Yogyakarta, August 26, 2026 — The Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), hosted a Guest Lecture titled “Shaping the Future of Drug Discovery: AI-Assisted Design, Chemical Biology, and Precision Oncology” on Wednesday (August 26). Held from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the 8th Floor Auditorium, APSLC Building, UGM Faculty of Pharmacy, the event was open to all Faculty of Pharmacy students and academics.
The guest lecture featured Prof. Hiroyuki Nakamura from the Institute of Science Tokyo as the speaker and Dr. apt. Rohmad Yudi Utomo, M.Sc., as the moderator. The session provided participants with insights into recent developments in drug discovery and development, particularly the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), chemical biology approaches, and precision oncology in addressing challenges in modern healthcare.
During the lecture, Prof. Hiroyuki Nakamura discussed various emerging approaches that could support more innovative and precise drug discovery processes. AI-assisted drug design represents an important advancement with the potential to accelerate the identification of drug candidates and deepen the understanding of molecular interactions. Meanwhile, chemical biology provides valuable approaches to bridge biological processes with therapeutic development, while precision oncology offers opportunities to develop treatments that are better tailored to the biological characteristics of individual patients.
The guest lecture served as part of the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM’s efforts to broaden students’ perspectives on emerging developments in pharmaceutical science and technology while strengthening international academic networks. Direct interaction with an academic from the Institute of Science Tokyo provided students with new perspectives on the future direction of drug discovery research.
The activity also contributed to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being through the advancement of knowledge and innovation in drug discovery and development, SDG 4: Quality Education through access to learning on current scientific developments, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through strengthened academic collaboration and international partnerships.
Through this guest lecture, the Faculty of Pharmacy UGM continues to encourage students to explore technological advancements and multidisciplinary approaches that may shape the future of pharmaceutical science. International academic engagement is expected to further strengthen the Faculty’s contribution to scientific development and healthcare innovation.
Writer: Rizqi Vazrin | Editor: Fathul | Photo : Gilang
