Yogyakarta, February 14, 2026 — A student team from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has secured a Silver Medal at the PLASMIDZ 2026 Scientific Essay Competition. Organized virtually by Generasi Peneliti, the team—comprising Yustisia Nur Rafidha Hestomo Putri, Novia Rahmadhani Azizah, and Fagih Fikri Nuryanto—presented an innovative study titled “SMARTCURE: pH-ROS Responsive Curcumin Smart Delivery System Innovation to Enhance Anti-inflammatory Therapy Selectivity in Ulcerative Colitis.”
Aligned with the competition’s grand theme, “Best Innovation in Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, and Bioinformatics to Achieving Sustainable Development Goals,” the SMARTCURE project directly supports the advancement of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). The innovation features a curcumin-based drug delivery system that responds to specific pH levels and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). This targeted approach is designed to enhance the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory therapy for ulcerative colitis patients while significantly reducing systemic side effects, embodying the spirit of sustainable medical innovation.
The competition saw intense participation from prestigious Indonesian institutions such as the University of Indonesia, ITB, IPB University, Brawijaya University, and other universities. Out of numerous entries, only 25 teams were selected as finalists to present their work on February 14, 2026. UGM’s success in winning the silver medal underscores the high quality of research conducted by its pharmacy students, proving their ability to address future healthcare challenges through precision technology.
This achievement is expected to inspire other students to pursue biotechnology-based research. By integrating SDG values into scientific innovation, UGM students remain committed to upholding the university’s reputation and making a tangible contribution to the development of the healthcare industry on both national and international stages.
