The International Research Program for Young Talents (RIRPYT) has reached its second edition. This year, the award was granted to the young researcher Dr. Intan Masyfufah Hanim from Indonesia.

The RIRPYT is an initiative led by CoEHAR (Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction) of the University of Catania and is now in its second year.

The Talent Research Program was inspired by the European Union’s goal of fostering scientific development in non-industrialized countries. In line with this objective, the program was launched within the framework of the Replica project, with the aim of encouraging young talents to pursue research and innovation in the field of Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR).

The program’s scientific activities were outlined during the Replica Kick-off event held in 2023 at the Biological Tower in Catania. The research component was finalized in early June 2023, and the first year of the project was carried out in the last quarter of the year under the supervision of local Principal Investigators.

During the 2024 international “Replica” meeting, held at the Biological Tower, the first “Talent Research Award” was presented following the presentations by two candidates: Xylia Annisa from Padjadjaran University, Indonesia, and Nikolina Kastratovic from the University of Kragujevac, Serbia. The committee, chaired by Prof. Li Volti, praised the work of these young researchers and presented them with awards and plaques of recognition.

The 2025 edition of the Talent Research Program was presented at the THR Asia-Pacific Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia, on June 14, 2025. Representing Indonesia, Intan Masyfufah Hanim showcased her research titled “The Effect of Tephrosia vogelii Seed Extract on Inflammation in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC).” Her study explores the anti-inflammatory potential of natural plant compounds in the context of vascular health, aligning with the program’s mission to promote scientific innovation in Tobacco Harm Reduction through emerging researchers in low- and middle-income countries. 

The evaluation committee was composed of the Director of CoEHAR, Prof. Giovanni Li Volti, and the Co-Project Leader of the Replica program, Prof. Massimo Caruso.