Osaka, Japan, 1 December 2025 – The Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, continues to expand its global academic network through a Visiting Professor program at the Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry for Boron Drug, BNCT Research Center, Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU), Japan. This initiative marks a strategic effort to broaden research collaboration in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT), an innovative and rapidly advancing precision technology for cancer treatment, both in research and clinical applications.
The Faculty of Pharmacy UGM was represented by Prof. Dr. apt. Ratna Asmah Susidarti, M.S. and Prof. Dr.rer.nat. apt. Endang Lukitaningsih, M.Si., two senior academics and researchers active in medicinal chemistry and drug development. Their participation reflects the Faculty’s commitment to strengthening research capacity and expanding its scientific network at the international level.
During the visit, the UGM delegation held in-depth discussions with Prof. Mitsunori Kirihata, a leading scientist in boron-based drug research. These discussions played an important role in deepening collaborative research, especially on the synthesis of F-PGB-0 derivatives, which is part of the joint research agenda between UGM and OMU. Beyond research exploration, the visit also served as a platform for exchanging expertise and innovation in BNCT development, opening further opportunities for collaboration in medicinal chemistry and health technologies.
This activity holds strategic importance for enhancing national research capacity, improving the quality of academic outputs, and enabling technology transfer through international collaboration. In addition to strengthening institutional ties between UGM and OMU, the program directly contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by supporting the advancement of more effective and accessible cancer therapies; SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by reinforcing research and access to cancer treatments with significant impact on women, such as breast cancer; and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by promoting global partnerships through research collaboration and knowledge exchange.
As a follow-up, the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM has outlined several strategic plans, including strengthening ongoing collaborative research with OMU, increasing the number of undergraduate and postgraduate students conducting research at OMU, and expanding joint supervision schemes as well as opportunities for OMU researchers to serve as examiners for UGM students. These efforts are expected to reinforce the international research ecosystem and generate innovations with meaningful impact on scientific advancement and public health.
Through this initiative, the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM reaffirms its role as an active, adaptive, and forward-looking institution committed to strengthening global collaboration and driving progress in innovative pharmaceutical research in Indonesia.
