Dr. Garcia, Professor of Parasitology at the UP Institute of Public Health, has done work in the areas of immunology and parasitic infections. Since 1979, Dr. Garcia has been conducting studies on the immunology of Schistosomiasis japonica especially on the development of vaccines. A hypothesis has been developed which enabled Dr. Garcia and his associates to identify an immunologic mechanism which leads to granuloma modulation and consequently disease abatement in schistosomiasis. To date 18 scientific papers on the progress of his research have been published in foreign journals and a vaccine against infection is being developed.

Dr. Garcia's most important awards include: Distinguished Alumnus award for medical research, UP (1977), San Miguel Brewery Professorial Chair (1982) and the NRCP Achievement award for research on immunology (1984).