Zebrafish is one of the important model organisms in the study of disease in humans. The Asian Conference on Fish Models for Disease 2023 is one of the venues for holding discussions between researchers and students who use zebrafish as the main object of research. This conference took place at the Hyatt Yogyakarta Hotel from 30 January to 2 February 2023. The advisory board of this conference came from various international institutions including Leiden University (Netherlands), National University of Singapore (Singapore), Monash University (Australia), Mie University (Japan ), Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (Singapore), Soochow University (China), and the Hongkong University of Science and Technology (Hongkong). UGM’s involvement in organizing this activity was represented by lecturers and students from the Faculty of Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, and FKKMK as committee members.
This conference is one manifestation of the collaboration between Leiden University and UGM to support the acceleration of the use of zebrafish as research model animals at UGM. Prof. Herman Spaink from Leiden University, as coordinator of the advisory board of this conference, is a strategic partner of the Faculty of Biology in research and education development. During the three days of implementation, researchers and students from various countries discussed the application of zebrafish as a model in the study of diseases such as diabetes, tuberculosis, growth disorders, etc. The Faculty of Biology sent 9 delegates for this activity, namely Prof. Budi S. Daryono (Dean), Dr. Eko Agus Suyono (Deputy Dean for P2MKSA), Dr. Bambang Retnoaji, Dr. biol. hom. Nastiti Wijayanti, Dr. Tri Rini Nuringtyas, Donan Satria Yudha, M.Sc., Lisna Hidayati, M. Biotech, Nur Indah Septriani, Ph.D., and Dr. Fajar Sofyantoro. As one of the speakers, Prof. Budi S. Daryono presented a topic related to the involvement of the Indonesian Biology Consortium (KOBI) in the preparation and application of the Indonesian Biodiversity Index (IBI). Prof. Budi also emphasized the importance of collaboration between countries to ensure that the rate of extinction of biodiversity in the world can be suppressed. This appeal received a positive response from the participants who attended this conference. On the 2nd day, Dr. Bambang Retnoaji participated as a speaker with a theme related to the potential of wader fish and its opportunities to be used as animal models. In his presentation, Dr. Bambang also conveyed the contribution of the Faculty of Biology in developing artificial spawning techniques to support wader fish conservation.
The conference closed on Wednesday, 1 February 2023 with a dinner attended by Prof. dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med.Ed., Sp.OG., Ph.D. as Chancellor of UGM. Delivered to all advisory boards, researchers, and students attending the 2023 Asian Conference on Fish Models for Disease, the Chancellor of UGM hopes that research at UGM related to zebrafish can accelerate well in the future.