UI: Dengue mRNA vaccine development with Tsinghua yields multiplier effect

Rector of Universitas Indonesia Heri Hermansyah stated that the collaboration with Tsinghua University in developing an mRNA-based dengue fever vaccine will yield a multiplier effect, including industrial downstreaming and strengthening the National Immunisation Programme. Speaking at the launch of the dengue vaccine prototype in Jakarta on Wednesday, Heri described the collaboration as a form of high-level academic diplomacy and expressed hope that the joint vaccine development would mark a significant milestone in the national health system. ‘We are not just initiating student exchanges. We are actively working together to create life-saving health technology, with support from the Ministry of Health and the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM),’ he said. According to Heri, the government has facilitated the cooperation well, enabling the initial laboratory testing phase through to clinical trials to proceed smoothly. He expressed hope that the collaboration would be the start of vaccine innovation, aligning with Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin’s request for the development of 11 vaccines so that all vaccines used in the National Immunisation Programme can be produced domestically by Indonesia. On the same occasion, Vice President of Tsinghua University Wu Huaqiang stated that the collaboration represents a tangible outcome of cooperation between China and Indonesia. ‘Dengue fever has long plagued Southeast Asia. Traditional vaccine platforms have certain limitations, whereas mRNA technology offers new opportunities to develop safer vaccines that can be adapted to local systems,’ he said. With support from the Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Base, Wu noted that Tsinghua University and UI have a strong foundation for joint research to address this issue. The collaboration, formalised on Wednesday, has three objectives: enhancing mRNA vaccine research capacity and exploring other vaccine collaboration opportunities, developing biotechnology talent through academic partnerships, and contributing a replicable model for a joint response to regional infectious disease threats.