Santiago T. Peña, Jr., DVM, PhD

Santiago T. Peña, Jr., DVM, PhD, FPCSP

Dr. Santiago T. Peña, Jr. was distinctly VSU’s DVM program’s 1st Cum Laude and marked as the 1st DVM Viscan to secure the 3rd spot in Veterinary Licensure Examination. He completed his Master’s and Doctoral degrees (Tropical Veterinary Science) as an AusAID scholar (ADS/AAS) from James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, under the late Prof. Phillip Summers, and Dr. Damien Paris (JCU, AU), Dr. Bruce Gummow (JCU, AU) and Dr. Anthony Parker (OSU, USA), respectively.

Presently, Dr. Peña serves as VSU’s Vice President for Research, Extension, and Innovation, and concurrently the Director of the Visayas Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Program (ViCARP). He is a Fellow of the Philippine College of Swine Practitioners (PCSP), and a FAS-USDA Fellow at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.

Dr. Peña specializes on sperm biology with special focus on semen evaluation (CASA), processing (FES), and freezing (FTS). His work on the impact of heat stress on sperm quality and DNA integrity, and mitigation using a custom formulated antioxidant supplement (PLoS ONE 14: e0216143) are well cited.

In partnership with DOST-PCAARRD, Dr. Peña’s passion on research led to the recent establishment of PCAARRD-VSU SemenLAB: Semen Laboratory Applications and Biotechnology, one of the most advanced laboratory facilities in boar sperm freezing biotechnology in the country today. His research interests have also expanded on the epidemiological investigations against antibiotic residues in meat, and on-farm biosecurity and herd health management. He teaches Reproductive Physiology, Theriogenology, and Swine Production and Herd Health Management, while also serving as an Associate Editor of the Annals of Tropical Research and Science and Humanities journals.

Projects:

  • PCAARRD-VSU SemenLAB: Semen Laboratory Applications and Biotechnology (DOST-PCAARRD)
  • Optimizing Boar Sperm Cryopreservation Towards Effective Industry Utilization and Genetic Conservation (DOST-PCAARRD)
  • VET Mends: CVM Integrated Veterinary Outreach (Extension- VSU)

Publications (View on Google Scholar):

Peña STJr., Ymas BTP and Janier MEB. 2024. Motility degradation rate, plasma membrane integrity, and kinematics during cryopreservation of boar (Sus scrofa domesticus) spermatozoa in different freezing extenders and thawing temperatures. Veterinary Integrative Sciences, 23(3): 1-12. | View
Peña STJr., Ymas BTP, Janier MEB and Luza HA. 2024. Boar sperm performance in polystyrene transport cool box under various storage conditions and holding times. The Philippine Agricultural Scientist, 107(3): 302-308. | View
Peña STJr., Janier MEB, and Ymas BTP. 2024. Hypo-osmotic swelling test discriminates potentially more viable boar spermatozoa diluted using various extenders at different storage times. Veterinary Integrative Sciences, 22(3): 1127-1137. | View
Ymas BTP and Peña STJr. 2023. Detection of veterinary antibiotic residues in fresh fecal samples collected from selected pig farms in the City of Baybay, Leyte, Philippines. Annals of Tropical Research, 45(1). | View
Peña STJr. 2023. Boar sperm viability, head morphometry, and kinematics during seven-day storage in improvised portable semen shipper. Philippine Journal of Science, 152(2): 535-549. | View
Peña STJr., Pagente, MDP, Ymas BTP, Janier MEB. 2023. Bacteriospermia among smallholder artificial insemination boars in the Philippines and potential associated factors. Asian Pacific Journal of Reproduction, 59(2): 164-173. | View
Peña STJr., Gummow, B., Parker, A.J. and Paris, D.B. 2022. Boar spermatozoa maintain DNA integrity after cryopreservation using different concentrations of glycerol. The Philippine Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 59(2): 164-173. | View
Peña STJr., Stone, F., Gummow, B., Parker, A.J. and Paris, D.B. 2021. Susceptibility of boar spermatozoa to heat stress using in vivo and in vitro experimental models. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 53: 97. | View
Bernardes, D.T.C. and Peña STJr. 2020. Biosecurity and readiness of smallholder pig farmers against potential African Swine Fever outbreak and other pig diseases in Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines. Scientia Agropecuaria, 11 (4), pp. 611-620. | View
Peña STJr., Bolambot, SMG., Lañada, E.B. 2020. “Prevalence of dermatophye infection in pigs among small-holder farmers in Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines and associated risk factors. Exploratory Animal and Medical Research. 10 (2). | View
Layola, M.D.A., De Asis, G.R. and Peña STJr. 2020. Physicochemical characteristics of milk and teat yield of different goat breeds under normal tropical rearing conditions. Jurnal Veteriner 21 (1): 53-62. | View
Macapanas, R. G and Peña STJr. 2020. Prevalence and morphometric evaluation of cystic ovaries in pigs slaughtered in Tacloban City abattoir, Philippines. International Journal of Veterinary Science, 10(1): 59-63. | View
Peña STJr., Stone, F., Gummow, B., Parker, A.J. and Paris, D.B. 2019. Tropical summer induces DNA fragmentation in boar spermatozoa: implications for evaluating seasonal infertility. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 31(3): 590-601. | View
Peña STJr., Gummow, B., Parker, A.J. and Paris, D.B. 2019. Antioxidant supplementation mitigates DNA damage in boar (Sus scrofa domesticus) spermatozoa induced by tropical summer. PloS ONE, 14(4): e0216143.| View
Peña STJr. and Lañada, E. B. 2019. Predictors of success or failure in artificially inseminated buffalo cows in Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines: An unmatched case-control study. Buffalo Bulletin 38 (1): 119-126, | View
Tanduyan, C.J.M. and Peña STJr. 2018. Combined vitamins, minerals and amino acid supplement improves eggshell quality but not egg weight in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Malaysian Journal of Animal Science, 21(2): 39-48. | View
Peña STJr., Gummow, B., Parker, A.J. and Paris, D.B. 2017. Revisiting summer infertility in the pig: could heat stress-induced sperm DNA damage negatively affect early embryo development?. Animal Production Science, 57(10): 1975-1983.| View
Peña STJr., Summers, P., Gummow, B. and Paris, D.B. 2015. Oviduct binding ability of porcine spermatozoa develops in the epididymis and can be advanced by incubation with caudal fluid. Theriogenology, 83(9): 1502-1513. | View