[Kanal Media Unpad] Universitas Padjadjaran began a collaboration with the Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INIC), which was officiated through the signing of the MoU by the Rector of Universitas Padjadjaran, Prof. Dr. Rina Indiastuti, S.E., M.SIE., and the Secretary General of INIC, Dr. Saeed Sarkar, in the Executive Lounge of Iwa Koesoemasoemantri Campus, Bandung, on Wednesday (23/11/2022).
This collaboration was initiated due to the shared interest of Universitas Padjadjaran and University of Tehran, where Dr. Sarkar currently teaches, which is nano-technology, particularly in how it is used in medical tools and drugs in order to initiate a faster recovery rate with minimal side effects.
Before the MoU signing, both parties held a discussion that was joined by Dr. Ali Najimi (Deputy Secretary General for INIC), Mohammad Hossein Rekabi (Attaché of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Jakarta), Amir Rostam Dokht (Protocol Officer of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Jakarta), Prof. Dr. Yudi Mulyana Hidayat (Dean of Unpad Faculty of Medicine), and Prof. Rizky Abdullah, Ph.D. (Director of Research and Community Service).
During the discussion, Dr. Sarkar stated that this collaboration is very necessary to further advance the application of nano-technology in both countries’ medical fields, increasing its cost-effectiveness as well.
“Nano is very effective with minimal side effects, but also expensive,” stated Dr. Sarkar.
He further explained how nano sense technology can diagnose cancer cells within 10 seconds and accurately pinpoint the entirety of the affected tissue.
Before, cancer tumors can come back because all of the affected tissues have not been completely removed, leaving residues that will eventually develop into a new tumor in a few years. With nanotechnology, the chance of cancer reoccurrence can be minimized.
Nano-based drugs can also be used to treat cancers more safely since they directly go to the tumor, unlike other drugs that damage other organs in the process. However, they are very expensive, reaching 800 dollars for each injection, since the technology used to make the drugs is still very novel.
This can be solved if research on nanotechnology and its application is vigorously encouraged, which is the goal of this collaboration.
“If we want to actually help society, we need to be focused on research and development,” Dr. Sarkar emphasized.
The Rector agreed to hold joint seminars and workshops on the topics of their interest regarding nano-technology, for example, nano-pharmacy. Various professors and Ph.D. candidates from Unpad, University of Tehran, and many other universities can be invited to either be the speakers or participants.
This collaboration can be the starting point for Unpad’s further involvement in education on nanotechnology as well.
“In Unpad, there is still no teaching program that specifically focuses on nanotechnology, but we do have a research center,” the Rector stated.
Dr. Sarkar added that it is also possible to hold summer schools for undergraduate students to familiarize them with the concept of nanotechnology and how it is used in the medical field.
Student exchange between Unpad and University of Tehran is being discussed between the two parties as well, considering how UT is deeply involved in not only research, but also education on nanotechnology.
