A team of bright minds from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has once again demonstrated its prowess on the global stage, securing an impressive array of accolades at the Global Open Genetic Engineering Competition (GOGEC).
The event, held virtually from Feb. 23 to 25, 2024, saw the UGM team clinching a prestigious Gold Medal alongside coveted titles for Best Computational Project and Best Human-Centered Design.
The GOGEC competition stands as a beacon of excellence in genetic engineering, attracting participation from 15 teams spanning 11 countries.
Comprising undergraduate students from diverse academic backgrounds, this year’s competition showcased the ingenuity and talent of budding scientists from across the globe.
Representing UGM with unwavering dedication and expertise were nine outstanding students: Adhelia Intan Sabhira, Sofyan Maulana, and Ulfah Nur Azizah from the Faculty of Biology; Farrel Alfaza Marsetyo and Nayaka Bagus Wahyu Agung Hertanto from the Faculty of Pharmacy; Afra Majida Hariono and Kayla Queenazima Santoso from the Faculty of Engineering; Melodia Rezadhini from the Faculty of Agriculture; and Muhammad Bagus Sajiwo from the Faculty of Agricultural Technology.
For Adhelia Sabhira and her teammates, this marked a debut appearance on the international stage, making their triumph all the more remarkable. Reflecting on their victory, Sabhira expressed gratitude for the team’s inaugural success.
“This is our first foray into such a prestigious competition, which has been running since 2021,” she remarked on Thursday (Feb. 29).
Each participating team presented innovative research projects to foster accessible and affordable international competition.
The UGM team showcased a computational project titled “Novel Biodevice for Colorectal Cancer Screening using Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) with miRNAs as Biomarker.”
“Our project centers on engineering EcN bacteria to detect miR-92a and miR-21 as biomarkers for colorectal cancer cells, coupled with enhancing Loop-Initiated RNA Activator (LIRA) sensitivity through mathematical modeling and computer simulation,” she said.
In the pursuit of their research endeavors, team members engaged in extensive consultations with researchers, stakeholders, government agencies, rural communities, and colorectal cancer patients.
The team used available online datasets to refine the LIRA sequence and devised a kill switch as a biocontainment measure.
“Our commitment to rigorous research and community engagement undoubtedly contributed to our triumphant haul of three prestigious awards: the Gold Medal, Best Computational Project, and Best Human-Centered Design,” Sabhira affirmed.
Author: Gusti Grehenson