The Faculty of Pharmacy at Universitas Airlangga (FF UNAIR) hosted H.E. Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH (OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation) from Pakistan. Prof. Choudhary is recognized as a leading scientist in the field of natural product chemistry and drug development, and currently leads various science and technology cooperation programs among member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The activity, which took place on Thursday, June 18, 2026, in the Main Conference Room of the Nani Building at FF UNAIR, was attended by faculty leadership, lecturers, researchers, and students from various educational levels. The presence of this international speaker provided a valuable opportunity for the academic community to gain direct insights into the latest developments in drug discovery and development.
During this occasion, Prof. Choudhary presented material titled "Cost Effective Approaches for Drug Discovery and Development." In his presentation, he explained various innovative strategies to accelerate the drug discovery process with greater cost efficiency without compromising quality or safety aspects. Various modern approaches, ranging from the utilization of natural resources, multidisciplinary collaboration, to the integration of technology in pharmaceutical research, became the focus of discussion in this guest lecture.
The enthusiasm of participants was evident from the interactive discussion session that followed. Students and lecturers took advantage of this opportunity to engage in direct dialogue regarding pharmaceutical research challenges, opportunities for developing natural product-based drug products, and prospects for international research collaboration.
This activity is in line with FF UNAIR's commitment to supporting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
