FMHS UNISMUH Makassar Students Win Gold Medal at the 2024 World Invention Competition and Exhibition
Makassar, September 24, 2024 – A remarkable achievement has been made by the students of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FHMS) at Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar (UNISMUH) in the prestigious international event, World Invention Competition and Exhibition (WICE) 2024. The FMHS UNISMUH student team won a gold medal for their research titled “Innovation in Improving Tuberculosis Therapy: Dry Powder Inhaler of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized from Seaweed Extract (Sargassum polycystum)” at the competition held at Mahsa University, Selangor, Malaysia, from September 20-25, 2024.
The FKIK students on the winning team were Ikhwandi Chandra Nugraha (Bachelor of Medicine Study Program, class of 2022), Muhammad Ilham Hamzah (Pharmacy Study Program, class of 2022), and Putri Awaliah Aldina (Pharmacy Study Program, class of 2022). They brought pride to their almamater after competing with 126 teams from various universities around the world, representing a total of 15 countries.
WICE 2024 is one of the largest scientific innovation competitions in the world, held offline with two award categories: gold and silver. The UNISMUH team secured one of the coveted gold medals, standing alongside Universitas Andalas and the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB), who also received top honors
Innovation for Tuberculosis Therapy
The gold-winning research highlights a critical innovation in the healthcare sector: the development of a Dry Powder Inhaler using silver nanoparticles synthesized from Sargassum polycystum seaweed extract. This inhaler is designed as a more effective and efficient therapy for treating tuberculosis, a persistent global health challenge. The technology is expected to offer a new solution in enhancing drug absorption and improving therapeutic outcomes for tuberculosis patients.
FMHS UNISMUH Makassar Dean, Prof. Dr. dr. Suryani As’ad, M.Sc., Sp.GK(K), expressed pride in the students’ achievement. “This is a great source of pride for FMHS and UNISMUH. This accomplishment proves that our students are capable of competing and excelling at the international level in scientific innovation,” she stated.
Prestigious Innovation Competition
The World Invention Competition and Exhibition showcases a wide range of innovations across various fields, and FMHS UNISMUH students demonstrated outstanding creativity and innovation. Not only did they exhibit extraordinary academic prowess, but they also developed internationally recognized solutions.
FKIK Vice Dean for Student Affairs, dr. Asdar, Sp.B, also expressed his appreciation for the team’s hard work and dedication. “This achievement is a clear testament to the spirit of FMHS students in continuously advancing innovation and knowledge that benefits not only at the local level but also globally,” he added.
The Way Forward
With this achievement, FMHS UNISMUH hopes to continue encouraging students to actively participate in various international events and develop their potential in diverse fields. Moving forward, FMHS is committed to supporting students in achieving success and becoming agents of change in the fields of healthcare and science.
