NATURAL PRODUCTS DRUG DISCOVERY & DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH GROUP THROUGH BIODIVERSITY TO LEADING INNOVATION

About Us

Natural product compounds are the source of numerous therapeutic agents. Recent progress in discovering drugs from natural product sources has resulted in compounds being developed to treat cancer, diabetes, malaria, viruses, osteoporosis, aging, and immune disorders. Many of these compounds were discovered by applying recent advances in understanding the biogenesis of metabolism, exploring the marine environment and applying new screening technologies. In many instances, finding a novel natural product serves as a tool to better understand targets and pathways in the disease process.

In medicine, biotechnology, and pharmacology field, drug discovery is when drugs are discovered and designed. In the past, most drugs found either by identifying the active ingredient from traditional remedies or by serendipitous discovery. A new approach has been to understand how disease and infection are controlled at the molecular and physiological levels and target specific entities based on this knowledge. The process of drug discovery based on bioassay-guided isolation involves identifying candidates, characterization, synthesis, screening, and assays for therapeutic efficacy. Once a compound has shown its value in these tests, it will begin drug development before clinical trials. The Natural Product Drug Discovery and Development group's research focuses on developing natural-based drugs for infectious and non-infectious diseases, as well as natural-based cosmetics and nutritional ingredients.

Vision and Mission

Our vision:

“Become a trendsetter, superior and innovative research group in the field of research and development of new drugs, phytopharmaceutical, cosmeceutical and nutraceutical at the national and international levels”

 

Our mission:

  • Carry out research activities to discover new drugs based on active compound isolated from natural products
  • Carry out research and development activities related to the effective, safe, and standardized phytopharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, and nutraceutical products
  • Build and strengthen collaboration between national and international academics, industry, and government to increase the quality and quantity of research that impacts public health

Research Focus

Ethnomedicine

”Core mission – to study of different cultural approaches to health, disease, and illness, and the nature of local healing systems.”

Isolation and Structure Elucidation

”Core mission – to explore the Indonesian biodiversity of medicinal plants and marine biology, and to isolate the active compounds using bioassay-guided isolation method followed by structure elucidation of the compounds.”

Bioactivity & Toxicity (Pre-clinical Study)

”Core mission - to evaluate the activity of natural product extracts, fractions, or active compounds in certain activities (immunomodulator, antimalaria, anticancer, antiosteoporosis, anti-osteoarthritis, antifertility, anticholinesterase, antiviral, analgesic, antiinflammatory, antidiabetes, anti-aging, wound healing, antihyperlipidemic, aphrodisiac) and to ensure the safety.”

Analytical Method Development and Metabolite Profiling

”Core mission - to develop analytical methods to ensure the quality and stability of extracts, and products, to conduct metabolite profiling research.”

Formulation Development & Drug Delivery System

”Core mission - to develop standardized extracts and or fractions as an active ingredient for phytopharmaceuticals, cosmeceutical, and nutraceutical product formulas, and to modify the drug delivery system of extracts or fractions.”

Clinical Trial

”Core mission - to conduct studies on clinical testing of natural-based medicines, phytopharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and nutraceuticals.”

Team

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Prof. Dr. apt. Aty Widyawaruyanti, M.S.

Prof. Dr. apt. Sukardiman, M.S.

Prof. Dr. apt. Achmad Fuad Hafid, M.S.

Dr. apt. Wiwied Ekasari, M.Si.

Dr. apt. Idha Kusumawati, M.Si.

apt. Rr. Retno Widyowati, M.Pharm., Ph.D.

apt. Tutik Sri Wahyuni, M.Si., Ph.D.

apt. Suciati, M.Phil., Ph.D.

apt. Rice Disi Oktarina, M.Farm.

apt. Neny Purwitasari, M.Sc.

apt. Rosita Handayani, M.Si.

Facilities and Supports

Expert Support

Researching NPD3-RG is supported by expert staffs (doctoral graduates, both domestic and foreign), and advanced facilities (HPLC, KLT-Densitometer, inverted microscope, NMR 400 MHz, LCMS/MS-QTOF).

Collaboration Partners

We have collaborated with various institutions both at home and abroad:

  • Universities: Naresuan University Thailand, National Chiayi University Taiwan, Kobe University Japan, Geneva University Switzerland, Hiroshima University Japan, Tokyo University Japan, Nagasaki University Japan, Bogor Agricultural Institute Indonesia.
  • Industry: PT Balatif, PT ASIMAS, PT Konimex, PT Kimia Farma, PT Borobudur.
  • Other institutions: BP2T2O Tawang Mangu, LIPI, Purwodadi Botanical Gardens

Partners

News and Achievements

In 2005-2007 NPD3-RG obtained the PHK-B project, which effected to improve research facility as well as to increase the expertise of staffs through study/research exchange in the well-known institutions.

In 2012-2013 this research group received another IM-HERE project, which helped improve facilities quality. During the last 3 years (2018-2020) almost all group members have received both internal and external research funding. The most impressive is the funding from the LPDP, which amounts to billions.

 

During 2018-2020 our research group has received research funding of 79 research grants with a total funding of 9.5 billion.

In the last three years (2018-2020), NPD3-RG members have achieved impressive scientific publications, patents, and new products.

  • Total international publications - indexed on Scopus are 23 (2018), 19 (2019), and 41 (2020) articles
  • 10 granted patents
  • 10 innovative herbal products that have been produced by the industry
    In early 2021, several members of the NPD3-RG get a good
    achievement as top rank in the 210 best researchers in Google
    Scholar’s and get a high-quality scientific articles award in the
    fields of health and medicine.

Contact Us

Fakultas Farmasi Universitas Airlangga Surabaya

Gedung Nanizar Zaman Joenoes
Kampus C UNAIR
Jl. Mulyorejo, Surabaya, Indonesia

farfit@ff.unair.ac.id

+62-31-593-3150

Doctoral Study Opportunity

The Doctoral Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences was found in 2010 with a coursebased program. Since 2017 a research based-curriculum was implemented. During the three years Ph.D. course, the students will have personal mentors from faculty staffs who educate them to follow research topics, with the goal to allow the students to become able to formulate a scientific problem independently, propose hypotheses and procedures leading to its solving on an experimental or theoretical level in the pharmaceutical science fields.

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