One Region, One Goal: RPRI and FKUI Launch the ASEAN4TB Consortium to Strengthen Cross-Border Tuberculosis Research

Jakarta, May 23, 2026 – The Indonesian Respiratory Research and Training Foundation (RPRI), together with the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia (FKUI), officially launched the ASEAN4TB Consortium and convened its inaugural Kickoff Meeting, held virtually via Zoom on Friday, May 22, 2026. As host of the meeting, RPRI brought together researchers, academics, and institutional representatives from across ASEAN within a single, structured collaboration framework aimed at accelerating tuberculosis (TB) elimination throughout the region.

The meeting marked the beginning of a new and more concrete phase of structured collaboration under the consortium. For the first time, RPRI and FKUI gathered academic and research institutions from across ASEAN member states around a shared agenda. RPRI designed the forum to build a common vision, clarify the role of each member institution, and strengthen the foundation for long-term cooperation that will culminate in the ASEAN4TB Symposium in Jakarta this July 2026.

For RPRI, the inaugural forum was more than an official introduction of the consortium—it was a working space. The Foundation guided members through cross-track discussions to align research priorities, define institutional roles, and design a roadmap for joint scientific collaboration.

"ASEAN4TB is a regional collaborative initiative founded by the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, and supported by RPRI. It involves all ASEAN member states, with the goal of strengthening coordination among academic and research institutions, supporting joint research initiatives, and contributing to improved outcomes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of TB across the ASEAN region. Our shared vision is: one region, one goal," said Prof. Erlina Burhan.

Under RPRI's coordination, consortium members agreed on a series of structured work stages. The first stage, on June 5, 2026, focused on the initial drafting of the Research Plan and Joint Statement for each research track, followed by a second stage on June 19, 2026, to finalize those documents. These efforts will culminate in the ASEAN4TB Symposium on July 1–2, 2026, in Jakarta, which RPRI will host with keynote sessions, abstract presentations, public disseminations, the joint statement signing, and a research and policy panel discussion

The breadth of participation RPRI convened reflected the consortium's regional reach. Members come from institutions affiliated with the ASEAN Medical School Network (AMSN), including Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam. To ensure coordination and alignment, moderators from each research track led focused group discussions throughout the meeting.

Through ASEAN4TB, RPRI—together with FKUI and all consortium partners—reaffirms its commitment to positioning research as a driving force in TB control across the region. The Foundation expects this collaboration not only to produce robust scientific recommendations, but also to accelerate evidence-based policy and interventions in support of the global target of TB elimination by 2030.

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About RPRI

The Respiratory Programmatic Implementation and Research Institute (RPRI) is an Indonesian non-profit foundation dedicated to advancing research, training, and programmatic implementation in tuberculosis and respiratory health. Based in Jakarta, RPRI integrates epidemiological studies, clinical trials, and capacity-building initiatives to identify pressing challenges, generate novel solutions, and implement strategic interventions toward an Indonesia free of tuberculosis and respiratory disease.

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