The Faculty of Biology UGM students, part of iGEM UGM team, Adhelia Intan Sabhira, Sofyan Maulana, and Ulfah Nur Azizah, once again made another achievement by winning a Gold Medal, Best Computational Project, and Best Human Centered Design, at the Global Open Genetic Engineering Competition (GOGEC) 2024, held online from February 23rd to 25th, 2024. Marks the first time a team from UGM has participated in the competition since its inception in 2021. The iGEM UGM team is a multidisciplinary group comprising 16 members from various faculties at Universitas Gadjah Mada In this competition, the iGEM UGM team was represented by nine out of sixteen students, including Adhelia Intan Sabhira, Sofyan Maulana, Ulfah Nur Azizah (Faculty of Biology); Farrel Alfaza Marsetyo, Nayaka Bagus Wahyu Agung Hertanto (Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing); Afra Majida Hariono, Kayla Queenazima Santoso (Faculty of Engineering); Melodia Rezadhini (Faculty of Agriculture Alumni); and Muhammad Bagus Sajiwo (Faculty of Agricultural Technology).
The Global Open Genetic Engineering Competition (GOGEC) 2024 is a prestigious international competition in Genetic Engineering, with 15 teams from 11 countries participating, comprising undergraduate students. GOGEC aims to create an easily accessible and affordable competition platform, allowing competing teams to focus on their projects. GOGEC also hosts a series of lectures on genetic engineering and synthetic biology, inviting experts.
In GOGEC 2024, the iGEM UGM team participated and presented a computational project titled “Novel Biodevice for Colorectal Cancer Screening using Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) with miRNAs as Biomarker.” The team further developed their previous project from the iGEM 2023 competition, where they engineered EcN bacteria to detect miR-92a and miR-21 as biomarkers for colorectal cancer cells and improved the sensitivity of Loop-Initiated RNA Activator (LIRA) through mathematical modeling and computer simulation. In developing their research project, the iGEM team engaged in discussions with researchers, stakeholders, and government agencies, as well as with rural communities and colorectal cancer patients. The team developed the LIRA sequence using available online datasets and implemented a kill switch as a biocontainment measure. Thus, through this research and community empowerment efforts, the team achieved the Gold Medal, the Best Computational Project and Best Human Centered Design awards. Information about the iGEM UGM team’s project can be access at: https://www.gogecconference.org/projects2024.
The achievements of the UGM-Indonesia team could not have accomplished without the support of Universitas Gadjah Mada, the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Faculty of Biology, the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Agriculture, and the guidance provided by Dr. Yekti Asih Purwestri (Faculty of Biology) as the lead supervisor, along with Widhi Dyah Sawitri, Ph.D. (Faculty of Agriculture) and M. Saifur Rohman, Ph.D. (Faculty of Agriculture) as assistant supervisors, Setyowati Triastuti Utami, Ph.D. (Faculty of Pharmacy) as an instructor, and supported by faculty members from the Faculty of Biology: Dr. Niken Satuti Nur Handayani, Aries Bagus Sasongko, M.Biotech, Lisna Hidayati, M.Biotech, Indra Lesmana, M.Sc., and Matin Nuhamunada, M.Sc; Faculty of Medicine: Dr. Mohamad Saifudin Hakim, M.Sc., Ph.D. and Dewi Kartikawati Paramita, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D.; Faculty of Engineering: Ir. Agus Prasetya, M.Eng.Sc., Ph.D and Himawan Tri Bayu Murti Petrus, ST., M.E., D.Eng; Faculty of Agricultural Technology: Imam Bagus Nugroho, S.Si., M.Sc.; Biotechnology Study Program: Afif Pranaya Jati, S.P., M.Sc.; and alumni: Dr. Azzahra Asysyifa, Farhan Wali Bachtier, S.Si., Waffiq Maaroja, S.Kom, and Yustika Sari, S.Si., M.Res.; as well as various donors and sponsors who supported the team’s needs.