Veterinarian and Dean of the UGM Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Teguh Budipitojo, was inaugurated as a professor of Anatomy on Tuesday (4/7) at the UGM Senate Hall.
Professor Budipitojo is one of the faculty members in the Department of Anatomy at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and has been serving as the dean of the faculty since 2021.
During the inauguration ceremony, he delivered an inaugural speech entitled “The Role of Animal Anatomy in Revealing the Variation of Signaling Molecules Distribution in Animals and Underlying the Development of Degenerative Disease Therapies.”
“This theme was chosen considering that the documentation of the presence, distribution, and expression of various signaling molecules at the cellular level in the bodies of various animal species has not been the focus of attention for animal anatomy experts in Indonesia,” the professor began his speech.
Signaling molecules are molecules cells use to communicate with other cells or their environment.
He explained that understanding this is crucial to support knowledge about how animal species adapt and evolve in their environment, which will aid efforts to protect animal species from extinction and preserve biodiversity.
“Understanding the presence of signaling molecules involved in the regulation of tissue/organ functions at the cellular level will help accelerate the theoretical understanding of the disease processes as the basis for discovering biological substances that can cure degenerative diseases,” he explained.
During the occasion, he presented the results of a series of studies he conducted, identifying the presence of various types of signaling molecules at the cellular level in different animal species.
From these studies, he concluded that various signaling molecules’ presence, distribution, and expression vary significantly among animal species.
As an exploratory research result that enriches the documentation of endemic species at the cellular level, these discoveries can clarify the understanding of the functions of various signaling molecules, which can be used as a basis for conservation efforts.
Furthermore, the data related to the effects of secretome administration on cell structure improvement and the involvement of signaling molecules within them in certain degenerative diseases using animal models provide a broad perspective on the development of secretome as a treatment for degenerative diseases.
“As fundamental research, the results obtained still need to undergo further research before they can be translated into practical applications,” added Professor Budipitojo.
Author: Gloria
Photographer: Donnie