Short Biography
Dr. Ivan Lozada Lawag is a multidisciplinary scientist whose research spans natural products chemistry, analytical chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, and pharmacology. His work focuses on the discovery, analysis, and application of bioactive compounds derived from medicinal plants and bee products, particularly in relation to their antioxidant, antidiabetic, and therapeutic potential. He specializes in method development, including the use of HPTLC, HPLC, spectrophotometry, and LC-MS/MS techniques for compound identification, quantification, and bioactivity assessment.
Currently, Dr. Lawag is a 2024 Balik Scientist Awardee under the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), assigned at the Institute of Herbal Medicine, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines Manila. In this role, he leads projects focused on optimizing bioassays for antioxidant and antidiabetic activity and contributes to therapeutic drug monitoring of anticancer agents. He also mentors Filipino researchers in advanced analytical techniques and scientific writing, helping build national capacity in natural products research.
Dr. Lawag earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacy from The University of Western Australia (UWA), where he developed and validated analytical methods to characterize phenolic profiles in Western Australian honeybee products. His research established a novel HPTLC-based database for phenolic compounds in honey and contributed new insights into the therapeutic value of bee-derived natural products. His published work in journals such as Antioxidants, Molecules, Foods, Chemistry & Biodiversity, and PLOS ONE has earned over 365 citations, with an h-index of 10 and a Web of Science ResearcherID (GLR-5779-2022).
Beyond his doctoral work, Dr. Lawag has been affiliated with the Asian Network of Research on Antidiabetic Plants, engaging in collaborative in vivo and in vitro studies across Asia. He has also contributed to scientific policy and journal development in the Philippines through his involvement with the Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors (PAMJE) and the CENTRAL project, which enhances research visibility and collaboration across local academic journals.
In recognition of his contributions to the field, Dr. Lawag has served as a peer reviewer for over 70 international journal submissions across disciplines including pharmacology, food science, and analytical chemistry. He holds memberships in several international and regional scientific bodies, including the Asian Council of Science Editors (ACSE), the Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editors (APAME), the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), and PAMJE. He also holds the professional designation MRSC (Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry).
As a passionate advocate for scientific excellence, mentorship, and research integrity, Dr. Lawag continues to champion the development of evidence-based, sustainable health innovations grounded in Philippine biodiversity and global best practices in research and publishing.
