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Searching Lead Compounds of Anti-malarial and Anti-amebic Agents by Utilizing Diversity of Indonesian Bio-resources

Infectious Diseases Control

Republic of Indonesia

Finished

Searching Lead Compounds of Anti-malarial and Anti-amebic Agents by Utilizing Diversity of Indonesian Bio-resources

Screening a Wide Range of Microbial Resources for Effective Anti-parasitic Compounds

Principal Investigator

- Prof.
  NOZAKI Tomoyoshi
  Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
- Prof.
  Eniya Listiani Dewi
  Deputy Chairperson, The Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT)

ODA Recipient Country

Republic of Indonesia

Research Institutions in Japan

The University of Tokyo / Kitasato University / Nagasaki University / MicroBiopharm Japan Co., Ltd.

Research Institutions in Counterpart Country

The Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT)

Adoption fiscal year

FY 2014

Research Period

5 Years

Overview of the Research Project

Plants, microbes, and other organisms are important resources for drug discovery
Indonesia is a nation rich in biological resources. As substances found in plants and microorganisms have the potential to be used as drugs, these biological resources are highly valuable in drug discovery. The aim of this project is to screen Indonesia’s diverse microbial resources for compounds that might be candidates for drugs to treat malaria and amebiasis. There are no vaccines against these parasitic diseases, and drug treatments are also limited, meaning that new drugs are needed. Technical assistance provided through the project will also enable Indonesia to develop the capability for independent drug discovery research.

Potential for drug discovery in Japan as well as in Indonesia
If compounds that are potential candidates for new drugs are identified, researchers will collaborate with corporations with the aim of their commercialization. If Indonesia becomes capable of developing therapeutic drugs for itself, this will lead to its further economic development. Ensuring that Indonesian biological resources can also be utilized in Japan also enhances Japan’s potential for drug discovery research.