Yogyakarta, March 30, 2026 – The Faculty of Pharmacy at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) welcomed an academic visit from the Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan, as part of its strategic efforts to strengthen international collaboration in pharmaceutical education and research. The visit featured Susumu Kajiwara and Shunichiro Ogura, who bring expertise in molecular biology, microbiology, immunology, and metabolomics and their applications in health sciences.
One of the key agendas during the visit was a meeting with the leadership of the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM to explore potential strategic collaborations between the two institutions. Discussions focused on advancing joint research in drug discovery, particularly in understanding the molecular mechanisms of pathogenic fungal infections, identifying virulence factors, and developing antifungal drug candidates, as well as exploring metabolite applications in medical sciences, including cancer.
As a concrete follow-up to these discussions, both parties signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) as an initial commitment to establishing broader and more sustainable collaboration. This signing marks an important foundation for future initiatives, including the development of formal agreements, implementation of joint research projects, and strengthening of international academic networks with the Institute of Science Tokyo.
Through this collaboration, various opportunities are expected to open for the academic community at the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM, including knowledge exchange, collaborative research development, joint publications, and access to international research funding. In addition, students may benefit from exchange programs, research internships, and joint supervision opportunities with partner institutions in Japan.
This visit not only strengthens international research networks but also contributes to enhancing the academic capacity and global reputation of the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM in the field of life science-based drug discovery and development. The synergy between the two institutions is expected to bridge fundamental and applied research toward innovations that deliver tangible benefits for public health.
This initiative aligns with the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through health research and innovative drug development, SDG 4 (Quality Education) through globally collaborative education, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through strengthened international partnerships in education and research.
