Kepanjen, July 22, 2026 – A community service team from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya (FKUB), organized an activity titled “Dissemination of Pharmacogenetics in Personalized Antihypertensive Therapy” in Kepanjen Village, Malang Regency. This activity is part of a community service program funded by the British Council through the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) grant scheme.
The activity aimed to enhance the knowledge and capacity of health cadres in understanding the concept of pharmacogenetics as a precision medicine approach to optimize antihypertensive therapy. In addition to providing an understanding of the impact of genetic variation on drug response, the community service team also conducted training on how to read and interpret pharmacogenetic test results. This gave participants an overview of how genetic information can be utilized to support the selection of antihypertensive therapies that are more effective, safe, and tailored to each patient’s individual characteristics.
Participants consisted of health cadres from Sepanjang Village, Karangduren Village, Sidorahayu Village, and Kepanjen Village. Throughout the event, participants engaged in material presentations, interactive discussions, and simulations of interpreting pharmacogenetic test results for hypertensive patients. The enthusiasm of the participants demonstrated a high level of interest in utilizing scientific innovations to support community-level healthcare services.
The event was attended by representatives from Kepanjen Village, the Public Health Office (Dinas Kesehatan), researchers from The University of Manchester, and researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya. The presence of these various stakeholders reflects a shared commitment to strengthening international collaborations aimed at translating research findings into community service initiatives.
Supported by the ISPF grant from the British Council, this activity serves as an effort to introduce the implementation of pharmacogenetics to the community while bridging the gap between research outcomes and healthcare service needs. It is hoped that health cadres can act as educational agents within the community, thereby increasing understanding of personalized therapy based on genetic information and ultimately contributing to more optimal hypertension management in Indonesia.