The dean of the Faculty of Medicine (FK) of Universitas Indonesia (UI), Prof. Dr. dr. Ari Fahrial Syam, SpPD-KGEH, MMB, received an award from the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) at the 2024 Asian Pacific Digestive Week (APDW) event held in Bali, on Saturday (11/23). The award was given directly by the President of WGO, Professor Geoffrey Metz, to Prof. Ari Fahrial for the Outstanding Distinguished Lecture he delivered on H.pylori Management.
Prof. Ari Fahrial—who currently serves as President of the Indonesian Gastroenterology Association—has focused on research on Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) since 2001. Until 2012, he had written 20 papers on related topics in various journals, including PubMed, making him one of the leading experts in this field. In August 2012, he also collaborated with Professor Yoshio Yamaoka from Japan to conduct research on H. pylori under a project funded by the Japanese government. This was the beginning of a productive partnership that resulted in several important studies. One of the most prominent was the 2015 publication titled “Helicobacter Pylori Virulence Genes in the Five Largest Islands of Indonesia” in the Journal of Gut Pathogens.
Prof. Ari Fahrial then led the Multicenter Study of Helicobacter pylori in Indonesia which was carried out in 2015–2017. This study covered various regions in Indonesia, including Aceh, Pontianak, Makassar, Palu, and Ternate. This initiative further strengthened his role as a leader in H. pylori research in Southeast Asia.
Thanks to his dedication, since 2013, he has published 28 additional papers on H. pylori and collaborated with more than five world researchers to improve management practices in solving global health challenges. Now, the results of his research in this field have become the basis for the advancement of gastroenterology health in Indonesia and the international world.
In his speech, Prof. Ari Fahrial expressed his gratitude to WGO and the collaborators who played a role in the research carried out. According to him, this award is not just a personal achievement, but reflects the strength of collaboration and dedication to improving health service standards. In addition, he also emphasized the importance of continuous research and innovation to overcome diseases caused by H. pylori infection.
“In the world, the global prevalence of H. pylori infection has decreased over the past 3 decades in adults, but not in children and adolescents. Almost 50 percent of the world’s population is infected with this bacteria. For this reason, the research conducted is expected to be a gateway for other research on H. pylori infection, so that the best prevention solution can be found,” said Prof. Ari Fahrial.
For this achievement, the Rector of UI, Prof. Dr. Ir. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU, expressed his appreciation to Prof. Ari Fahrial who has contributed greatly to the health of Indonesia and the world. “The award received by Prof. Ari at the APDW 2024 event emphasized global recognition for his contributions to the health sector. His brilliant career and innovative contributions continue to inspire the next generation of researchers and practitioners, solidifying his legacy as a great figure in the field of gastroenterology,” he said.
