J.A. (Jose Angelito) Hardillo, PhD

My research interests span a wide range of topics in head and neck oncology which are mainly brought about by the needs identified during my clinical practice. Specific projects include improving clinical outcomes in anterior skull base tumor surgery and the use of Raman spectroscopy to improve head and neck tumor resection margins and reflectance spectroscopy to identify early stage primary or secondary tumors in the head and neck.

Despite having a busy clinical practice, i choose not to forget my background in molecular biology. As such, my current research interest lies in deciphering tumor heterogeneity and tumor microenvironment of common head and neck tumors in the hope of being able to explain why these tumors recur even after adequate treatment in the near future.

• Head and neck cancer surgery (anterior skull base tumors)
• Raman spectroscopy
• Laryngotracheal reconstruction
• Tumor biology (molecular biology)

• Bachelor of Science in cell Biology (cum laude) at University of the Philippines Manila
• Doctor of Medicine-MD (with honors) at University of the Philippines Manila
• Masters in Medical Sciences  (MSc) at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgie
• Doctorate Doctor in Medical Sciences (PhD) at University Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven Belgium

Supervisor(s) Prof. dr. Pierre Delaere

Title of thesis Tracheal reconstruction: From basic wound healing research to reconstruction with preformed composite tissue.

• Member, editorial board of the Philippine Journal of Otorhinolaryngology- head and Neck Surgery
• Salivary gland tumors study group of the Dutch workgroup for head and neck tumors
• Dutch platform for geriatric head and neck tumor patients
• Guidelines committee member of the European Rare Cancer  network (EURACAN), domain 7, head and neck tumors 

Research Grant of 600k (Raman Spectroscopy) KWF Alpe de Huzes Baanbrekende Ideeën 2015, co principal investigator.