Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI), Dede Djuhana, Ph.D., visited the School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech), Japan, on Thursday (May 25, 2023).
During the visit, the Dean was accompanied by his staff consisting of the Vice Dean for Resources, Ventures and General Administration, Dr. Tito Latif Indra, M.Si; the Head of the Mathematics Department, Prof. Alhadi Bustamam, M.Kom., Ph. D; the Head of the Biology Department, Anom Bowolaksono, Ph.D.; and several teaching staff from the Mathematics Department and the Biology Department.
At the School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, the FMIPA UI delegates were warmly welcomed by the Dean of the School of Life Science and Technology, Professor Susumu Kajiwara, Ph.D., and Prof. Shun-ichiro Ogura, who is a research collaborator of Anom Bowolaksono, Ph.D.
Some important things discussed in the meeting included increasing cooperation in the field of research and increasing educational capacity between the two faculties, such as student mobility by several students from the Department of Biology, FMIPA UI which has been running since 2014 until now.
Meanwhile, in the field of research, Anom Bowolaksono, Ph.D. has also initiated research collaboration through an international grant funding scheme from The East Asia Science Innovation Area Joint Research Program (e-ASIA-JRP) for the implementation of activities in 2022 – 2024, with the topic “Promotion of Photodynamic Medicine for Cancer” in collaboration with Prof. Shun-ichiro Ogura.
Through this project, the two experts in the molecular field conducted research on aminolevulinic acid, the first compound in the porphyrin synthesis pathway, which is an amino acid and also an agent. photosensitizing as a breakthrough in cancer treatment, especially lung cancer.
“This cooperative research project aims to develop a new aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy platform that can be used for everything from early-stage cancer screening and diagnosis to comprehensive cancer treatment. Simultaneously, we will screen and develop small molecules that can improve the efficiency of photodynamic therapy,” said Anom.
This research, said Anom, is very important to develop in order to find various potential appropriate treatments. (Precision medicine).
The meeting also discussed potential research and education collaboration in the fields of bioinformatics, data science, and artificial intelligence.
“We hope for increased collaborations in research and academics with our partners abroad. This is important not only for expanding our international network, but also for strengthening FMIPA UI’s vision of becoming a leading science faculty capable of competing globally, innovatively, and competitively,” the Dean told the FMIPA UI Public Relations team.
