OUR

Keynote Speakers

DR ALEXANDER EGOROV
Leading researcher,
Group leader, "Gene therapy" division, Scientific Center for Translational Medicine

Lecturer/professor of "Molecular Medicine" Master's program

Dr Alexander Egorov

Alexander began his professional career at the Faculty of Medicine at Moscow State University as a laboratory assistant before advancing to a junior researcher role at the Medical Scientific and Educational Center at the same university.

He spent two years as a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Molecular Oncology (IFOM) in Milan, focusing on the structural and functional relationship of the acute myeloid leukemia suppressor, Prep1. Alexander then continued his research at the Center for Experimental Medicine (CeRMS) at the University of Turin.

Since March 2021, Alexander has been leading research in the field of gene therapy. He serves as the principal investigator and project head for the “Reprogramming of Adipose Tissue Cells Using Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors” project (https://rscf.ru/project/22-14-20046/), supported by the Russian Scientific Fund and the Kuban Scientific Fund. He has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications, co-authored one monograph, and holds six patents in the Russian Federation.

White-to-Beige Adipose Reprogramming: Novel Approach

Obesity has become a pandemic, as currently more than half a billion people worldwide are obese. The etiology of obesity is multifactorial, and combines a contribution of hereditary and behavioral factors, such as nutritional inadequacy, along with the influences of environment and reduced physical activity. Two types of adipose tissue widely known are white and brown. While white adipose tissue functions predominantly as a key energy storage, brown adipose tissue has a greater mass of mitochondria and expresses the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) gene, which allows thermogenesis and rapid catabolism. Even though white and brown adipocytes are of different origin, activation of the brown adipocyte differentiation program in white adipose tissue cells forces them to transdifferentiate into “beige” adipocytes, characterized by thermogenesis and intensive lipolysis. Nowadays, researchers in the field of small molecule medicinal chemistry and gene therapy are making efforts to develop new drugs that effectively overcome insulin resistance and counteract obesity. Existing state-of-the-art gene therapy offers several opportunities to stimulate the conversion of WAT into beige adipose tissue based on secreted proteins, such as FGF21 or BMP7. We have developed novel anti-obesity gene therapy that enhances white-to-beige adipose transition through overexpression of single transcription factors.
 
The research was supported by Russian Science Foundation and Kuban Science Foundation (grant #22-14-20046)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Acep PURQON
Physics of Earth and Complex Systems, Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB), Indonesia
Senior Advisor and Senior Collaborative Professor, Kanazawa University, Japan 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Acep PURQON

Associate Professor Acep Purqon is researcher for 25 years in physics of earth and complex systems at Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB) Indonesia. He pursued doctoral degree in Computational Science at Kanazawa University, Japan in 2005-2008 and continued Postdoctoral position at Institute for Chemical Research at Kyoto University, Japan 2008-2010. His research focuses on Green Physics and Smart Complex Systems. He had a position as Chairman of Science TechnoPark (STP) roadmap ITB. He is also a member of SDGs expert ITB (Sustainable Development Goals) and also member at research centre of new and renewable Energy ITB. He has interest in hybrid renewable energy such as a grant collaboration with bp Indonesia for constructing Solar Panel in remote area in entitle: “Development of Sustainable Hybrid Energy for Empowering the Arguni Island Community, West Papua”. He also give a course entitled Precision farming in department of agricultural engineering ITB and project to agrivoltaics as solution in remote area. Hybrid renewable energy is challenging in Indonesia country with more than 17,000 islands mainly in remote area.

Sustainable Hybrid Renewable Energy for Remote Area in Indonesia

Hybrid renewable energy is challenging for remote areas in Indonesia particularly due to spreading more than 17,000 islands. One of the pilot project islands is Arguni Island, Fakfak, West Papua. The Arguni island has the potential to become a new economic growth point in West Papua, including for the tourism sector, however, currently it only has electricity for 12 hours at night, and it is used for all various educational and economical activities. The Academic-industry collaboration approach is taking a lead by bp Indonesia, the company really concern supporting renewable energy to community empowerment in this location and collaborating with Institute of Technology Bandung (ITB) to jointly develop an hybrid renewable energy program entitled "Development of Sustainable Hybrid Green Energy for the Empowerment of the Arguni Island Community, West Papua." It is also funded by Kedaireka grant from Ministry of Education , Indonesia. This pentahelix collaboration also involves the Fakfak regional government, Fakfak State Polytechnic and local communities regarding the biggest challenge being the sustainability aspect in the form of developing local human resources. It was constructed hybrid power plants using energy sources from solar power and wind power. Arguni Island may be a benchmark for Indonesia's future, in the future where electricity comes from clean energy in the form of renewable energy because of its potential in the form of sun, wind and wave power. It is also an engine for the new economic growth to implement a circular economy starting from energy, zero waste management, then from this waste management it generate products in the form of feeders in the form of feed for livestock and fertilizer for agriculture to support sustainability city by an integrated farming concept. Another pilot project is to develop land-based aquaculture in Lampung, Sumatra using hybrid renewable energy. It is also hoped that this hybrid renewable energy can bring together green energy and blue economy to generate a new economic growth.

Associate Prof. Dr Mohd Remy Rozainy Mohd Arif Zainol

Associate Prof. Dr Mohd Remy Rozainy Mohd Arif Zainol

Associate Prof. Dr Mohd Remy Rozainy Mohd Arif Zainol is a researcher for 21 years in the field of water resources engineering with specialization in hydraulic physical model and numerical simulation model. He is a lecturer at the School of Civil Engineering and holds the position of Director, River Engineering and Urban Drainage Research Centre (REDAC). His latest research focus is on the development of hydraulic physical models for Kenyir and Chenderoh Dams, to study the characteristics of flow that can generate vibration and will affect the structure integrity of the dams. He is also involved in the development of Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) and Flood Vulnerability Index (FVI) for Critical Infrastructure (CI) in Malaysia. He has published more than 120 journal papers and in well reputable scientific journals in the field of water resources engineering. He had joined many innovation competitions since 2014 and won more than 80 awards. He is actively involved in consultancy jobs for more than 50 projects from various local and international companies. He is a former member of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE), a graduate member of the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) and committee member of Malaysia Research and Innovation Society (MyRIS). He was also a visiting professor in many universities and research center such as Kyoto University, Japan; Chang’an University, China; Universitas Muhammadiah Yogyakarta, Indonesia; Physics of Earth and Complex System, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Indonesia and Center of Excellent Geopolymer and Green Technology (CEGeoTech), UNIMAP.

Pioneering Sustainable Drainage System: USM Engineering Campus, Nibong Tebal, Penang

Constructed in 2001, the Bio-Ecological Drainage System (BIOECODS) is a national pilot project located at the Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM Engineering Campus), Penang. It represents a drainage system to restore natural environment while maintaining river flow and controlling ground subsidence through an innovative and sustainable method. The concept of the BIOECODS is based on Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) or Best Management Practices (BMPs), namely the "Control-at-Source" approach, integrated into urban planning and designed to achieve multiple objectives. By integrating green stormwater components (swales, dry ponds, wetlands, wet ponds) with the green area and landscape, the BIOECODS will also enhance the aspect of a “healthy campus”. Through the construction of the BIOECODS in newly developed areas, several water-related conundrums including rapid flooding, river pollution, and scarcity of water during dry seasons which have afflicted Malaysia will likely be overcome. The BIOECODS in USM is a national pilot project and can be seen as a prototype for developing new urban areas. This project meets the Urban Stormwater Management Manual for Malaysia (MSMA) requirement, which was launched in 2000 by the DID to manage and control the quantitative and quality runoff of stormwater at its source. The implementation of the BIOECODS will also help maintain the downstream waterway, i.e., River Kerian, in a natural environment. The concept of quantity control in stormwater runoff applies engineering elements including infiltration, storage, and flow attenuation. The infiltration and storage component helps to attenuate the runoff flow and improve the runoff water quality through the treatment process. Removal of pollutants from the stormwater runoff can be achieved through applying best management practices from the source to the river. Treated runoff can also be stored and detained in the designed pond such as the wet pond and recreational pond for domestic use. The BIOECODS includes a series of components from upstream to downstream, namely grass swale, dry pond and ecological pond (wet pond, detention pond and recreational pond).