April 2026 — The Public Health Genomics Laboratory (PHG Lab), in collaboration with students from the Master of Epidemiology Program at Universitas Diponegoro, conducted a collaborative malaria research project in Bahitom Village, Murung Raya Regency, Central Kalimantan led by Dr Muh Fauzi. This initiative represents the implementation of the Tridharma of Higher Education, integrating education, research, and community service into a series of scientific activities with direct societal impact.
Bahitom Village was selected as the study site due to its status as an area with ongoing active malaria cases in Murung Raya Regency, particularly following a surge in cases in 2024 and 2025. The research was carried out with the support and supervision of healthcare personnel from Puruk Cahu Primary Health Center and the Murung Raya District Health Office, thereby strengthening the synergy between academia and field practitioners.
From an educational perspective, this activity actively involved students in all stages of field research, including study design, data collection, and analysis. Through this experience, students gained practical skills in epidemiological investigation and genomic approaches to understanding infectious diseases, particularly malaria.
From a research standpoint, the team collected community blood samples and conducted the capture of Anopheles mosquitoes and larvae, the primary vectors of malaria. The analyses aimed to identify parasite presence, assess community immune responses, and examine environmental factors contributing to malaria transmission. The application of genomic approaches is expected to provide a more comprehensive understanding of malaria transmission dynamics in the area.
In terms of community service, the project also contributed to raising public awareness of malaria prevention and provided data-driven support to local healthcare workers in disease control efforts. This collaboration is expected to strengthen local capacity in early detection and response to malaria cases.
This collaborative research reflects the strong commitment of the Master of Epidemiology Study Program at Universitas Diponegoro and PHG Lab in supporting malaria elimination efforts in Indonesia, particularly in endemic areas such as Murung Raya. Through the integration of the Tridharma of Higher Education, this initiative not only produces scientific outputs but also delivers sustainable and tangible contributions to improving public health.