UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) has once again made its mark on the international stage. Dr. Arif Nur Muhammad Ansori, a researcher from UNAIR’s Postgraduate School, has officially become a member of the World Society for Virology (WSV), a respected global organization that unites virology experts from around the world. Dr. Ansori said he was drawn to WSV’s inclusive and collaborative mission.
“WSV provides a global platform for virologists, regardless of their national or economic background. Its vision strongly aligns with my passion for advancing virology research, particularly research that benefits developing nations like Indonesia,” he said.
Taking on strategic role at WSV
As a new member, Dr. Ansori now has access to WSV’s wide-ranging international resources and networks. These include research materials, scholarship opportunities, career development programs, and access to scientific seminars and discussions. “I’m currently exploring opportunities to contribute to several WSV committees, including the Training and Career Development Committee and the Membership Committee,” he added.
In addition to his international engagement, Dr. Ansori is conducting retrovirology research at the Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection at Kumamoto University in Japan. His work focuses on bovine leukemia virus (BLV), a retrovirus that remains largely understudied in Indonesia. “Unlike HIV and HTLV, which have received significant attention, BLV is still relatively unknown in Indonesia. Yet it holds potential implications for both animal and human health,” he explained.
Building UNAIR–WSV collaboration
Dr. Arif emphasized that his WSV membership is not only a personal academic milestone but also a step forward in raising UNAIR’s global profile. He aims to serve as a bridge between UNAIR and WSV to facilitate future academic collaborations.
“Through this network, I hope to initiate joint seminars, training sessions, and collaborative research projects between UNAIR and WSV. Ideally, this will encourage UNAIR’s greater involvement in global scientific forums and help boost publication output in top-tier international journals,” he said.
Looking ahead, Dr. Ansori also noted that his involvement with WSV enhances his perspective on the One Health approach—an interdisciplinary framework that integrates human, animal, and environmental health in addressing viral diseases. “WSV is the ideal platform to learn from international best practices. This fits well with my research, which spans multiple disciplines,” he concluded.
Author: Ameyliarti Bunga Lestari
Editor: Edwin Fatahuddin
