PRESS RELEASE SEMINAR COLLABORATIVE BRIN-ASPI 2023 “The Rising Tide of Stem Cells Elaboration: Creating a Bigger Platform for Research and Community”

The Indonesian Stem Cell Association (ASPI), in collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), particularly the Health Research Organization and the Vaccine and Drug Research Center (PRVO), organized the BRIN–ASPI Collaborative Seminar on January 13, 2023.

The seminar carried the theme “The Rising Tide of Stem Cells Elaboration: Creating a Bigger Platform for Research and Community” and was successfully conducted in person (offline) at the Main Auditorium of BRIN Gatot Soebroto, Jakarta, with more than 100 participants in attendance. The seminar discussed the development of basic stem cell research in Indonesia, the role of pre-clinical studies as a crucial step toward clinical application, as well as the progress and advancements of stem cell clinical applications that have been implemented in Indonesia.

During the keynote session, discussions also focused on strategic collaborations that could be developed between BRIN and ASPI to advance stem cell research and accelerate the implementation of stem cell-based clinical therapies in Indonesia.

The Head of the Health Research Organization of BRIN, Prof. Dr. drh. NLP Indi Dharmayanti, M.Si., stated that through various support schemes, including research facilities and funding programs, BRIN strongly supports the advancement of stem cell research in Indonesia for all researchers, not limited solely to BRIN researchers.

The Head of the Vaccine and Drug Research Center of BRIN, Dr. Masteria Yunovilsa Putra, explained that BRIN provides facility programs for testing innovative health products and supports the establishment of collaborative research centers. These funding schemes are designed to initiate and develop research collaborations on specific topics, such as stem cell research. The programs are open to BRIN researchers as well as external institutions, including research institutes, universities, and industries engaged in research and development.

The Chairman of the Indonesian Stem Cell Association, Dr. dr. Rahyussalim, SpOT(K), stated that ASPI serves as a platform established to support stem cell researchers in Indonesia by facilitating the exchange and dissemination of information and ideas related to stem cells, cells, and their derivatives. He further emphasized that ASPI hopes stem cell development will not only focus on applications but also extend to the exploration of their derivatives. Therefore, ASPI collaborates with BRIN to support funding, facilities, and regulatory aspects to ensure that research initiatives can be successfully implemented.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chairman of ASPI, Dr. Cynthia Retna Sartika, presented common challenges encountered in the translation process of stem cell research from basic research to clinical application. According to her, stem cell development in Indonesia often faces various obstacles, including research efforts that are still conducted individually and the lack of harmonization in research roadmaps among stem cell researchers in Indonesia. Therefore, the seminar aimed to foster collaboration among stem cell research networks in Indonesia, provide information on both basic and applied research to support regenerative therapies using stem cells, integrate stem cell research across research institutions and professional associations, and facilitate the exchange and dissemination of information and ideas to support stem cell research in Indonesia.

The seminar featured four moderators and thirteen speakers representing four sessions based on their respective expertise, including basic stem cell researchers, pre-clinical stem cell experts, stem cell clinicians, and representatives from BRIN and ASPI. This seminar served as an effort to enhance public awareness and education in Indonesia regarding the development of stem cell research and clinical therapies, particularly within the country. Through this Collaborative Seminar and Serial Workshop series, BRIN and ASPI aim to provide a platform for researchers to exchange information, engage in discussions, and collaborate in advancing stem cell research and clinical applications in Indonesia.

In addition to the Collaborative Seminar held on January 13, 2023, the series of events also included several Serial Workshops focusing on fundamental techniques of in-vitro stem cell culture, covering processes from cell culture and stem cell characterization to secretome quality testing. The workshops carried the theme “Deep into Basic In-Vitro MSCs Cell Culture: From Cells Expansion to Quality Assessment Test” and were conducted on January 14, 2023, February 25, 2023, and March 25, 2023.