Indonesia is known as a mega-biodiversity country because it has high biodiversity. According to data from National Geographic Indonesia (2019), Indonesia’s mainland biodiversity ranks second after Brazil. If this land biodiversity is added to the marine biodiversity, Indonesia can become a country with the highest biodiversity in the world because it is a maritime country that is rich in marine life.
In 2021, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) released that there are around 15,000 plant species in Indonesia that have potential as medicine, yet only 7,000 species are used as pharmaceutical raw materials. In coastal ecosystems, Indonesia has 18% of the world’s coral reefs and a variety of other marine biotas that can be utilized in the pharmacology field for natural medicines, cosmetics, and supplements.
Seeing this potential, the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Indonesia (FF UI) is working with the Research Center for Vaccine and Drug, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to develop pharmaceutical raw materials from Indonesia’s natural product biodiversity. This collaboration was inaugurated by signing a cooperation agreement by Dean of FF UI Prof. Dr. apt. Arry Yanuar, M.Sc., and Head of the Research Center for Vaccines and Drugs at the National Agency for Research and Innovation Dr. Masteria Yunovilsa Putra, on Wednesday (18/1).
FF UI and BRIN in the future will investigate bioactive compounds from plants and marine materials using the metabolomics method to identify secondary compounds that can be used in making drugs. These compounds are then grouped according to prospects for the treatment of certain diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and so on.
“All this time, the use of materials for medicine is still mostly from plants and herbs. This time, we will expand to marine biota and broaden the database. In recent times, FF UI and BRIN have conducted research on the development of Covid-19 drugs from marine life. From this research, we will publish and test further its activities. We hope that other products will be produced and we can work together with industrial partners in the future,” said Prof. Arry.
The collaboration between FF UI and BRIN also covers the exchange of information and expertise in the field of pharmaceutical biology (purification metabolomics studies, bioactivity tests, and chemical structure elucidation). The two work together in increasing the competence of researchers, lecturers, students, and laboratory institutions; utilization of facilities and infrastructure of each party; preparation of publications and intellectual property documents resulting from joint activities; exchange and utilization of data and information; as well as monitoring, evaluating, and reporting activities.
“This is a great start for us. In the future, not only for Research Collaboration Center (PKR), we hope we can develop biological products together. Currently, BRIN is developing a tuberculosis vaccine and monoclonal antibodies. I heard that UI is also developing the same vaccine. Hopefully, we can develop this together,” said Dr. Masteria.
The signing of the collaboration which was held in Building A of Health Sciences Cluster, Depok Campus, was also attended by Chairman and Team Member of the National Metabolomics Collaborative Research Center FF UI Prof. Dr. Abdul Mun’im, M.Sc., Apt .; Vice Dean for Education, Research, and Student Affairs Dr. apt. Fadlina Chany Saputri, M.Sc.; Vice Dean for Resources, Ventures, and General Administration Dr. apt. Sutriyo, M.Sc.; Manager of Cooperation, Venture, and Alumni Relations apt. Rani Sauriasari, M.Med.Sci., Ph.D.; Head of Public Relations and Public Information Disclosure Bureau UI Dra. Amelita Lusia, M.Sc.; as well as the ranks of BRIN.
Author: Sasa
