UI Professor Urges Strengthening of Biobanks to Support Indonesian Biomedical Research
Professor Ria Kodariah, a Permanent Professor of Biomedical Science at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia (FKUI), is advocating for the strengthening of national research biobanks. “We consider the development of research biobanks to be essential as strategic scientific infrastructure to support biomedical research in Indonesia,” stated Prof. Ria Kodariah during her inauguration as a Professor at FKUI Depok, West Java, on Monday.
In her inaugural speech, titled “Strengthening Pathobiology Research through the Development of Research Biobanks as a Pillar of National Health Security,” she noted that pathobiology plays a strategic role in bridging basic science and clinical practice by understanding the molecular mechanisms of diseases. One of Prof. Ria’s research focuses is ovarian cancer, which remains one of the gynecological malignancies with high mortality rates both globally and in Indonesia.
Biobanks enable the standardised and integrated management of biological specimens alongside clinical and molecular data, thereby strengthening the validity, integrity, and sustainability of research. According to her, this aligns with the mandate of Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health, which emphasises the importance of storing and managing clinical specimens, biological materials, and long-term data through biobanks and/or biorepositories.
She added that the existence of biobanks not only supports the advancement of science but also accelerates the implementation of precision medicine and evidence-based health policies. Looking ahead, research biobanks are expected to serve as a connecting pillar between biomedical development, clinical practice, and evidence-based health policy to strengthen national health resilience. “The development of research biobanks is a long-term investment in building a national health research ecosystem that is integrated, sustainable, and capable of addressing future health challenges,” said Prof. Ria.