Collaborative Workgroup on Human Pathogen Detection in Wastewater: Ministry of Health Republic of Indonesia, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and Temasek Lifesciences Laboratory

Singapore – In a significant step towards improving public health surveillance in Indonesia, the delegation from the Indonesian Ministry of Health (MOH) represented by dr. Krisna Nur A. Pangesti, MS, PhD and dr. Herna, Sp.MK, along with The Center for Child Health – Pediatric Research Office (CCH-PRO), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) represented by Endah Supriyati, M.Biotech visited Temasek Lifesciences Laboratory (TLL) in Singapore from September 2 to September 5, 2024. The visit was organized to advance the upcoming collaboration between Indonesia and Singapore in the field of wastewater surveillance, which is rapidly gaining prominence as a critical tool for pathogen detection and disease prevention.

The four-day visit was designed to review protocols, explore cutting-edge technologies, and finalize strategic plans for implementing wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) systems in Indonesia. This partnership is expected to contribute significantly to Indonesia’s public health monitoring efforts, particularly in detecting human pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 and MERS, Poliovirus, Rotavirus, Influenza virus, Monkeypox virus (MPXV), and other possible pathogens.

The day began with a welcome address from the Head Project Office of Temasek Foundation Dr. Lee Fook Kay, PhD and TLL’s CEO, Peter Chia, followed by a self-introduction from the Indonesian delegation. The teams led by TLL’s Senior Principal Investigator, Dr. Ian Cheong, PhD LLB, reviewed the draft protocol for wastewater surveillance and later toured the biosafety labs, including the Mobile BSL3 Lab.   visited Pathnova Laboratories in the afternoon and explored autosampler technology, ending with a debrief and Q&A session. Day two focused on logistics, starting with introducing MinION sequencing technology. Both teams discussed protocol adoption, budgeting, and site selection for wastewater sampling in Indonesia. The afternoon featured a visit to a Water Reclamation Plant, providing practical insights into water treatment processes. TLL researchers presented their work on viruses like EBV, EV71, influenza, coronaviruses, and mosquito vector research related to dengue. After lunch, the delegation toured TLL’s aquaculture and plant research facilities and visited the National University of Singapore (NUS). The day concluded with a farewell dinner. The visit ended with a final debrief to solidify the collaboration, focusing on the next steps for protocol implementation and capacity building. Both parties agreed on a framework for future cooperation, setting the stage for enhancing wastewater surveillance efforts in Indonesia.

This visit marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between Indonesia and Singapore in health surveillance. By leveraging TLL’s cutting-edge research and technology, the Indonesian Ministry of Health and CCH-PRO UGM aim to establish a robust wastewater surveillance system to detect emerging pathogens and mitigate the spread of infectious diseases. With this partnership, Indonesia is set to become a regional leader in wastewater-based epidemiology, demonstrating the power of international collaboration in addressing global health challenges. The knowledge and expertise gained during the visit will be instrumental in driving Indonesia’s public health agenda forward and ensuring the long-term success of its wastewater surveillance efforts.

This agenda is related to the effort of FK-KMK UGM to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) number: 3) Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages; 6) Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all; 11) Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable; and 17) Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

Indonesia’s delegations with the Temasek Foundation and TLL’’s members

Indonesia’s delegations with the Senior Principal Investigator of Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, Dr. Ian Cheong, PhD LLB

Indonesia’s delegations with Yan Junrong Benedict from NUS

Indonesia’s delegations- discussion of the use of autosampler for wastewater sampling

Indonesia’s delegations – in front of Mobile Biosafety Laboratoy (BSL)-3 Temasek Lifescience Laboratory (TLL)

Contributor: Endah Supriyati