Faculty of Pharmacy of Universitas Gadjah Mada held a general lecture, Pharmacy Guest Lecture, presenting two resource persons from Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan, Prof. Masashi Kawaichi and Dr. Norihiro Ishida-Kitagawa. The event on Thursday (12/10) was conducted in Auditorium of Faculty of Pharmacy UGM.
Prof. Masashi explained the facilities and achievements made by NAIST in research. Data from Thomson Reuters said that papers published by NAIST was most cited between 2003-2012, ranking the first in education among all Japanese national universities. Prof. Masashi added currently some 39 students of UGM were studying at NAIST, the largest of all Indonesian universities.
“Don’t worry and fear if you want to study at NAIST, the government provides scholarship and facility,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Norihiro presented a topic on Cell Proliferation and Differentation as Target of Therapy which was his research on osteoporosis. The Assistant Professor at Graduate School of Biological Sciences, NAIST, said that the Osteoclast (OC) coming from hematopoietic cells was the major component of bones that is responsible to cases of osteoporosis. OC resorption activities reduce bone density matrix. His team had found a number of materials to be made into new medication for osteoporosis.
“I’m optimistic that the molecular research can be the grounds for improving damage and disease in human beings,” said Dr. Norihiro.
Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy UGM, Prof. Dr. Agung Endro Nugroho, M.Si., Apt., who attended the lecture said the lecture was just one of many forms of cooperation between UGM and NAIST in research and human resource areas. The Faculty has sent lecturers and students to do research at NAIST. Hopefully, the event would be able to improve the research culture at UGM and increase cooperation and publication between the two universities.
“This general lecture is expected to promote current research development and science of NAIST to UGM academic community,” said Prof. Agung.