Future Plans

Division of Basic Science

The number of patients suffering from Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is increasing rapidly in almost all parts of the world. According to UNAIDS, at the end of 2003, an estimated 0.9% of the population in Southeast and South Asia or between 4.1 and 9.6 million adults and children were living with HIV/AIDS. In the same period, about 430,000 to 2.0 million adults and children were newly infected with HIV, and there were anywhere from 290,000 to 700,000 AIDS-related deaths. Many factors influenced this fast increase, among them increased substance abuse and an expanding sex industry. In Indonesia, HIV-1+ prevalence among injecting drug users increased from 16% in 1999 to 48% in 2003, and in Jakarta, 66% to 93% of drug users are HIV-positive. About 8% to 17% of female sex workers in many areas are also infected. It is feared that lack of awareness, possible discrimination, inadequate health infrastructure and poor economic conditions will contribute to a more rapid increase in the number of HIV infections in the future. The severity of the problem will be compounded by a deficiency of facilities that can carry out basic research on HIV and AIDS in this country. As revealed by preliminary studies by IHVCB-UI, the HIV viruses isolated from Indonesian patients already carry mutations that make them different from HIV from other regions. This will severely impact the diagnostic and therapy of HIV patients in Indonesia, both now and especially in the future. In order to develop tools for diagnosis and therapy of HIV specific to Indonesia, epidemiology and characterization of HIV must be carried out.

Our long term goals are to elucidate the factors controlling expression of HIV-1/2 virulence factors, to explain the biological and genetic variability of HIV and to reveal the antigenic significance of HIV genetic variability.

It is our hope that through this research we are able to reach several critical milestones, which will be published in international journals. These milestones include characterizing HIV in different regions in Indonesia and comparing the virus with others already known, elucidating the mechanism(s) behind blockage of HIV infection by several different molecules, and developing new antibodies to be used in diagnosing HIV in Indonesia. Because our modern laboratory has already been set-up, all research projects will be conducted there.

In order to prevent the spread of HIV infection, it is necessary to understand how the disease spreads. Aside from being a research center, IHVCB-UI also will act as an information center for specialists and the general public. Activities in this area include the preparation of leaflets, brochures, website for the public and scientists and networking with other institutions that provide preventive programs.


Division of Cancer Biology

A closer step to the discovery of active factors in the red fruit extract will be pursued. The fractions of the extract will be tested on cancer cell lines by apoptosis assays. In addition, more cancer samples from patients will be collected, so investigations on primary tissue and cell can be performed. The active fractions will be tested again to confirm their potential in fighting cancer cells derived from patients. In vivo study using immunosuppressed mice carrying cancer xenografts will also be targeted with the active factors.

Besides the red fruit project, collected cancer samples will be utilized for the study of genomic and proteomic of cancers. The ProteinChip System Series 4000 from Ciphergen, which is an important tool for the discovery of protein biomarkers, will be utilized. This study will concentrate on cancers with the highest incidence rates in Indonesia, such as breast and cervical cancers.


Upgrading the Biosafety Level of the Laboratory

The emergence of human cases of Avian Influenza (AI) H5N1 in Indonesia has raised concern about a possible pandemic in the Southeast Asia region and the world. Especially concerning is the high percentage of deaths in these cases. As of March 24, 2006, according to the World Health Organization, in Indonesia 22 out of the 29 confirmed H5N1 patients (or approximately 76%) have succumbed to AI. If the Indonesian strain(s) of H5N1 accumulate mutations that allow for human to human transmission, then the resulting human and economic costs will be catastrophic to this country and quite possibly, the world.

Several avenues can be pursued in parallel to prevent this health care disaster from occuring. One of them is to have an established laboratory for diagnostics of possible cases. Currently, no such laboratory exists in Indonesia. Another avenue is to conduct scientific research to discover new diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Success in this will both yield a trained scientific and clinical work force that can handle such diseases and help contribute to the global fight against AI. And also importantly, Indonesia, as a country, will be able to pride itself in the establishment of a world-class research institution.

It is to address this national emergency that IHVCB-UI plans to upgrade its facilities for diagnosis and research on AI virus. The Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend a BSL3 facility when working with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or normal cell cultures of infected cells. In order to comply to these guidelines, to protect our scientists and to protect the environment outside of the laboratory, the current biosafety level IHVCB-UI will be upgraded in 2006.

In order to ensure compliance with accepted standards for biosafety, IHVCB-UI will invite consultants from abroad to advise, help build and help certify the facility. Annual certification of the facility and instruments such as biosafety cabinets, centrifuges and CO 2 incubators will also be performed.