Melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, poses a significant challenge in Indonesia, particularly in acral and mucosal types, which are more common among Asian populations. A team from Universitas Padjadjaran, led by Dr. Hermin Aminah Usman, investigated two key biological markers — the Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) and CD8+ T-lymphocytes — to understand their relationship with melanoma invasion depth.

Analyzing patient tumor samples, the researchers quantified VDR expression and the density of CD8+ immune cells, then correlated these with the tumor’s Breslow thickness (a measure of how deep the cancer has penetrated the skin). Their statistical analysis revealed that higher VDR expression was associated with shallower tumors, while increased CD8+ infiltration correlated with stronger immune defense against tumor spread.

This suggests a potential dual protective pathway: vitamin D signaling may enhance immune surveillance, while cytotoxic T cells directly attack cancerous cells. The findings support considering vitamin D optimization and immune modulation as part of melanoma management strategies.

For Indonesia, where sunlight is abundant yet vitamin D deficiency is surprisingly common, the results carry both public health and clinical implications — calling for awareness campaigns and potential supplementation programs to strengthen cancer defenses.

West Java, Indonesia — In a small village school in West Java, the sound of children laughing fills the air during recess. But behind those smiles lies a hidden struggle: many of these young students are not getting the nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy.

This was the challenge faced by Dr. Yenni Zuhairini and her colleagues from the Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran. Determined to make a change, they envisioned a solution that could fit right into children’s daily lives — a snack that is both delicious and nutritious, made entirely from local ingredients.

The team developed SISTIK, a crunchy, savory treat enriched with chicken liver and eggshell powder — both excellent sources of iron and calcium. “We wanted something that children would actually enjoy eating, without realizing it’s packed with the nutrients their bodies need,” Dr. Zuhairini explained.

The researchers didn’t stop at creating the recipe. They brought SISTIK to the children, observing not only how they reacted to the taste but also whether it could become a regular part of their diet. The trial showed that the snack was well-received, and more importantly, it had the potential to address micronutrient deficiencies common in Indonesian schoolchildren.

If scaled up, SISTIK could be a simple, low-cost tool in the fight against malnutrition — replacing empty-calorie snacks with something that fuels growth, strengthens bones, and supports learning. Its reliance on locally sourced ingredients also supports rural farmers and reduces dependence on expensive imported supplements.

This initiative directly supports SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, showing how innovation can start in the kitchen and ripple outward to strengthen communities. For Universitas Padjadjaran, it’s another example of research that blends science with compassion — and helps raise the university’s profile in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

West Java, Indonesia — A multi-year population-based study by Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad) has revealed that young and school-aged children in two communities in Bandung district face significantly higher risks of influenza infections than other age groups. The study, led by Dr. Dwi Agustian from the Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Unpad, is one of the few in Indonesia to measure influenza incidence in real-world, community-based settings rather than hospitals.

The research, conducted between 2008 and 2011 in Cileunyi and Soreang, provides critical insights into how influenza circulates among the general population and how frequently people get infected. Unlike previous hospital-based studies, this one tracked over 3,000 individuals with influenza-like symptoms at local public health centers and tested them using PCR diagnostics. The results showed that children under five years old had the highest incidence of symptomatic influenza A and B, followed by school-aged children.

“We observed that influenza hits children the hardest and most frequently,” said Dr. Agustian. “This is important data to support policies for influenza vaccination, especially among children in low- and middle-income countries like Indonesia.”

The study also tracked how different influenza strains, including the pandemic H1N1 virus in 2009, circulated throughout the region. It found that flu viruses are active almost year-round, with several seasonal peaks that often align with periods of high rainfall. This makes it difficult to determine a single best time for mass vaccination—though the authors suggest it could be done ahead of the rainy season or adjusted to specific needs, such as the Hajj pilgrimage season.

Importantly, the research addresses a critical gap: lack of baseline data for guiding national influenza prevention programs. Despite WHO recommendations, influenza vaccination is still not part of Indonesia’s national immunization schedule, partly due to insufficient evidence on community-level burden.

By quantifying how many people get flu each year—and who is most at risk—this study offers much-needed evidence for targeted public health interventions, especially in vulnerable child populations.

This work supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being, by offering concrete data for infectious disease prevention. It also reflects Unpad’s growing contribution to evidence-based public health, further enhancing its position in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings as a university committed to solving real-world health challenges.

Growing wild across Indonesia’s fields and gardens, Physalis angulata — locally known as ciplukan — has long been part of traditional remedies. Its small lantern-like husks hide sweet, tangy fruits, but its leaves and stems hold an even greater secret: potent medicinal compounds.

A Universitas Padjadjaran research team led by Dr. Hesti Lina Wiraswati tested ethanol extracts of ciplukan on laboratory fibroblast cells to evaluate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic activities. The experiments revealed that the extract not only neutralized harmful free radicals but also suppressed inflammatory markers and inhibited the migration of fibrosis-related cells.

Analytically, the suppression of HIF-1α and IL-6 — two key genes linked to tissue scarring — provides a biological explanation for the plant’s healing properties. This supports its potential in preventing or treating fibrotic diseases, where excessive scar tissue damages organs.

By translating a common plant into a scientifically validated therapeutic candidate, the study bridges traditional knowledge with modern medicine, offering a sustainable, locally sourced health solution aligned with SDG 3 and SDG 15: Life on Land.

West Java, Indonesia — Researchers from Universitas Padjadjaran have discovered that natural compounds found in black pepper (Piper nigrum) may help suppress cancer at the molecular level, offering a new pathway for low-cost and accessible cancer treatment.

The in silico (computer-aided) study was conducted by Dr. Hesti Lina Wiraswati from the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, in collaboration with experts in pharmacy and computational biology. Their findings suggest that specific secondary metabolites from black pepper can bind effectively to cancer-related proteins such as EGFR, CYP, AIF, and MAO-B—molecules that are involved in cancer cell growth and survival.

“This research gives us early evidence that Indonesia’s everyday plants may hold untapped therapeutic potential,” said Dr. Wiraswati. “We focused on natural compounds that are already consumed in diets, which makes future development potentially safer and more accessible.”

The virtual screening showed strong binding activities that may lead to apoptosis (programmed cancer cell death) and block pathways that tumors rely on to spread. These discoveries pave the way for future lab and clinical studies to develop plant-based cancer therapies—especially important in low-resource settings.

The study promotes self-reliant health innovation, drawing from Indonesia’s own biodiversity, and offers sustainable alternatives to costly, synthetic drugs. If developed further, these compounds could reduce dependency on imported cancer medications.

This research contributes directly to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being by exploring new, natural approaches to cancer treatment, and to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production through the use of local, plant-based sources. It reflects Universitas Padjadjaran’s growing role as a leader in affordable, sustainable healthcare innovation and strengthens its position in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings.