Yogyakarta, 2 December 2025 — The Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held a Guest Lecture for the Pharmacology and Toxicology 1 course under the theme “The Role of Pharmacology and Toxicology in New Drug Discovery.” The virtual event featured three experts in molecular biology, infectious disease pharmacology, and cancer drug resistance, and was moderated by Dr. apt. Soni Siswanto, M.Biomed., who guided the discussion throughout the session.
The first session, delivered by Dr. Ria Fajarwati Kastian, M.Biotech., M.Bio.Sci, explored the use of CRISPR/Cas9 technology and cellomic approaches to study the function of cell adhesion genes in metastatic colorectal cancer. Through this topic, students were introduced to how genome-editing technologies enable precise target identification and deepen the understanding of disease mechanisms. In the second session, Gusnaniar, M.Biotech., PhD., discussed pharmacological strategies to inhibit pathogenic biofilms, from the initial adhesion process to bacterial transmission. The final presentation, by Dr. apt. Bantari Wisynu Kusuma Wardhani, M.Biomed., examined the role of the TGF-β/TMEPAI pathway in drug resistance in triple-negative breast cancer and highlighted the potential of genome editing as a tool to modulate these pathways for more effective therapeutic development.
With interactive moderation in the Q&A session, the event not only enriched postgraduate students’ understanding of the integration between pharmacology, toxicology, and molecular biology but also fostered a dynamic scientific dialogue that encouraged critical thinking and research collaboration. This academic initiative supports the advancement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) through strengthened health research, SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing exposure to cutting-edge scientific knowledge, and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through the application of genomic and biotechnological innovations in drug discovery.
