International Joint Research

Japan－Indonesia "Bioproduction"

The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Indonesia National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), promote international research interaction and exchange among researchers for Japan‒Indonesia collaborative research projects in the field of “Bioproduction.”

Counterpart

Indonesia National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)

Program Officer（PO）

BAMBA, Takeshi (Professor, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University)

News

Projects

※The information is as of October 2025.

Project Title	Harnessing Fungal Bioengineering and Biomass Resources for Small-Molecule Therapeutic Innovation
Project Duration	October 2025-September 2028 (FY2025-2028)
Japan-side PI	TSUNEMATSU, Yuta (Associate Professor, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University)
Phillippines-side PI	Arif NURKANTO (Principal Researcher, Research Center for Biosystematics and Evolution, Research Organization for Life Sciences and Environment, BRIN)
Abstract	This project aims to integrate Japan’s advanced bioengineering-based natural product drug discovery technologies with Indonesia’s rich and diverse microbial resources to develop novel small-molecule lead compounds for infectious disease treatment. Japan brings a strong history in natural product-based therapeutics, while Indonesia offers a vast, untapped reservoir of microbial diversity. By combining these strengths, the project will enable rational design and scalable biosynthesis of drug candidates through pathway engineering and structure-guided modification. The research targets tuberculosis, MRSA infections, and amoebiasis—diseases that are prevalent in low- and middle-income countries and urgently require new treatments. Existing therapies are often limited by toxicity, resistance, or poor pharmacokinetics. To address these issues, the project will generate non-natural-type natural products with enhanced activity and selectivity, using filamentous fungi as heterologous hosts for expressing biosynthetic genes. For sustainable implementation, the project develops practical, low-cost production methods using underused biomass—such as banana stems, palm residues, and cassava pulp—locally available in Indonesia. These agricultural wastes serve as carbon sources in fermentation, supporting low-cost drug production while promoting environmental sustainability. In addition, reciprocal exchange programs will train young researchers from both countries, fostering long-term collaboration and innovation. By uniting advanced biosynthesis, microbial biodiversity, and biomass-based production strategies, this project contributes to global health and provides a model of international cooperation aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Project Title	Ocean Positive Bioproduction of High-Value Chemicals from High-Salinity Waste Biomass by Halophilic Microbial Cell Factories
Project Duration	October 2025-September 2028 (FY2025-2028)
Japan-side PI	NAKAYAMA, Hideki (Professor, Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, Nagasaki University)
Phillippines-side PI	Fahrurrozi (Director, Research Center for Freshwater Aquaculture, Research Organization for Agriculture and Food, BRIN)
Abstract	This collaborative research aims to develop platform technologies that efficiently upcycle blue carbon for the ocean-positive production of high-value chemicals, using high-salinity seaweed residues, which are discarded in large quantities in Asia, as feedstocks. Specifically, the Japan team will establish a cell factory using the halophilic bacterium Halomonas elongata, which has been shown to produce ectoine (Ect) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). The Indonesia team will select strains of the genus Halomonas with high production capabilities of Ect and PHB from Indonesia's own halophilic bacterial resources. Then, the research results from the Japan team will be applied to the selected Halomonas sp. strain, which will serve as a platform for developing Halomonas cell factories in Indonesia. The outcomes of this joint research will contribute to the achievement of SDGs 12 and 14.

Project Title	Establishment of an Organoid Panel Reflecting Liver Cancer Subtypes in Asia
Project Duration	October 2025-September 2028 (FY2025-2028)
Japan-side PI	HIPPO, Yoshitaka (Director, Research Institute, Chiba Cancer Center)
Phillippines-side PI	Riris Istighfari JENIE (Associate Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada)
Abstract	This project aims to establish Asia's first drug discovery platform through the creation of an organoid panel of liver cancer with genetic mutations unique to the Asian region. Specifically, the Japanese side will first establish a large number of organoids derived from normal mouse cells and patient tumors to create a subtype-specific liver cancer organoid panel, and then screen a compound library to identify candidate compounds that exhibit subtype-specific drug efficacy. Meanwhile, the Indonesian side will simultaneously verify the versatility of the candidate compounds using human liver cancer cell lines and synthesize derivatives, aiming to identify highly effective compounds. By integrating these results, we will demonstrate the drug discovery utility of the Asian liver cancer organoid panel. Ultimately, we anticipate the development of a comprehensive drug discovery platform for cancer, with potential applications to other cancer types.

Project Title	Development of Genetically Engineered Plants to address Environmental Pollution through Production of Transporter Proteins with Improved Metal Transport Properties
Project Duration	October 2025-September 2028 (FY2025-2028)
Japan-side PI	FUJIWARA, Toru (Professor, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo)
Phillippines-side PI	Pratiwi PRANANINGRUM (Researcher, Research Center for Genetic Engineering, BRIN)
Abstract	This collaborative research aims to modify the uptake and capacity of cadmium in rice and Jatropha. The Japanese team will focus on the molecular analysis and engineering of the NRAMP5 transporter in rice to suppress/enhance Cd uptake in Indonesian elite cultivar of rice. The Indonesian team works on Jatropha and by integrating the strengths of both research teams—crop-based phytoremediation (Japan) and synthetic biology-enhanced hyperaccumulators and bioproduction platforms (Indonesia)—this collaboration aims to deliver innovative, scalable, and sustainable solutions for environmental restoration of heavy metal-contaminated sites.

Project Title	Japan-Indonesia Cryo-EM Initiative for Sustainable Bioproduction: Study of Key Enzymes and Transporters in Biodegradable Polymer Biosynthesis and Pollutant Bioremediation
Project Duration	October 2025-September 2028 (FY2025-2028)
Japan-side PI	YOSHIDA, Shosuke (Professor, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology)
Phillippines-side PI	Yudhi NUGRAHA (Head of Scientific Committee of Cryo-EM Lab BRIN, Eijkman Research Center for Molecular Biology, BRIN)
Abstract	Aiming to develop microbial-based bioproduction and pollutant recovery technologies, this project seeks to elucidate the structural basis of key enzymes and transporters involved in these processes using cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM), while expanding the range of Cryo-EM targets through the application of fusion tag technology. On the Japanese side, the Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, specializing in functional analysis of the enzymes, and the Structural Life Science Laboratory, specializing in structural analysis, will collaborate to lead protein expression and purification, improvement of 3D reconstruction methods, and structure determination and refinement. Meanwhile, the BRIN team will be responsible for operating state-of-the-art Cryo-EM instruments, conducting initial screening, and collecting data. Through this collaborative effort, we aim to optimize the Cryo-EM workflow, create new environment-related technologies based on structural biology, foster the next generation of researchers, and strengthen the international collaborative research framework.