Biotechnology UGM – Faculty Fair is one of the routine agendas held by Universitas Gadjah Mada as a forum to introduce the advantages of various faculties and a series of existing work units to the general public. This event ever stopped due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and was only held again on March 18-19, 2023. The venue of this event took place at Grha Sabha Pramana, UGM and free of charge. The target of this activity is all students who want to run for office, as well as active students and university graduates who want to continue their education in the UGM Postgraduate Program.

In this regard, the UGM Master of Biotechnology Study Program also participated in a series of Faculty Fair activities as part of the Faculty of Graduate School. Various information related to lecture activities, course illustrations, research topics, to the output of research results are available at this booth.

The research outputs available at this event include hard files student thesis, Cavendish bananas from tissue culture, and bird feed from nutrient-rich palm dregs. Participants who actively ask questions and have followed Biotek and Graduate School Instagram accounts are also given merchants in the form of Keychains.

No less important thing that is also the purpose of carrying out this activity is related to the admission of new students. Information on new student admissions, scholarships that can be received by prospective students, to career opportunities for Biotechnology master graduates can be found by participants at this event. Thus, the wider community can interact and find out reliable sources of information about the UGM Biotechnology Master Study Program.

Bioteknologi UGM – Master of Biotechnology study program at Postgraduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has recently received an honour opportunity of a public lecture from PT. Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia that lectured by Andreas Donny Prakarsa, S.Farm., M.Sc. He is working as a Head of Corporate Relationship at PT. Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia. Previously, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy at Sanatha Darma University, Yogyakarta, and continued his Master program by taking Medical Biotechnology at Wageningen University, The Netherlands.

Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia (Etana) is one of the biproduct and biopharmacy industries in Indonesia which focuses on the human health with the implementation of biotechnology. Etana founded since 2014 and has currently building strategic alliance networks and partnerships with international pharmaceutical manufacturers which have strength records in research and developing several safe and effective drugs.

Andreas Donny Prakarsa, S.Farm., M.Sc. has delivered on this public lecture about the current developed products from Etana, one of which is the development of vaccine based on mRNA in Southeast Asian. The aim of the vaccine development with next-generation mRNA is one of the supports from Etana to the government for creating an industrial independency in pharmacy and fulfilling the needs of national vaccine for 426.8 millions dosage, reaching for the public herd-immunity of the COVID-19 diseases. In the development of this mRNA-based vaccine, Etana is currently doing a research collaboration with one of the vaccine manufacturers in Tiongkok, Suzhou Abogen Biosciences, and also with Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia (FKUI). Through this collaboration, there is a hope for new generations of Indonesian youth in using mRNA technologies thus this is becoming a milestone in Indonesia of the development of biological product with mRNA platforms.

Moreover, Andreas added if the development of these biotechnology products surely needed researchers with great talents and having good research skills in Biotechnology. Etana offers an opportunity to young researchers, particularly for Master students in Biotechnology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) to join and becoming a great researcher in PT. Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia for realising innovations in Biotechnology for Indonesia. The future of Biotechnology for Etana becomes a key to support the productivity of biological and bipharmaceutical products that can be downstreamed for the mass production.

Bioteknologi UGM – Master of Biotechnology study program at Postgraduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has recently received an honoured opportunity to conduct a public lecture with Prof. Dr. Michael Sauer, Professor and Deputy Head of the Department of Biotechnology, from Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU University). In this public lecture, he presented a lecture of bioprocess technology and also offered PhD positions for all of Master’s students in Biotechnology at UGM. Previously, he received a Master’s degree in Biotechnology at the ETH Zürich University, Austria, and continued his PhD program in Biochemistry at the University of Vienna, Austria.

BOKU University is one of the best Vienna’s universities in Austria which was founded in 1872 and becomes the academic and research centre for renewable energy in Vienna, Austria. BOKU University offers several study programs which focus on science, engineering, and biotechnology and also social and economy study program.

Prof. Dr. Michael Sauer presented secondary metabolite production with microbes through bioreactor technologies. Bioreactor is a place used for living microorganisms (microbes) and allows these microbes to grow and conduct fermentation under controlled conditions. Michael explained there are two types of bioreactors that can be used for bioprocess research; a) Surface Bioreactors (SBRs) and b) Submerged Bioreactors (Submerged Membrane Bioreactors (SMBs)). Surface bioreactor showed that any microbes that have been cultured in this bioreactor, they will be living in a surface of the bioreactor or anchored to the surface of a solid medium. Meanwhile, the submerged bioreactors used a specific suspension to grow and culture of any microbes in this bioreactor. Michael also added if the suspension bioreactors like submerged bioreactors may support a wider variety of organisms (microbes) since special attachment surfaces are not needed, and can operate at a much larger scale than immobilized cultures. Moreover, Michael also explained on ‘How to Input The Energy (Oxygen) to The Bioreactor’ through a mixing technique in which the part of the below bioreactor mostly uses a special stirer or beater and bubble column where there are bubbles that will be injected into the bioreactor as the aeration occurs.

In the final public lecture of Bioprocess Technology, Prof. Dr. Michael Sauer added an explanation of the offered PhD programs at BOKU University. The Ph.D programs offers a three years study with a total of 180 ECTS (The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) which the credits include research component (research and dissertation) and also the course materials. The research subject that will be conducting for the PhD program at BOKU University should fit with the offered program in PhD studies at BOKU Universities and its institution.

Saturday 29 October 2022UGM Postgraduate School Biotechnology study program successfully held a national seminar. The national seminar this time raised the theme ‘Biotechnology for Climate Change and Global Warming Mitigation’. This national seminar activity received sponsorship from Crop Life Indonesia and Science Genetics. The speaker this time is Professor Dr. Ir. Alim Isnansetyo, M.Sc. from Gadjah Mada University, Professor R. Manjunatha Kini from the National University of Singapore and Professor Tatsuo Sato, Ph.D. from Ibaraki University. In addition, this seminar was also attended by 59 speakers from various agencies and universities. Some of the presenters came from Gadjah Mada University, Bandung Muhammadiyah University, Jakarta State University, Lampung University, BRIN, and PT. Great Giant Pineapple.

Professor Alim Isnansetyo on this occasion explained the potential use of Pseudoalteromonas for the development of Biotechnology. Based on his experience during research on Pseudoalteromonas, the bacteria can be used as an anti-microbial. Good in the application of anti-fungal, anti-biofouling, and anti-tumor. For bioactive exopolymers, Alim Isnansetyo explained that these bacteria can produce cryoprotectants. This ability can be used to store other bacteria so that their condition is maintained and not damaged.

Another seminar speaker, Professor R. Manjunatha Now explained about the potential of snake venom to be used as heart medicine. According to him, snake venom is potential because it consists of protein and peptide. In fact, R. Manjunatha Now has identified the DNA of various types of snake venom and collected this information in the cDNA library. Gathering information about snake venom is useful to know its structure, function and mechanism of action. In the future, the utilization of poison can be applied as an alternative for heart treatment.

Next was Professor Tatsuo Sato who explained the role of Heat Shock Protein (HSP) in increasing plant resistance to a disease. First Tatsuo Sato explained about the basic mechanisms of plant disease resistance. There are two mechanisms described by Prof. Tatsuo Sato namely Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) and Wound Induce Systemic Resistance (WSR). The SAR mechanism for disease resistance is local while the WSR mechanism is total. Professor Tatsuo Sato observes the role of HSP during heat induction where the HSP will later bind to the Heat Shock Element (HSE). These bonds can later trigger the activation of defense genes from a disease so that plants are much more resistant. in the future,

This national seminar activity was also broadcast on the UGM Postgraduate School YouTube channel. This seminar is an annual activity organized by the Postgraduate School Biotechnology study program. To get the latest information, you can follow UGM Biotechnology social media.

Author: Buhairi Rifqa Moustafid

Master Program student in Biotechnology, Faculty of Postgraduate School UGM, Febri Yuda Kurniawan managed to get the best scientific writing award in the Scientific Paper Writing Workshop held by the UGM Graduate School. The scientific work entitled “Keanekaragaman dan Strategi Konservasi Anggrek Alam di Bawah Pengaruh Antropogenik Kawasan Bukit Dowo, Kulonprogo” (Diversity and Conservation Strategies of Natural Orchids under the Anthropogenic Influence of the Dowo Hills Area, Kulonprogo) became one of the two best works during the workshop. Febri has shown the results of writing that are following the material presented so that the paper is considered worthy of publication.

This activity has been held online from 20-21 December 2021. The workshop was filled with speakers from 6 resource persons who are experts in their fields with different topics, namely Prof. Dr. Irwan Abdullah, M. A, Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, SS., M. Hum, DEA, Prof. Dr. Abdul Rohman, S. F., Apt., M. Si, Dr. M. Iqbal Ahnaf, and Dr. Leonard C. Epaphras. As an evaluation of the workshop session, participants were given the task of compiling a publication manuscript. Participants submit manuscripts from December 22 to January 5, 2022. Then, as an award, 8 selected manuscripts will receive an incentive of 250,000 rupiahs each and the 2 best manuscripts will be recommended to be published in the Kawistara Journal and Teknosains Journal. As one of the 8 selected manuscripts, Febri Yuda Kurniawan had the opportunity to be the best 2 who received recommendations to publish scientific papers in the Technosains Journal. This opportunity is a good opportunity to add value to the publication and is useful to support the next career.

The Pfizer Biotech Fellowship program which was attended by Lecturers and also several Master of Biotechnology students has been completed and one of the students of the Master of Biotechnology Study Program received a Graduate Education Grants category.

The activities for the Graduate Education Grants category started with the submission of the first proposal and 10 graduate and undergraduate participants were selected who then took part in a series of virtual bootcamp activities that contained material presentations from experts and researchers both from within and outside the country. After the series of virtual bootcamp activities, participants were given time to revise proposals for approximately 14 days and finally produced 5 proposals from graduate programs and 3 proposals from undergraduate programs. From the 5 selected proposals, 1 Grant recipient proposal was announced at the award ceremony on November 23, 2021.

Indriana Pratiwi, a student of the Biotechnology Masters Study Program was selected to be a recipient of the Graduate Education Grants category, with the Proposal Title “Mimic-MIR-143-3P MicroRNA Therapy of Exosomes Encapsulated against the K-Ras Gene in Triple Negative Breast Cancer”.

Dr. Rarastoeti Pratiwi, M.Sc., Lecturer of the Biotechnology Study Program also participated in the Training of Trainers, Pfizer Biotech Fellowship.

Biotechnology Study Program and Biotechnology Research Center Universitas Gadjah Mada,
proudly present:
Biotech-Webinar Series-3: ZEBRAFISH AS AN ANIMAL MODEL FOR LIFE SCIENCE RESEARCH

Speaker:
Assoc. Prof. Takaaki Matsui
Gene Regulation Research
Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Japan

Save the date!
Friday, November 26, 2021
13.00-14.40 (GMT+7, Jakarta Time)
at Zoom
FREE of Charge + e-Certificate

Join Us and register now at https://bit.ly/RegisterFormBiotechWebinar3

Contact us at (+62) 813-9365-6566 or biotek.sps@ugm.ac.id

The Biotechnology Masters and Doctoral Study Programs together with the Biotechnology Study Center have successfully held the VII National Seminar on October 23, 2021. This time the National Seminar carries the theme Biotechnology for Mitigation of Climate Change and Global Warming, inviting four keynote speakers, including  :  Prof. Willfriend Schwab from the Technische Universitait Munchen, Prof. Michael Sauer from the Universitait fur Bodenkultur Wien, Prof. Siti Subandiyah from Gadjah Mada University, and Prof. Chi-Ying F. Huang of National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University.

Biotechnology Study Program and Biotechnology Research Center Universitas Gadjah Mada,
proudly present:
Biotech-Webinar Series-3: ZEBRAFISH AS AN ANIMAL MODEL FOR LIFE SCIENCE RESEARCH

Speaker:
Assoc. Prof. Takaaki Matsui
Gene Regulation Research
Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Japan

Save the date!
Friday, November 26, 2021
13.00-14.40 (GMT+7, Jakarta Time)
at Zoom
FREE of Charge + e-Certificate

Join Us and register now at https://bit.ly/RegisterFormBiotechWebinar3

Contact us at (+62) 813-9365-6566 or biotek.sps@ugm.ac.id

The UGM Graduate School Biotechnology Study Program held the first Biotech-Webinar Series with the theme “Promoting One Health with Biotechnology”. This event was held in collaboration with the Center for Biotechnology Studies and the One Health/EcoHealth Resource Center, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. The event was opened by Prof. Dr. drh. Wayan T. Artama as the coordinator of One Health/EcoHealth Resource Center-UGM and then followed by Dr. Dini Wahyu Kartika Sari, S.Pi., M.Sc. as Head of Postgraduate Biotechnology Study Program at UGM. On that occasion, Dr. Dini said that the Biotech-Webinar Series event is a permanent agenda of the Biotechnology Study Program, open to the public, and is planned to be held regularly every two months as an effort to spread the role of biotechnology in answering various problems in society today. For this reason, the topics chosen will always prioritize the latest techniques and approaches in biotechnology so that they can add insight to researchers in the field of biotechnology and society in general.

The material presentation and question and answer session was guided by Dr. Tri Rini Nuringtyas, M.Sc as Head of the Biotechnology Doctoral Study Program, Postgraduate UGM. As the first speaker was Prof. Teruna Siahaan, Ph.D from the University of Kansas, USA. Prof. Teruna brought up the topic of Trends in Modern Health Biotechnology. Prof. Teruna explained in a very interesting way about the development of research in the discovery of new drugs at this time. In his presentation, he stated that the trend of materials/biomolecules for new drugs has begun to shift from small molecules to peptides and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) as the latest developments. High specificity which causes the possibility of off-target occurrence as small as may be found in small molecules will not be found in the use of ADC. Furthermore, Prof. Terawan conveyed that the linker, which is part of the ADC, was able to regulate the exact release time of the bioactive molecules. In the second session, the presentation material with the theme the Role of Biotechnology for Global Food Security was delivered by Prof. Dr. Siti Subandiyah, from the UGM Center for Biotechnology Studies. In a comprehensive manner, the mother who is familiarly called Prof Diyah conveyed how biotechnology in general with the various approaches currently available is able to support solving problems in the agricultural sector. The development of transgenic plants, the development of superior cultivars that are resistant to abiotic and biotic stress and the development of miRNA-based pesticides are approaches that are expected to be able to support food security in Indonesia and in the world in general.

This event was attended by more than 85 participants from various universities, government and private institutions as well as from various regions in Indonesia. A very interesting discussion took place in the question and answer session and in the end the event closed at 10.30 WIB.