Diabetes is one of Indonesia’s fastest-rising health threats, affecting more than 10 million adults. Beyond blood sugar, the disease silently damages organs—including the eyes, where it can lead to blindness.

A research team led by Dr. Raden Maula Rifada from the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran, studied the link between retinal thickness, ganglion cell layer damage, and reduced blood perfusion in patients with type 2 diabetes. Using advanced optical imaging technology, they examined how diabetes affects not just the eye but also the nerves within it.

The findings revealed that patients with diabetes often showed thinner retinal and ganglion cell layers, alongside reduced blood flow. These changes signal early damage to both vision and brain-related pathways, long before patients notice symptoms. “By looking into the eye, we can actually see the brain’s health and the effects of diabetes on the nervous system,” Dr. Rifada explained.

This research could transform diabetes care. If eye imaging becomes part of routine check-ups, doctors can detect complications earlier and prevent blindness. For patients, it means more than preserving sight—it could also help predict risks for stroke or cognitive decline, conditions closely linked with diabetes-related vascular damage.

By connecting vision care to broader public health, Universitas Padjadjaran contributes to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being. The study reinforces Unpad’s leadership in integrating technology and medicine, showing how innovation at a local hospital can generate global insights.

Hallux valgus, more commonly known as a bunion, is a painful foot deformity affecting millions worldwide. In severe cases, surgery is the only option. But traditional surgical methods often risk joint instability and recurrence.

At Universitas Padjadjaran, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Raden Andri Primadhi and his team developed a modified medial capsulorrhaphy technique, using a figure-of-eight suture to reinforce the joint capsule after bunion correction surgery. This innovation was tested on patients undergoing corrective procedures at Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung.

The results were promising. Patients experienced improved joint stability, reduced pain, and a lower risk of post-surgical complications. The modified method is also practical and cost-effective—important for hospitals in resource-limited settings. “Our goal was to create a technique that combines safety, effectiveness, and affordability,” said Dr. Primadhi.

For Indonesia, where many people live with untreated bunions due to lack of access to specialized care, this breakthrough offers hope. Patients can recover faster, return to daily activities sooner, and avoid expensive repeat surgeries. The technique can also be shared across hospitals nationally, building capacity for wider adoption.

This innovation not only advances orthopedic surgery in Indonesia but also contributes to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being by improving quality of life through accessible treatment. With this work, Unpad reinforces its reputation as a hub of medical innovation in Southeast Asia, pushing forward in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

When a 33-year-old man in Bandung arrived at the emergency department, doctors expected the usual signs of severe dengue: fever, low platelets, and risk of bleeding. But this patient’s case turned into a medical mystery. Instead of bleeding, his heart was failing.

Dr. Miftah Pramudyo from Universitas Padjadjaran’s Faculty of Medicine and colleagues discovered that the man was suffering from fulminant dengue myocarditis—a rare but deadly complication where the dengue virus directly damages the heart muscle. The patient developed two dangerous arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), putting him at high risk of sudden death.

Doctors immediately placed him in the intensive care unit, stabilizing his condition with advanced cardiac monitoring and emergency therapy. The case was reported as one of the few documented instances worldwide where dengue led to such severe heart involvement. “This shows that dengue is not only a disease of fever and bleeding—it can silently attack the heart,” Dr. Pramudyo explained.

For public health, this discovery is a call to action. Dengue remains one of Indonesia’s biggest health burdens, with tens of thousands of cases reported each year. Identifying unusual complications like myocarditis will help doctors act faster and save more lives. For patients, it’s a reminder that unexplained chest pain or shortness of breath during dengue fever must never be ignored.

By documenting this rare case, Universitas Padjadjaran strengthens Indonesia’s role in global dengue research and reinforces its contribution to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being. It also highlights the urgent need for awareness, better diagnostics, and hospital preparedness in dengue-endemic regions.

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 Time is Brain: Unpad Study Urges Wider Stroke Treatment Access in Indonesia

Every year, millions suffer strokes, with Indonesia facing one of the highest burdens in Asia. A new study by Dr. Lisda Amalia and Putri Qonitah from Universitas Padjadjaran analyzed hyperacute ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis at Dr. Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Bandung.

The research showed that most patients were elderly and arrived within the critical 4.5-hour window. With timely treatment, 91% avoided complications, and half recovered well—proof that intravenous thrombolysis works in Indonesia.

But there’s a catch: only a handful of hospitals provide this therapy. Many patients still miss their window because of limited awareness, delays in referrals, or lack of infrastructure. The result is avoidable disability and death.

The call is clear: expand thrombolysis services, train health workers to recognize stroke signs, and educate the public that sudden weakness, slurred speech, or facial drooping are medical emergencies.

This effort supports SDG 3 (Health) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, Infrastructure), pushing Indonesia closer to equitable healthcare. By showcasing local success, Unpad strengthens its place in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, proving research can save lives when translated into action.

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 Saving a Child from a Silent Disease: Unpad Doctors Trace Rare Cancer-Like Disorder

In Bandung, a 17-month-old girl was fighting for her life. Breathing difficulties, fever, swollen belly, and painful rashes puzzled doctors until a team at Universitas Padjadjaran stepped in. Led by Dr. Harry Galuh Nugraha and colleagues from radiology, pediatrics, and pathology, the team unraveled the mystery: multisystem Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), a rare disease that mimics cancer.

Through a series of radiological tests—X-rays, CT scans, MRI—the doctors discovered the disease had spread to the child’s bones, lungs, liver, and spleen. Without these imaging breakthroughs, she would have been misdiagnosed, as had happened before with tuberculosis.

While the prognosis is poor for such widespread cases, early detection is the best chance for survival. The case highlights the urgent need for awareness among parents and health workers: persistent fevers, rashes, and growth failure in children should never be ignored.

For families, this story is both a warning and a message of hope. Imaging, when available and accurately interpreted, can be the difference between life and death.

Unpad’s work demonstrates a commitment to SDG 3 (Health) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by ensuring even rare diseases in low-resource settings are given global attention.