Yogyakarta, June 18, 2026 – The Master Program in Food Science and Technology (MFST), Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), welcomed Dr. Isabel Atienza Navarro from the Faculty of Sciences, University of Cádiz (UCA), Spain, as part of the Erasmus+ Staff Training Mobility program held from June 15–19, 2026.
The mobility program represents an important milestone in strengthening the long-standing collaboration between Universitas Gadjah Mada and the University of Cádiz. It aims to promote academic exchange, share best practices in laboratory management and postgraduate education, and explore future opportunities for collaborative research.
The program commenced on Monday, June 15, with a courtesy meeting with the Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, followed by discussions with the Head and Secretary of the Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology. Dr. Atienza also participated in a laboratory tour across the department’s research facilities and met with the management team of the Master Program in Food Science and Technology to exchange experiences on postgraduate education, curriculum development, and internationalization initiatives.
On Tuesday, June 16, Dr. Atienza joined a cultural program featuring visits to the Yogyakarta Palace (Keraton Yogyakarta) and Sonobudoyo Museum. The activity introduced the rich cultural heritage of Yogyakarta while fostering intercultural understanding as an integral component of the Erasmus+ mobility experience.
As part of the staff training activities, Wednesday, June 17, was dedicated to a knowledge-sharing session on best practices in laboratory management. Dr. Atienza presented the laboratory management system implemented at the University of Cádiz and engaged in fruitful discussions with laboratory heads and technical staff from the Department of Food and Agricultural Product Technology. The session covered laboratory organization, operational management, quality assurance, and strategies for supporting research and education through effective laboratory services.
A highlight of the mobility program was the Guest Lecture delivered on Thursday, June 18, entitled “Neuroprotective Effects of the Pharmacological Treatment VP3.15 and of a Behavioural Therapy for Germinal Matrix–Intraventricular Hemorrhage.” The lecture was attended by students from the Master Program in Food Science and Technology, the Master Program in Agricultural Product Technology, and the Doctoral Program in Food Science.
During her lecture, Dr. Atienza presented her research on germinal matrix–intraventricular hemorrhage (GM-IVH), one of the most severe neurological complications affecting preterm infants. She discussed the therapeutic potential of VP3.15, a dual inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and phosphodiesterase-7 (PDE7), which has demonstrated neuroprotective properties by reducing neuroinflammation, preserving neuronal integrity, promoting remyelination, and improving cognitive and motor outcomes in experimental models.
In addition to pharmacological intervention, the lecture highlighted the beneficial effects of enriched environment therapy, a non-pharmacological approach that enhances sensory, cognitive, and social stimulation. Experimental findings demonstrated that early exposure to an enriched environment significantly improved neurogenesis, reduced neuroinflammation and vascular damage, restored peripheral biomarkers of brain injury, and enhanced learning and memory performance. These findings underscore the potential of combining pharmacological and behavioral interventions to improve neurological outcomes in preterm infants affected by GM-IVH.
Although the topic originated from neuroscience and biomedical research, the lecture provided valuable insights into experimental research design, biomarker discovery, translational research, and interdisciplinary collaboration—areas that are increasingly relevant to food science, nutrition, and health research.
The Erasmus+ Staff Training concluded on Friday, June 19, with a research discussion involving faculty members and researchers from the Nutrition Laboratory. The meeting explored potential collaborative research between Universitas Gadjah Mada and the University of Cádiz, particularly in areas connecting food science, nutrition, biomedical sciences, and laboratory-based analytical research.
Through initiatives such as this Erasmus+ Staff Training Mobility, the Master Program in Food Science and Technology continues to strengthen its commitment to internationalization by expanding global academic networks, promoting knowledge exchange, and creating meaningful opportunities for collaboration in education and research. The visit of Dr. Isabel Atienza Navarro is expected to pave the way for broader institutional partnerships and future joint research initiatives between Universitas Gadjah Mada and the University of Cádiz.
