, I like to travel, to talk to people from different backgrounds/culture, to visit museums, to watch films and to read books.
- If you had the power and resources to eradicate any world problem using your research, which one would you solve?
I would like to be able to conduct extensive genomic studies on all willing human volunteers in order to characterize genomic variations and genomic similarities across all populations. I want to understand the genetic basis of health and disease, our common human origin and our adaptations to changing environments over time, and our capacity to maximize the responsible use of resources in order to protect life and nature. In short, if I have power and resources, I would like to eradicate ‘ignorance’ by making excellent genomic science available to all.
- What advice would you give to aspiring researchers in Asia?
Fall in love with science (whatever field it is) and work to overcome challenges that you will encounter; patiently and systematically. Let your passion for your work speak for itself, and those around you will know that you are a (wo)man of science. Commit to use science for a purpose. In my case, I have defined my role as a change maker by placing (genomic) science at the service of society.
This article is from a monthly series called Asia’s Rising Scientists. Click here to read other articles in the series.
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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photos: Maria Corazon de Ungria.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.