Yogyakarta, August 27, 2025 – The Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), welcomed a visit from the Eijkman Molecular Biology Research Center, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) on Wednesday (27/8) at the KPTU Meeting Room, Faculty of Biology. The delegation was led by Elisabeth Farah Novita Coutrier, S.Si., Ph.D., Head of Eijkman Molecular Biology Research, accompanied by Farida Dwi Handayani, S.Si., M.S.
From the Faculty of Biology UGM, the meeting was attended by Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc.; Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Alumni, Dr. Eko Agus Suyono, S.Si., M.App.Sc.; Head of the Office of International Affairs (OIA) UGM, Tyas Ikhsan Hikmawan, S.Si., M.S., Ph.D.; Secretary of the Office of International Affairs, Dr. Matin Nuhamunada, S.Si., M.Sc.; as well as staff members of the Research, Community Service, Collaboration, and Alumni Unit: Dhimas Willy Saputro, S.I.P., Annisa Mawarni, S.Si., and Anysah Nur Fauziyah, S.Si.
During the meeting, the Eijkman Molecular Biology Research Center, which is currently under the Health Research Organization of BRIN, presented its flagship research programs, including:
Pathogen Molecular Biology
Malaria and Vector Resistance
Pathobiology of Emerging and Vector-borne Diseases
Human Genetic Diversity and Diseases
Structural Biology and Cell Signaling
The visit aimed to initiate a research collaboration between the Faculty of Biology UGM, the Integrated Genome Factory (IGF), and the Eijkman Molecular Biology Research Center. The collaboration will focus on multi-omics approaches in pathogen research, targeting infectious diseases such as hantavirus, leptospirosis, and plague (PES), as well as other pathogens with the potential to threaten public health.
Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM, Prof. Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, warmly welcomed this collaboration, emphasizing that the flagship programs of the Eijkman Molecular Biology Research Center are highly aligned with the research currently being carried out by lecturers at the Faculty of Biology. This synergy, he noted, represents a significant opportunity to strengthen collaborative research and scientific publications in molecular biology, health, and genomics.
This initiative is also in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): advancing infectious disease research and developing genomics-based health solutions.
SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): enhancing multi-omics research infrastructure and scientific collaboration.
SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): strengthening national research networks in molecular biology and health.
SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): advancing infectious disease research and developing genomics-based health solutions.
SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): enhancing multi-omics research infrastructure and scientific collaboration.
SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): strengthening national research networks in molecular biology and health.
The meeting concluded with a productive discussion that generated several follow-up plans to reinforce joint research and to develop human resource capacity in molecular biology and genomics-based health research.