Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK) of Gadjah Mada University welcomed Prof. Jianjun Liu’s visit from Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. This visit is to strengthen research collaboration on Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) genomics and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Also, this agenda is a follow-up to the intensive online technical discussion that has taken place over the past three months between the FK-KMK UGM team and GIS.
Prof. Liu, who serves as Executive Director and Distinguished Institute Fellow at GIS, and Professor at the Yoo Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, is widely recognized for his contributions to disease genetics research, particularly in Asian populations. With an H-index of 95 in 2022, he has produced numerous publications elucidating the role of genetics in disease susceptibility, including nasopharyngeal cancer.
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a complex and multifactorial malignancy with a unique geographical distribution. In endemic regions such as southern China, Morocco, the Inuit regions of the Arctic, and Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, NPC has often been associated with EBV infection, a common virus from the Herpesvirus family known to trigger various types of cancer. While a small portion of the genetic risk for NPC is known to stem from variations in the Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) gene, recent research led by Prof. Liu indicates that variations in the EBV genome play a more significant role in susceptibility to NPC, particularly due to its efficient transmission via saliva. However, the contribution has never been specifically researched in Indonesia.
During his visit, Prof. Liu had direct discussions with researchers from the EBV team, KNF FK-KMK UGM team, including Dr. Jajah Fachiroh and Dr. Dewi Kartikawati Paramita from the Department of Histology and Cell Biology; and also specialists from the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at dr. Sardjito General Hospital, dr. Camelia Herdini and RSA UGM, dr. Anton Sony Wibowo. The discussions focused on the potential for collaboration in EBV genetic studies based on the Indonesian population to identify viral genomic variations contributing to KNF incidence.
Prof. Liu also had the opportunity to visit the Biobank and Integrated Research Laboratory of FK-KMK UGM, which is an important part of the campus research ecosystem. During the visit, he expressed GIS’s commitment to providing technical support for the development of cancer genomics research at FK-MK UGM. This support includes potential technical training, technology transfer, and collaboration in scientific research publications.
This partnership has strategic significance in the global context, particularly in supporting the achievement of the Partnership of Goals point 3: Good Health and Well-Being, by enhancing research capacity for cancer prevention, early detection, and evidence-based treatment, as well as point 4: Quality Education. Additionally, this cross-border initiative strengthens point 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by reinforcing the international networks in the fields of health, innovation, and technology. (Contributor: Jajah Fachiroh, Translator: Tedy A)
