The 191st ITS Professor Prof Dr Awik Puji Dyah Nurhayati SSi MSi when delivering her scientific oration at the ITS Professor Inauguration event

ITS Campus, ITS News – Cancer is one of the five biggest causes of death in Indonesia. Concerned about this, the 191st Professor of the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Prof. Dr. Awik Puji Dyah Nurhayati SSi MSi from the Department of Biology tried to research new anticancer drugs from Indonesian marine resources.

The ITS professor of cancer biology and immunology explained that Indonesia as a country where 70 percent of its territory is water has a very high level of biodiversity. For this reason, the utilization of marine resources can be a potential for developing cancer drugs. “One of them is from sea sponges,” said Awik.

Prof. Dr. Awik Puji Dyah Nurhayati SSi MSi shows the results of her research on the development of new anticancer drugs from sea sponges

Sponges themselves are the largest biomass in waters with an estimated 4,000-6,000 species in Indonesia. With the abundance of these species, it was also found that sponges can symbiotize with marine microorganisms that can produce high secondary metabolites and have the ability to synthesize various organic components. “These organic components can be used as medicinal materials,” she explained.

As for the application, the lecturer who received the Satyalancana Karya Satya award in 2019 uses mechanism-based assay methods or methods based on mechanisms of action that are specific to antitumor targets. Not only that, the mechanism of cell apoptosis is also the most important aspect in the development of this research. “Apoptosis is a programmed cell death system,” she explained.

Image of in vivo test results of cancer cell apoptosis in mice (Mus musculus) in research conducted by Prof. Dr. Awik Puji Dyah Nurhayati from the Department of Biology ITS

Furthermore, Awik added, in the research process, various tests have been carried out, namely, in vitro, in vivo, and in silico tests. “Until the in vivo test, we found that the sponge species A. suberitoides in Pasir Putih Situbondo, East Java, has anticancer activity,” said the mother of three children.

Chairman of the ITS Professors Council Prof Dr Imam Robandi MT (left) handing over the inaugural certificate of ITS’ 191st Professor to Prof Dr Awik Puji Dyah Nurhayati SSi MSi

With the scientific research innovations that she has successfully designed, Awik hopes that the utilization of medicinal products derived from natural marine ingredients can continue to be developed. “Not only that, I hope that this discovery can increase the utilization, protection and conservation of marine biota diversity in a sustainable manner,” she concluded hopefully. (ITS PR)

Reporter: Mifda Khoirotul Azma