Airlangga University Pioneers Tropical Disease Research Center
12 June 2013 09:20 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Surabaya - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will inaugurate Indonesia’s first center for tropical disease research, the National Health Center at Airlangga University (Unair) in Surabaya. The university spokesman M.G Bagus Ani Putra said Unair has been instructed to build the facilities as a center for medical research and development.
In order to pioneer the research institution, Unair has established 15 study groups with specializations. "President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been scheduled to conduct the inauguration in August 28 this year. This is the first research center in Indonesia," said Bagus during a press conference at the Unair rectorate building on Tuesday, June 11.
Bagus stated that Unair, through the research center, has managed to develop various treatments for avian influenza and tropical malaria. Furthermore, other ongoing researches include researches on dengue fever, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, stem cell, human genetics, natural products, molecular oncology, bee health product development, proteomic, tuberculosis, leprosy, entomology, and intestinal infections. "The tropical malaria treatment has been tested. It’s made of herbal sources that live in a certain climate, Australia for instance," Bagus continued.
DIANANTA P. SUMEDI