During the inauguration ceremony, Professor Widyastuti delivered her inaugural lecture titled “Predicting the Risk of Severe Perioperative Critical Events to Improve Patient Safety in Pediatric Anesthesia Procedures.”

In her speech, Professor Widyastuti explained that perioperative critical conditions are respiratory, cardiac, allergic, or neurological complications requiring immediate intervention, which, if not promptly addressed, could lead to disability or death. 

Anesthesia procedures for adults and children differ, and these differences make pediatric anesthesia procedures more prone to complications that can result in disability or death. Thus, a special approach is required to predict risks and mitigate them. 

No predictive tools exist in Indonesia to forecast perioperative critical events in children. 

“This has motivated me to raise this topic, so it can become a reference for predicting perioperative critical events in children in the future,” she stated.

Professor Widyastuti outlined several factors influencing severe perioperative critical events in children. In general anesthesia, newborns are at higher risk of perioperative critical events compared to other age groups due to their developing anatomy. 

Data-based studies have shown that girls have a 25% higher risk of cardiovascular critical events compared to boys. 

“Other influencing factors include congenital anomalies, which involve structural or functional body abnormalities present from birth, the patient’s condition, and the type of anesthesia used,” she explained.

A recent systematic review of perioperative risk assessment tools from 10 studies found that the accuracy of prediction scores for severe perioperative critical events varied, with mortality rates ranging from 0.3% to 3.6%. 

These models use age at surgery, the need for mechanical ventilation within 48 hours before surgery, and oxygen support as the main predictors. 

Other factors are inotropic support, sepsis, emergency case status, the presence of a “do-not-resuscitate” order, preoperative blood transfusion, cancer, hematologic disorders, physical status, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation before surgery.

Using perioperative critical event risk prediction tools is crucial in improving post-operative clinical outcomes in pediatric patients. 

The latest development uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify the risk of severe perioperative critical events. 

Several studies have shown the benefits of machine learning in mapping post-operative complication risk factors.

According to Professor Widyastuti, assessing critical event risk is essential to minimize such risks. This effort should prioritize younger children. 

“In Indonesia, there is a need for a standardized predictive tool to forecast the risk of perioperative critical events in children, as well as a simple and practical clinical guideline that is easy to use,” she emphasized.

The Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Professor Ova Emilia, mentioned that Professor Widyastuti is one of 525 active professors at UGM and one of 72 active professors out of 102 professors that FK-KMK UGM has ever had.

Author: Jelita Agustine 

Editor: Gusti Grehenson 

Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya

Photographer: Donnie

Artikel UGM Professor Yunita Widyastuti Calls for Risk Prediction Tools in Pediatric Surgery pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

During his inaugural speech, Professor Abimanyu presented a lecture titled Islamic Economics as a Form of Compliance, a Way of Life, and a Beneficial Business Activity. 

His speech was based on his journey in exploring the knowledge and benefits of Islamic economics in Indonesia.

“Islamic economics is a branch of economic science that adheres to Islamic laws and principles. Its practitioners follow it out of religious compliance or obligation, such as ensuring transactions are halal, beneficial, and free from usury. Others perceive Islamic economics as a way of life based on sharing, cleanliness, and health,” he explained.

Professor Abimanyu stated that Islamic economics has become an increasingly relevant discipline within macroeconomics, which covers policies and regulations. 

Its appeal is not limited to Muslim students but also attracts non-Muslims. By the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Western countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom began promoting Islamic financial hubs. 

“Many Western universities have also established centers for Islamic economic studies,” he noted.

He explained that in Indonesia, the history of Islamic economics, particularly Islamic banking, began with banking deregulation in 1983. 

From that point, Bank Indonesia allowed six banks to determine their own interest rates and permitted profit-sharing systems in credit transactions.

“This deregulation laid the foundation for the development of Islamic banking in Indonesia,” he said.

In another part of his speech, Professor Abimanyu expressed that he no longer views Islamic economics merely as an alternative or complementary system to conventional economics. 

Instead, he has developed a new perspective, seeing Islamic economics as an expression of religious obedience and submission to divine revelation. 

Key aspects such as compliance, lifestyle, and societal benefits are fundamental to Islamic teachings, following halal transactions that strictly avoid gharar (transactional uncertainty), maysir (speculation), and riba (usury).

“It is not just about being halal, but also tayyib—promoting ethical and healthy consumption habits,” he emphasized.

Regarding the utilization and growing interest in Islamic economics in Indonesia, Professor Abimanyu noted that compliance, lifestyle, and business principles within Islamic economics have become focal points for Islamic scholars. 

“My research focuses on aspects of religious adherence, lifestyle, and business decisions in choosing Islamic banking products, consuming halal goods, and the benefits of umrah travel,” he stated.

UGM Rector Professor Ova Emilia highlighted that Professor Abimanyu is one of 525 active professors at UGM and one of five active professors at SV UGM.

Professor Abimanyu has held several notable positions, including Head of the Hajj Fund Management Agency (BPKH) from 2017 to 2022, Commissioner of BRI Syariah from 2015 to 2017, and Chief Economist of BRI from 2014 to 2017. 

He served as Head of the Fiscal Policy Agency at the Ministry of Finance from 2003 to 2010 and as an expert staff member for the Minister of Finance from 1999 to 2003. 

Before becoming Deputy Minister of Finance, he was the Head of the Department of Economics and Business at SV UGM, where he also lectured.

Several prominent national figures attended the inauguration ceremony, including Indonesia’s 11th Vice President Boediono, the 13th Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, and Professor Pratikno, the UGM Board of Trustees Chair. 

Several coordinating ministers were also present, such as the Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Muhaimin Iskandar, the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, and the Presidential Adviser for Politics and Security, Wiranto. 

Other attendees included Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Ganjar Pranowo, Anies Baswedan, Mahfud MD, and Deputy Minister of Law Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej.

Coordinating Minister Muhaimin Iskandar praised Professor Abimanyu for becoming a professor at SV UGM. He described it as an extraordinary accomplishment, especially given Professor Abimanyu’s focus on Islamic economics. 

“UGM plays an integral role in advancing knowledge and its application in all aspects of development. Congratulations to Professor Abimanyu and UGM,” he said.

Similarly, Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hartarto appreciated Professor Abimanyu’s inauguration. 

“His lecture on Islamic economics and its relevance to modern lifestyles is significant and will help drive the growth of the Islamic economy,” he remarked.

Author: Agung Nugroho

Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya

Photographer: Firsto

Artikel Deputy Finance Minister Anggito Abimanyu Inaugurated as UGM Professor in Economics pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The two professors are Professor Tri Satya Mastuti Widi, inaugurated as professor of livestock production systems, and Professor Panjono, inaugurated as professor of livestock production at Animal Science UGM.

These two animal science experts complemented each other and discussed the importance of animal science for society’s broader needs. 

In his inaugural speech, “Development of the Livestock Industry Towards a Golden Indonesia 2045,” Professor Panjono explained that the fulfillment of the meat supply as part of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) Program, which aims to improve the quality of education and children’s health by providing nutritious food, is crucial to supporting the program. 

“Meat contains many essential nutrients for the body, such as proteins, iron, zinc, selenium, and vitamins,” he said.

Chicken, beef, and buffalo meat primarily dominate meat consumption in Indonesia. However, unlike broiler chickens, which can meet demand due to a surplus, beef and buffalo meat still experience a deficit. 

This deficit arises from the lower production of beef and buffalo meat, which stands at 496.25 thousand tons compared to the national demand of 759.67 thousand tons.

This shortfall has been met through meat or live cattle imports. However, relying on imports is not ideal for national food independence, according to him. 

“Meeting meat demand by increasing domestic production will enhance food sovereignty and provide added value for the livestock industry,” he stated.

He further elaborated that strategic steps must be taken to develop a livestock industry that meets national needs and increases farmers’ income. 

These include improving genetic quality, applying efficient farming techniques, developing production systems, and optimizing business scales. 

“These steps must be outlined in short, medium, and long-term programs so that the goal of independently meeting national meat demand can be achieved alongside the realization of the Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision,” Professor Panjono concluded.

Similarly, Professor Tri Satya Mastuti Widi raised related issues in her inaugural speech, “Designing Sustainable Livestock Production Systems with a Holistic Approach Based on Local Wisdom.” She explained that a sustainable livestock production system could help address food security issues in Indonesia.

Professor Widi stated that food and energy availability are crucial and longstanding issues for many countries worldwide, and Indonesia is no exception. 

She explained that red meat, particularly beef, is a traditional source of animal protein in Indonesia, but there is still a gap between production and consumption. 

“Reflecting on projections of beef production and consumption in Indonesia for 2023–2027, a gap between production and consumption remains,” Professor Widi explained.

She further noted that this deficit is partly due to differences between government programs and farmers’ goals. 

Professor Widi then discussed various efforts to meet food needs, explaining that every effort to increase food production has impacts on the environment, biodiversity, animal welfare, and human health. 

Therefore, a sustainable approach that appreciates local wisdom is needed to ensure that future food production does not compromise human health, biodiversity, animal welfare, or the environment. 

“Research and development should be directed towards the contribution of agricultural/livestock production systems to sustainable development through a holistic approach that recognizes farmers’ dual objectives and related trade-offs,” she emphasized.

In her closing remarks, Professor Widi presented several ideas related to the sustainability of livestock production systems, particularly in livestock development. 

These include paying attention to local production systems and local wisdom, analyzing trade-offs and impacts in every production system’s progress, improving local production systems, land use sharing, and utilizing marginal land, as well as synergistic, comprehensive, and conducive government policies. 

She added that the success of this design requires collaboration from all stakeholders and government support to make it a reality.

Author: Leony

Editor: Gusti Grehenson

Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya

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Artikel UGM Professors Discuss Livestock Industry Strategies for Golden Indonesia 2045 pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

In fact, understanding these benefits and prescribing exercise as part of disease management has been practiced for over 2,500 years in various parts of the world. 

However, over time, exercise has received less attention as a component of disease treatment and prevention. 

“Exercise is often considered merely as a form of entertainment, a way to fill leisure time, or to shape the body,” said Professor Denny Agustiningsih from the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing at Universitas Gadjah Mada (FK-KMK UGM), who was inaugurated as professor of sports physiology on Thursday (Jan. 30).

In her inaugural speech, “Does Exercise Always Bring Health Benefits?” Professor Agustiningsih presented various studies on factors contributing to the high incidence of chronic diseases, ultimately reemphasizing the importance of physical activity in the medical field. 

Researchers believe no other intervention, such as physical activity, can positively impact multiple organs and body systems. 

“In 2007, integrating physical activity into routine healthcare emerged as a way to prevent and treat chronic diseases. The main principle of this initiative stressed that exercise is not only a means to improve fitness but also an essential tool in preventing and treating various chronic diseases,” she explained.

According to her, exercise can indeed be an extraordinary means of maintaining and improving health, but it must be done wisely—following the right dosage and always paying attention to the body’s signals that require recovery time and repair. 

A proper understanding of the benefits and risks, along with policies supporting safe and inclusive sports, will ensure that exercise truly brings health benefits to all individuals. 

“There is still much work to be done in promoting awareness campaigns about the importance of proper exercise and the risks of excessive exercise without making people afraid or hesitant to engage in physical activity,” she remarked.

Professor Agustiningsih noted the increasing efforts by the government, academics, and various community groups to promote exercise. 

Additionally, she observed the public’s growing enthusiasm for participating in and attending various sports-related events. This shows that society is becoming more aware of and attentive to the health benefits of exercise. 

Moreover, on social media, there are also groups of people who are highly enthusiastic about exercising and regularly share their activities online. 

On the other hand, reports of accidents and even deaths during exercise have surfaced, sparking various comments, both scientific and non-scientific. 

“We need to understand and address the other side of exercise, which requires careful attention to ensure that everyone can fully benefit from exercise as one of the pillars of health,” she said.

Author: Agung Nugroho

Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya

Photographer: Donnie

Artikel UGM Professor: Physical Activity Can Prevent and Treat Chronic Diseases pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

On Tuesday (Jan. 21), Professor Murti delivered a speech in front of an audience that filled the Senate Hall of the UGM Central Office titled “The Importance, Challenges, and Solutions to Horticulture Problems through an Effective Plant Breeding Program.”

Professor Murti explained that horticultural plants play a significant role in providing healthy food, vitamins, and minerals and in recreational activities for the community. 

They also contribute to food security, environmental sustainability, beauty, therapy and medicine, recreation, genetic diversity, labor absorption, and the economy.

Achieving food security through horticultural production often faces challenges such as pest attacks, low productivity, poor quality, rapid spoilage, long supply chains, changing consumer preferences, and a decrease in land area. 

Professor Murti argued that one way to improve production and quality is by using superior varieties with high productivity and quality that are resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses. 

“Efforts to produce superior varieties can be carried out through conventional breeding methods combined with the latest methods, such as genetic engineering, marker-assisted selection, and genome editing,” he added.

Challenges also arise from consumers who want sweeter tastes and more attractive colors, such as mangoes with blushing skins and low fiber, seedless watermelons, medium-sized and sweet papayas, and fruits with high antioxidants. 

New and distinctive colors, tastes, and textures will continue to attract consumer interest and create international market opportunities. 

“Therefore, plant breeders must be precise in understanding the characteristics of the products according to the targeted market segment,” he said.

Plant breeding activities must also consider consumer preferences, product purposes, and supply chain actors according to their market segments.

Breeders must be observant in determining the key characteristics of the products they will produce without neglecting other quality standards.

“Quality improvement in line with market demands can be done through plant breeding by utilizing appropriate genetic resources,” he explained.

Professor Murti believes that horticultural farming is more intensive than food crops, making horticultural farmers risk-takers. For instance, farmers exert considerable effort, such as using large amounts of pesticides to control pests to ensure high-quality harvests. 

However, increased pesticide use results in pest resistance, leading to the emergence of new biotypes and environmental pollution. 

The growth of global trade in planting materials and fresh produce also increases the risk of foreign pests and pathogens entering and spreading in new environments.

“There needs to be synergy across scientific fields to accelerate plant breeding efforts, resulting in more hybrid varieties, lower plant breeding and hybrid seed production costs, increased farmer income, and higher national horticultural production that will meet demand, as well as faster solutions to agricultural issues related to breeding,” concluded the new professor.

With Professor Murti’s appointment, the Chair of the UGM Board of Professors, Professor M. Baiquni, stated that the new professor became one of 524 active professors at UGM and one of 30 active professors from the 62 professors ever owned by the Faculty of Agriculture, UGM.

Author: Lazuardi

Editor: Gusti Grehenson

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Artikel New UGM Professor Highlights Plant Breeding Technology as Key to Boosting Agricultural Production pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The three newly installed professors are Professor Sri Kuswandari, Professor Heni Susilowati, and Professor Dewi Agustina.

Professor Dewi Agustina, inaugurated in geriatric oral diseases, delivered a speech titled “Improving Oral Health to Achieve Optimal Quality of Life for the Elderly.” 

According to Professor Agustina, a noticeable global population increase, including in Indonesia, leads to a growing number of elderly individuals. 

This creates unique challenges in healthcare, including oral health. 

“Oral health has not yet become a priority, resulting in deteriorating oral health and function as people age. This is also influenced by the concept of ageism, commonly accepted by the elderly,” she said.

Ageism reflects the attitude of elderly individuals who accept their deteriorating oral condition as natural and inevitable, seeing it as part of aging rather than a problem. This causes the elderly to feel less motivated to improve their oral condition. 

“Deteriorating oral health in the elderly is not merely due to aging but is also the result of accumulated oral diseases that have long been neglected,” she explained.

Professor Agustina also mentioned that many systemic diseases or their treatments manifest in the oral cavity and, conversely, oral diseases can affect the management of systemic diseases, even increasing the risk of systemic illness. 

“This connection is increasingly evident in elderly care, as most elderly individuals have compromised medical conditions,” she stated.

Meanwhile, Professor Susilowati, inaugurated in the field of oral microbiology and immunology, delivered a speech titled “The Role of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in Oral Cavity Infections.” 

In her presentation, Professor Susilowati emphasized the importance of comprehensive oral health care for all children through occlusal guidance.

Occlusal guidance involves guiding the eruption and development of teeth from the milk teeth phase through the mixed and permanent phases to achieve stable, functional, and aesthetically acceptable permanent teeth.

Orthodontic treatment results in children will not be stable if bad oral habits are not stopped. Therefore, dentists need to introduce comprehensive dental care concepts to children.

Cooperation between dentists, maternal and child healthcare providers, maternity hospitals, and midwives is essential.

Early intervention is needed to prevent malocclusion or abnormal teeth and jaw alignment, even from birth. Physiological stimulation is crucial to supporting the normal growth of the craniofacial complex. 

“Recognizing and stopping children’s bad oral habits early on will prevent the development of malocclusion,” she explained.

Professor in pediatric dentistry Sri Kuswandari delivered a speech titled “Improving Oral Health to Achieve Optimal Quality of Life for the Elderly.” 

According to her, dry mouth, a condition caused by reduced saliva production, commonly occurs in the elderly and is often a side effect of uncontrolled systemic diseases like diabetes mellitus and regular medication use, such as antihypertensives. 

“Dry mouth makes the elderly more prone to oral infections such as gum disease and cavities due to poor oral hygiene,” she explained.

According to Professor Kuswandari, gum disease and cavities can cause the elderly to experience pain in their teeth and mouth, eating difficulties, and a loss of confidence, ultimately lowering their quality of life. 

“In healthcare, quality of life is generally assessed based on overall health, while oral health is often overlooked,” she added.

She presented research conducted at elderly health centers in Yogyakarta, which showed that around 70% of the elderly have very low oral health-related quality of life. Poor oral health is the result of inadequate oral care, which makes the mouth unable to fulfill its functions.

Professor Kuswandari shared tips for the elderly to improve their oral health and achieve optimal quality of life, including maintaining oral hygiene, managing diagnosed systemic diseases, seeking further examinations if abnormal symptoms or signs arise, quitting smoking, stopping mouth breathing, and managing psychological issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression. 

“Equally important is staying hydrated with at least 1.5 liters of water per day, having regular dental check-ups every six months, and never neglecting oral health,” she concluded.

Authors: Kezia Dwina Nathania and Tiefany Ruwaida Nasukha

Editor: Gusti Grehenson

Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya

Photographer: Donnie

Artikel UGM Installs Three Professors from Faculty of Dentistry pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

During the inauguration ceremony, Professor Wiedyaningsih delivered her professorial speech titled “The Strategic Role of Pharmacists in Strengthening Policies for the Safety of Drug Distribution and Use in Society.”

In the speech, she explained how unregulated drug distribution could lead to serious public health issues. 

Oversight must be applied to the types of drugs and the equitable distribution of these drugs. 

“The shortage of drugs in some areas, or the excessive availability of certain drugs that have passed their expiration date, the risk of drug abuse, and the circulation of illegal drugs,” Professor Wiedyaningsih stated in UGM Senate Hall.

She cited a national survey by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) of Indonesia, which reported that cases of drug abuse are increasing each year. 

In 2023, the prevalence of narcotics abuse reached 1.73%, equivalent to 3.3 million people aged 15-64 in Indonesia. 

These cases occur not only with narcotic and psychotropic substances but also with certain medications, such as tramadol, trihexyphenidyl, chlorpromazine, amitriptyline, haloperidol, and dextromethorphan. 

If this condition is not addressed, there are concerns that the circulation of illegal drugs will increase. 

“In the Special Region of Yogyakarta, the consumption of certain drugs among the public, particularly the younger generation, remains high. As of August 2021, 88% of the cases involved these drugs,” Professor Wiedyaningsih explained.

Several reports also show excessive use of drugs in low- and middle-income countries. 

While Indonesia is still categorized as low, with fewer than 10,000 cases, this is due to the need for improvements in pharmacovigilance reporting systems.

According to her, the government needs to review and address the drug distribution channels in society, accessibility, and the buying and selling processes. 

The drug distribution chain in Indonesia is inseparable from the distributors’ involvement. The National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) sets standards for Good Distribution Practices (GDP) to ensure the quality and safety of distributed drugs. 

“One of the challenges is the distribution process involving many parties, from suppliers, manufacturers, retailers, to consumers,” she said.

As counterfeit and expired drugs are discovered, along with the rise of online transactions, the circulation of drugs is increasingly beyond supervision. 

According to Professor Wiedyaningsih, pharmacists play an important role in ensuring the safety of drugs consumed by the public.

Author: Tasya

Editor: Gusti Grehenson

Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna Nurseisa Azrien

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Artikel UGM Pharmacy Lecturer Chairun Wiedyaningsih Appointed as Professor pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

This progress is possible due to developments in computational techniques and quantum theory, which enable scientists to model and simulate the behavior of atoms at the nanoscale. One proven and accurate approach for modeling material properties at the atomic level is Density Functional Theory (DFT).  

Professor Sholihun, a newly inaugurated professor of crystal and molecular computational design at the UGM Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA UGM), highlighted this. 

Professor Sholihun delivered his inaugural speech titled “Crystal-Molecular Computational Design and Its Applications: Quantum Simulations Using Density Functional Theory (DFT)“ during the ceremony held on Thursday, Dec. 12, in the UGM Senate Hall.  

In his speech, Professor Sholihun emphasized that computational design has become critical in addressing the growing demand for new materials with unique properties tailored for specific applications. 

Developing such materials using traditional means requires lengthy processes and significant costs. Computational design offers the advantage of virtually predicting and designing material properties before physical creation. 

“By utilizing principles of physics, chemistry, and mathematics, computational material design builds models that illustrate atomic behavior, their interactions, arrangements, and responses to conditions such as pressure, temperature, and magnetic fields,” he explained.  

Professor Sholihun elaborated on the significance of crystals and molecules, which are fundamental forms of matter with contrasting yet complementary properties for various technological applications. 

Quantum simulations enable predictions of how crystals and molecules behave under different conditions. 

“These simulations are essential for the development of new materials,” he added.  

Furthermore, quantum simulations allow researchers to study and predict material properties by incorporating quantum effects, often overlooked in classical approaches. 

DFT, in particular, calculates a system’s total energy based on electron density rather than wave functions. 

“With DFT, we leverage the principle that all quantum properties of a system can be derived from electron density, which is a function of spatial position,” he explained.  

DFT’s primary advantage is its efficiency in simulating systems with many electrons, making it suitable for modeling complex materials like metals, semiconductors, and molecular systems. 

DFT can also simulate nanoparticles, understand atomic clusters, and study molecular systems. Its applications span a range of fields, including quantum technology, drug delivery, and the discovery of new materials.  

Professor Wahyudi Kumorotomo, Secretary of the UGM Board of Professors, remarked that Professor Sholihun is among UGM’s 502 active professors and one of 49 active professors out of 72 within FMIPA UGM.  

Author: Leony  

Editor: Gusti Grehenson  

Photographer: Donnie 

Artikel Researching Quantum Simulations Using DFT, Dr. Sholihun Inaugurated as UGM Professor pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

By understanding the proteins involved in cancer development, researchers can design drugs that more accurately target cancer cells without harming the surrounding healthy cells.

Technological advancements and the Fourth Industrial Revolution have paved the way for breakthroughs in developing more effective and targeted anticancer agents. 

Given the many proteins involved in cancer cell regulation and progression, identifying which proteins to use must leverage big data and bioinformatics.

According to Professor Adam Hermawan, the latest technological advances and the growing availability of big data provide opportunities to address challenges in drug discovery. 

Big data in drug discovery refers to a collection of biological, chemical, pharmacological, and clinical resources. In the drug discovery process, big data can be applied from target validation to the final stages of clinical trials.

“On this occasion, I will focus solely on the application of big data in identifying anticancer protein targets,” he said at the UGM Senate Hall on Thursday (Nov. 21), delivering his inaugural address as professor of macromolecular engineering at the UGM Faculty of Pharmacy.

In his speech, “Utilizing Integrated Big Data and Bioinformatics in Target Protein Identification for Anticancer Agent Development,” Professor Hermawan discussed how big data analysis using Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and integrated bioinformatics has been employed over the last five years for biomarker selection, target protein identification, drug candidate selection, and drug sensitivity prediction. 

AI has even been successfully used to discover drugs and accelerate phase I and phase II clinical trials. 

“AI has been utilized for several purposes, including discovering drug target proteins, designing new small molecules, and developing vaccines. More than 50 percent of AI-discovered molecules that have undergone phase I clinical trials are anticancer agents,” he explained.

Professor Hermawan also noted that the success rate of phase I clinical trials for AI-derived molecules reaches 80-90 percent. This is due to well-validated biological targets and pathways in AI-derived molecules, which help reduce the toxicity of the designed drugs.

However, in phase II clinical trials, the success rate for AI-discovered molecules drops to only 40 percent, as phase II is the stage for proving the concepts and biological mechanisms previously suggested by AI regarding disease-relevant targets and signaling pathways. 

“With the continuous development of AI, the success rate of clinical trials for AI-discovered molecules is expected to increase, allowing for the development of more effective drugs,” he concluded.

Author: Agung Nugroho

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Artikel Utilizing Big Data for Anticancer Agent Development, Professor Adam Hermawan Earns Professorship pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The ceremony occurred on Tuesday (Aug. 27) at the UGM Senate Hall. Professor Nurul Indarti’s appointment marks a significant achievement for the Management Study Program. She is the first female professor in this program and remains the only active female professor at FEB UGM following Professor Sri Adiningsih’s passing.

Professor Indarti expressed her gratitude for being appointed Professor at the age of 48. She was surprised to be the first female in the Management program to achieve this rank. 

“I am grateful and relieved because this responsibility has been pending since November 2020, and I am glad to have fulfilled it. This is my public accountability for what I have received as a professor,” Professor Indarti told reporters.

As a woman, Professor Indarti mentioned that she felt supported in her journey to becoming a professor thanks to the encouragement and support from her family. 

“I have felt facilitated in many situations, especially because my family has been very supportive. My social support infrastructure is excellent for supporting my career,” she said.

Professor Indarti believes that family support is crucial to achieving one’s dreams. She believes that when someone strives to achieve their goals or dreams, family should be the primary source of moral support.

Looking ahead, Professor Indarti hopes other lecturers in the Management program, especially women, will succeed similarly. She believes that her achievements result from valuing the process of seeking knowledge and persisting in efforts. 

“When we commit to working, we must dedicate ourselves to learning and not view it as a burden. This way, when we conduct research, the outcomes are something we truly enjoy,” she explained.

As noted, in her inauguration speech titled “Viewing Entrepreneurship from the Margins: Ethnic, Gender, and Social Perspectives,” Professor Indarti emphasized that certain ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, and other marginalized groups often face discrimination and difficulties that hinder their ability to start and run businesses. 

Therefore, she suggested that marginal perspectives on entrepreneurship should be included in university entrepreneurship curricula. 

“Marginal perspectives on entrepreneurship could be incorporated into higher education curricula, complementing the traditionally finance-focused perspectives,” she said.

Reporter: Hanif

Editor: Gusti Grehenson

Photographer: Donnie

Post-editor: Afif

Artikel Professor Nurul Indarti Becomes First Female Professor in Management at UGM pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.