Research Centre of SMONAGENES (Smart Molecules of Natural Genetics Resources) Brawijaya University held the 4th ISSMART (International Seminar on Smart Molecule of Natural Resources) – AFOB (Asian Federation of Biotechnology) on August, 24-25th 2022 with the theme is “Smart Molecules for Strategies Community Life After Pandemic”. This hybrid international seminar has been regularly held since 2019 and was attended by participants and keynote speakers from more than five countries. This event is the collaboration of the Research Centre of SMONAGENES with the international professional organization AFOB (Asian Federation of Biotechnology).
The seminar lasted for two days and began with remarks and activity reports by the chairman of the ISSMART – AFOB 2022 Committee, Dr. dr. Nia Kurnianingsih, M.Biomed. The seminar was opened by the Rector of Brawijaya University, Prof.Widodo, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D.Med.Sc. In his speech, Prof.Widodo, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D.Med.Sc. said that 4th ISSMART can increase collaboration opportunities between Brawijaya University and the others, both in Indonesia and other countries.
There are several keynotes and an invited speaker in this seminar, Prof. Katsuhiro Miyajima, from Tokyo University of Agriculture, Japan; Assoc. Prof. Ts. ChM. Dr Nik Ahmad Nizam Nik Malek, from Universiti Teknologi, Malaysia; Prof. Fatchiyah, M.Kes., PhD, from Brawijaya University; Prof. Dr Mohamed Elsayed Mohamed, from Zagazig University, Egypt; dr. Nurhadi Ibrahim, PhD, from the University of Indonesia; Prof. Montarop Yamabhai, PhD, from Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand, and Prof. Renu Wadhwa, PhD, from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)-India.
The plenary session on the first day was begun with a presentation session and discussion between the keynote speaker and the invited speaker. Prof. Katsuhiro Miyajima opened this session with a presentation theme “Application of urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP) on the mice DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation) models in COVID-19 study”. Prof. Katsuhiro Miyajima said that the L-FABP protein could be one of the biomarkers in detecting COVID-19 symptoms. This session was continued by dr. Nurhadi Ibrahim, PhD with the theme is the potential of Centella Asiatica in preventing Alzheimer’s after exposure to COVID-19, with the molecular docking method. Prof. Dr Mohamed Elsayed Mohamed closed the keynote speaker’s session with his presentation about the transmission of various infectious diseases that can be transmitted by animals to humans. The next session is a presentation from Prof. Renu Wadhwa, PhD that discuss the content of caffeic acid phenyl ethyl ester (CAPE) in bee propolis which has various biological activities as anti-cancer and anti-stress. The first day of ISSMART ended with a participant’s presentation and discussion at the MIPA Centre, Brawiijaya University, Malang.
The 4th ISSMART was attended by dozens of speakers from domestic and abroad universities with various scientific topics, there are biochemistry, bioinformatics, biophysical engineering, herbal medicine, nutrigenomics & nutrigenetics, medical physics, molecular biology, and neurosciences. Several universities in Indonesia and Research Study were participate as a participant on this seminar, there are Airlangga University, Brawijaya University, Ibrahimy University, Islamic Indonesian University, Lambung Mangkurat University, Gadjah Mada University, Research Center for Genetic Engineering, National Research and Innovation Agency, etc. participant from abroad university came from Tokyo University of Agriculture, Hiroshima University, and University of Tsukuba, Japan.
The ISSMART 2022 event was successfully held on the second day, where the plenary session of the international seminar was opened by Prof. Fatchiyah, M. Kes, PhD, as the keynote speaker, with the theme Overview Exploration of Natural Bioactive Compounds as Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, and Antiaging for Healthy Cells Nutrition. The presentation was continued by Assoc. Prof. Ts. ChM. Dr. Nik Ahmad Nizam Nik Malek and Prof. Montarop Yamabhai, Ph.D. In the plenary session on the last day of ISSMART 2022, Prof. Ts. ChM. Dr Nik Ahmad Nizam Nik Malek explained the topic of the synthesis of green metal nanoparticles using plant extracts. The material regarding specific recombinant antibodies for smart theranostics was delivered by Prof. Montarop Yamabhai, PhD as the closing of the keynote speaker presentation session on the second day of ISSMART.
At the end of the event, awards were given as a form of appreciation to participants with the best presentations. This conference was closed by the chairman of the Research Centre of SMONAGENES, Prof. Fatchiyah, M.Kes., PhD who also expressed his gratitude for the contributions of all speakers and seminar participants so that the ISSMART 2022 activity can be held properly and memorable.
