June 2017

Five delegates from the University of Rhode Island (URI) visited the University of Airlangga (Unair) Surabaya on Thursday to partner in  tropical diseases and nursing faculty. The five URI delegates are Dr. John Kirby (Dean of the College of Environment and Life Science), Dr. Paul Larrat and Dr. Dave Rowley (URI College of Pharmacy researcher), Nancy Stricklin (staff of the international partnership office), and Brook Ross (URI representative for Indonesia). Accompanied by the US Consul General in Surabaya, Joaquin F. Monseratte, they were welcomed by Vice Rector III Unair Prof. Soetjipto, Head of Institute of  Tropical Disease Prof. Maria Inge Lusida, Dean of Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), Dean of Nursing Faculty (FKp) . During the meeting, Monseratte promised to promote exchange programs between Indonesian students and the US. “We can complement each other between universities in the US and Indonesia, I hope that this cooperation can survive until later,” he said. Meanwhile, the Dean of FST Unair Prof. Win Darmanto said that the cooperation that will be followed up soon is the ease for FST Unair students or alumni, especially from Chemistry study program, and Environmental Science Science, to get Letter of Acceptance (LoA) from URI. “This LoA is a requirement for alumni to continue their master or doctoral studies, especially for those who will apply for scholarship through LPDP,” he said. Initial assessment conducted by Dean FKp Purwaningsih who last year was offered to cooperate in the field of nursing with URI by officials at the Embassy for the US. At that time, the Dean of FKp immediately agreed because one of its targets is working with universities in the US. “Moreover, the direction of the nursing school is the United States of America, and finally URI will cooperate after seeing our company profile (FKp Unair) .We make the MoU One of the results is we have held an international conference on nursing URI also sent some delegates Presentation here, “he said. In the future, both parties want to exchange students and staff to each college. “January 2016, we are planning to send students to URI. We hope that with the mobility program, Unair Nursing students can learn from URI, so there is an exchange of information and experience,” he said. In addition to the above two areas, URI delegates and the Consulate General of the United States are also invited to visit the Tropical Disease Institute. Both sides make MoU for collaborating research in the field of tropical diseases.

The University of Airlangga Institute of Tropical Disease (ITD) ready to help diagnose patients who are likely to be infected by the Zika virus. Head of ITD Unair, Professor Maria Inge Lusida revealed, the laboratory owned by his institution was able to detect the virus transmitted through Aedes Aegypti mosquito. “To confirm whether there is a virus or not Zika, laboratory examination should be done. We can do that, ” she said. Although she revealed, until now it has not been requested cooperation by the Ministry of Health But Inge sure, ITD Unair will not refuse if the community ask independently. “If there is someone who sends a sample personally, yes we are ready” she said. In Indonesia, Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology has discovered this virus in Indonesia in 2015. Of the 200 samples whose symptoms are similar to dengue fever, there is one positive virus with Zika in Jambi. According to Deputy Director Eijkman Herawati Sudoyo, the virus was found on a blood sample of a 27-year-old male patient who had never traveled abroad. Inge added, Zika virus was also found in 1977-1978. Seven blood samples with the virus were found in patients treated at Tegalyoso Hospital, Klaten, Central Java. Inge requested that people do not need to panic about the news circulating about the virus Zika. Because, handling same as Dengue Fever. The key is to be vigilant. “What’s clear is that if you start having a fever early and not know what causes it, immediately check your blood.” To date, more than 20 countries, including Brazil, have reported the occurrence of Zika virus infection cases. Most infections are mild, even without symptoms, despite reports of a paralysis disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome. The biggest threat is believed to occur in the mother’s pregnancy up to the unborn fetus. There are about 4,000 cases of microcephaly-babies born with small brains-in Brazil since last October. World health organization, WHO even declared the international emergency status due to the spread of this Zika virus. Author : Farid A Zakaria

Medicine made of traditional herbs has a good development prospect in terms of science and research, particularly in Indonesia. Let alone in international scale, Indonesia is famous for having plentiful traditional herbs. This is a big chance for pharmacists to keep developing researches. It is a research on traditional medicine which Dr. Aty Widyawaruyanti, dra., Apt., M.Si. is developing. Besides teaching at the Department of Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry, every day Aty spends her time at the Institute of Tropical Disease (ITD) UNAIR to examine medicine from natural sources. As a matter of course, part of the Three Principles of Education is aim to support pharmacy science and produce medicine experts (pharmacists, red). Aty has been active doing the research since she became a staff at the Department of Pharmacognosy & Phytochemistry. In general, the research that she and her team are developing aims to get active ingredients for the research, especially herbs and traditional ingredients for medicine. The active ingredients can be in the form of extract, fraction, or compound which is successfully isolated from the herbs. Aty focuses herself in inventing natural ingredients for anti-malaria medicine. Started in 1990 until now, she has been developing a research on medicine ingredients for malaria, including isolating their active compound. In the laboratory which is now called Center for Natural roduct Medicine Research and Development, a research to get herbal products is being developed. “The products are produced in the form of pharmacy preparations, whether capsules or tablets. For malaria treatment, several products have been tested for their activity on animals or even pre-clinic,” she said. However at ITD, not only doing a research on anti-malaria medicine, Aty and her team are also exploring medicine ingredients from other herbs. Along with the team, she explores a few national parks and jungles to get some herbs as sample. The sample is in fact to be extracted and tested. There are two candidates for anti-malaria medicine from the extract that she has been developing. What she has been developing is not in the form of compound, but extract or fraction. The two candidates are made of chempedak bark and paniculata herbs. Herbal medicine for natural product researches is potential to be developed; since most of research titles which are accepted now are the ones with topic about natural medicine. “Nowadays the ‘back to nature’ jargon is well known in the community. This is also supported by Indonesia richness which is famous for its traditional herbs and medicine,” she added. Herbal medicine ingredients will be sustainable to be researched and developed. Moreover with the development of phytopharmaceutical technology, as time goes by the development of traditional medicine availability will also be better and more modern. (*) Author: Binti Q. Masruroh Editor: Nuri Hermawan

Collaboration and dissemination of research result at international level is one effort of UNAIR to reach Top 500 World Class University. One way of doing it is by holding a symposium as being held currently by UNAIR researchers. The symposium titled Global Strategy to Combat Energizing Infectious Disease in Borderless Era 2016 (GSEID) is a dissemination activity on researches’ results which is held by collaboration of FK and Institute of Tropical Disease (ITD) UNAIR. The opening ceremony was held in FK Hall, on August 8, 2016. “The objectives of this seminar are to shared information on research results on treatment and prevention of infectious disease,” said Dr. Soedarsono, dr., Sp.P (K), as the head of the committee of GSEID in his address. The seminar was attended by the Director of Organization Development of Higher Education Dr. Totok Prasetyo, B.Eng., M.T, Vice Rector I UNAIR Prof. Djoko Santoso, dr., Ph.D., Sp.PD., K-GH., FINASIM and 162 seminar participants, from academicians, researchers, practitioners and also regional governments from Japan, America, Europe and also Indonesia. “UNAIR is big and well known, it is time to be in Top 500 World Class University. Kemenristekdikti will support UNAIR to achieve it, one effort is through this international seminar,” said Totok. “The seminar will bring acknowledgement of the world towards Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR),” he added. BACA JUGA:  Innovation of Malaria Diagnostic Microscope by Prof. Indah S. Tantular Totok also expressed his praise to ITD UNAIR as an excellent health centre. He added that the excellence should be proved by reputable journals and the organization of this international seminar. In the seminar, dr. Asik Surya, MPPM, as the Policy advisor on Public Health of Indonesian Health Ministry, was also present as the keynote speaker with a theme Strategy to Combat Emerging and Spreading Infectious Diseases in Indonesia. Various activities in the seminar are, scientific discussion, symposium, poster acompetition and oral presentation of seminar participants. Some papers presented in GSEID 2016 are “The Case for Family Medicine and Primary Care” by Prof. Mark A. Graber of Iowa University, the USA; “Current Situation of Hepatitis B in Indonesia” by Prof. Maria Inge Lusida of UNAIR; and “Invasive Fungal Diseases: a Growing Public Health Challenge” by Anna Rozaliani, Ph.D of Universitas Indonesia. (*) Author: Dilan Salsabila Editor: Defrina Sukma S.

Women in this era have to perform difficult task, their roles are not merely to look after and take care of their family, but also to work and build their career. Not a few women have essential position in the institution they lead. Her office room was well-organized and simple, Prof. Maria Lucia Inge Lusida, dr., M.Kes., Ph.D had spared some time in her busy schedule. She shared some stories about her career as a researcher as well as the Head of Ketua Institute of Tropical Disease Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya. Since she started learning at Faculty of Medicine UNAIR in 1984, she has never imagined herself to be a researcher as well as a professor like she is now. She felt like the common medical students, going to classes regularly and discussing things with friends. But, after she finished bachelor program, she did not have the chance to serve in the community. “I had to wait for my turn. At that time, my husband had come back from service, it was known as Inpres. If I had gone, I would have been far from my husband. So, I became a lecturer and taught,” said Inge reminiscing. Inge was named as the professor on Clinical Microbiology FK UNAIR on July, 24 2010. She was conferred as UNAIR 388th professor or 96th since UNAIR had become a State University Acting as Legal Entity (PTN-BH). Inge, which was the secretary of ITD UNAIR when she was conferred as a professor, presented her scientific speech entitled “Peran Pemeriksaan Berbasis Biologi Molekuler dalam Upaya Penanggulangan Hepatitis B di Indonesia (Roles of Medical Test Based on Molecular Biology in the Effort to Eradicate Hepatitis B in Indonesia)”. The lecturer who has started her career in 1986 has conducted many researches on Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. There are at least 26 titles of her researches on Hepatitis which had been published. “I was interested in molecular biology because there were still many diseases in Indonesia which were caused by fungi infection, virus and bacteria so I wanted to develop the researches on molecular biology,” said the doctor graduated from Kobe, Japan. Some of her researches published in 2015 were “Hepatitis B virus infection in Indonesia 21(38): 10714 – 10720 World J Gastroenterol”, and “A Deep-sequencing Method Detects Drug-Resistant Mutations in the Hepatitis B Virus in Indonesians 57:384-92 Intervirology”. As an active researcher in campus, Inge hoped that the government fully support the researches for the development of Education. Furthermore, the target to be a world class university is difficult without the government’s support. “As a lecturer, the research activity must be active. With the ongoing research, education will develop too,” said the professor on Clinical Microbiology FK UNAIR. Her concern to research field made her commit to make ITD UNAIR as the University Science and Technology Excellence Center (PUI-PT). She also had a big hope for other institute in UNAIR to catch up ITD’s success as PUI-PT. “At this moment, ITD UNAIR was the only institution in UNAIR as PUI-PT, I hoped that in the future there will be more institutes from UNAIR to be PUI-PT,” she said.   Balance Even though Inge is at the peak of her career, she needs supports from families especially at the current position she is in. She has to manages the institute which was named as Science and Technology Excellence Center on medical field from the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education in December 2015. Besides research, she also teaches and carries out her job as a doctor. Being women is not an easy task. They were given responsibilities to look after their children. In addition, they also build their career at work. Inge emphasized that education is the main key for women. She is against the opinion which says only men can study as high as possible. For her, gender equality should also apply in Education. “At that time, Kartini struggled for women’s education. It still has its relevance now. Education for women and men should not be different. Women are mothers. They will nurture the next generation,” she said. Inge stated that it was not an easy task to do things simultaneously, especially in the beginning of career. But, she just follows the rhythm at campus and family life. For her, the key is to balance career and family. “If a woman has a career, both roles should successfully carried out. Family should be managed and career should run professionally. It is not easy indeed especially in the beginning, but both should work at best as time will never turn us back,” said Inge. (*) Author: Defrina Sukma S Editor: Nuri Hermawan

Prof. Indah S. Tantular , dr., M.Kes., Ph.D., Sp.Par-K, is a doctor graduated from Nagoya University, Japan in the team of Institute of Tropical Disease (ITD) UNAIR which innovated on “Modifikasi Mikroskop Fluoresens untuk Diagnosa Cepat Malaria (Fluorescence Microscope Modification for Quick Malaria Diagnostics)”. The patent number of the product is P00201000244, published on October 6 2011 number 051.4628. By using this modified microscope, blood test to diagnose Parasites of Malaria could be done quickly and easily with low-cost. Actually, fluorescence microscope exists already in the market right now, and it is also used to diagnose malaria and others diseases caused by parasites but it is large and expensive. Indah S. Tantular and her team spotted the challenges which need to be solved. They modified regular microscopes, change the filter inside, and then add the halogen lamp with AC/DC power which is easily acquired (such as in car battery). Nevertheless, the lamp was then changed by LED lamp with battery power.   

One of the labs in UNAIR is Proteomics Lab in Institute of Tropical Disease (ITD). It has sophisticated and complete equipments. It keeps making innovations for the nation.  

The visit of Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education has given some fresh air to stem cell research development. He praised the excellent stem cell development in Indonesia and said that it was equal with the development conducted abroad. It was stated by Mohammad Nasir when he was inspecting the research results of Universitas Airlangga researchers, on Friday, April 28, in Amerta Hall, Management Office Building Campus C UNAIR. “(Development of ) stem cell in Indonesia is as good as other countries. Stem cell in Indonesia is considered excellent. We, (compared to) China, America and Iran, are not very different. We want to push the researchers to develop more,” stated Nasih. In the occasion, Nasir also had a dialogue with a patient using the stem cell in UNAIR Hospital, Andi Muhammad Ardan. Andi suffered from cirrhosis because of hepatitis since 2013. During the dialogue, Andi who is a surgery specialist has had three times stem cell treatments. “I suffered from it in 2013, treated with stem cell three times. Then, it was repairing and the condition is now normal,” said Andi. In response to positive result from the cured patient with stem cell, Nasir said that that the ministry will keep supporting innovations of research development in university. Furthermore, he will also support the quality improvement of laboratories in universities. “This is the example of development, this is what we support. This kind of innovation is what we develop,” said Nasir. He hoped that the treatment with stem cell therapy can be used for the wider society. UNAIR stem cell researcher, Prof. Fedik Abdul Rantam, said that UNAIR is developing embryonic and mature cell. Stem cell research developed by UNAIR has high safety level and applicable to treat degenerative diseases. “We are developing this for diabetes mellitus therapy. There are more cases for this treatment in Surabaya. But stem cell has been applied to 12 degenerative diseases, such as bone fracture, cirrhosis, cancer and cerebral palsy,” said Fedik. Author: Defrina Sukma S

Two young researchers from Universitas Airlangga during their doctoral studies at Kobe University received an award from their faculty last October 2015. The young  researchers were Laura Navika Yamani (researcher of Institute of Tropical Disease UNAIR), and Tutik Sri Wahyuni (researchers ITD and a lecturer from UNAIR Faculty of Pharmacy). The award was Young Investigator Award (YIA) 2015, given by Prof. Kataoka, the dean of Faculty of Medicine, Kobe University. The award itself was a part of Kobe Homecoming Day (a welcoming day for new students, alumni, and public lectures on researches). The committee of the event invited professor assistants and students to participate in it. From 32 participants of poster competition, the judges graded the works based on the most votes. In this poster competition, Laura presented her research Ultra-deep Sequencing for Detection of Quasispecies Variants in the Major Hydrophilic Region of Hepatitis B virus in Indonesian patients, while Tutik presented her research Antiviral Activities of Medicinal Plants from Indonesia against Hepatitis C Virus. Based on the audience and judges, Laura and Tutik succeeded in winning YIA 2015. “The award is a blessing and the fruit of my research for my doctoral degree at Graduate School of Medicine of Kobe University. I have finished my paper publication as the requirement to graduate and in this event I presented the paper in a poster,” Laura said. Tutik felt the same way. The lecturer from Faculty of Pharmacy hoped that their achievement can attract researchers from other countries to see the research development in Indonesia. “With this award, I am more motivated to create more morks and of course this will prove that they also pay attention to researches from developing countries like Indonesia,” Tutik said. As appreciation, both of them got certificates and ¥100,000 prize money. Tutik planned to use the money to develop her research on hepatitis C anti-virus development with Indonesian plants. “From the ongoing research, some active compounds as anti-HCV were acquired and will be developed for other anti-viruses. The possibility to acquire other anti-viral active compounds from other plants is being studied until now,” Tutik said. Different plan was conveyed by Laura. After winning YIA 2015, Laura will prepare for her dissertation exam held in January 2016. “My dissertation exam is likely to be in January and hopefully I will graduate in March. Besides, with 5 months left in Japan I want to enjoy it and travel to places I had wanted to visit, especially the region which has Japanese traditional houses in snow, Shirakawa Go, in the last winter before going back to Indonesia,” Laura said. Other than YIA 2015, both of them also awarded as researches with achievements from UNAIR rector during Universitas Airlangga Open Assembly in its 61st Anniversary on November 10, 2015.  (*)

Surabaya, 6 Februari 2017 Institute of Tropical Disease trought Chairman, Prof. Maria Inge Lusida, dr., M.Kes., Sp.MK, Ph.D assign Working Contract to Rector UNAIR, Prof. Dr. Moh. Nasih., SE., MT., Ak., CMA. Working Contract 2017 is a target that have to be achieved by Institute of Tropical Disease about the target 2017 must be up from baseline on 2016. One of the target that must be achieve is Publication to International Scientific Journal (accepted) from 24 to be 40, , another else in Contract Join Research with national company from 22 to be 25. Bellow this is the detail contract on 2017 : We hope that target can be achieve together.