Universitas Brawijaya (UB) has again established a strategic collaboration with BGI College in the field of research and academic development, Monday (3/2/2025).
Deputy Dean of BGI College and Special Research Scientist of BGI GeneBank Jinsha Boulevard, China, Minfeng Xiao, Ph.D., visited UB directly to follow up on various collaborations that have been established.
One of the representatives of UB welcoming team, dr. Hikmawan Wahyu Sulistomo Ph.D. from the Faculty of Medicine, said that one of the main focuses of this collaboration is joint research related to the genome in Indonesia.
“BGI will provide training in Indonesia, which will be held at Universitas Brawijaya with participants from all over Indonesia,” he said.
This study aims to examine the characteristics of human genes in Indonesia, including studies on good bacteria in the human body in healthy conditions and when sick. As has been done in China, this study is expected to reveal how dietary patterns, lifestyle, and environment affect the microbiota in the bodies of Indonesian people. The results of this study can later be used to develop special probiotics that are in accordance with the needs of the Indonesian people, in order to improve patient health and recovery.
In addition to research, this collaboration also includes providing scholarships for UB students who wish to continue their studies at BGI College in China, either for undergraduate, postgraduate, or doctoral levels. In this meeting, UB and BGI College agreed to immediately follow up on the program with internal coordination at UB, including the recruitment of students who will be sent to China.
The next step, UB and BGI College will design a joint research scheme by considering the availability of human resources, tools, and funding. UB will also conduct an inventory of supporting facilities to ensure the smooth running of research activities.
With this collaboration, UB hopes to provide significant contributions to the development of science, especially in the fields of genome and biotechnology, as well as increasing academic opportunities for UB students in the international arena. (KAN/UB PR/ Trans. Iir).
