Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) has officially explored research cooperation with the National Institute of Parasitic Diseases (NIPD) to strengthen health technology development. The main focus of this collaboration lies in utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an innovative solution for detecting infectious diseases, particularly malaria.
USU Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation, and Partnerships, Prof. Himsar Ambarita, stated that this synergy is directed toward research with a real impact on society. According to him, the alignment between research goals and government priority programs opens wide opportunities for both institutions to access joint funding schemes, including support from the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP) to ensure project sustainability.
Echoing this sentiment, the Director of the Global Health Center at NIPD, Dr. Shan Lyu, emphasized the importance of adopting AI technology to enhance the speed and accuracy of malaria diagnosis. The utilization of this technology is expected to provide *real-time* detection results, which will serve as a key instrument in strengthening the national disease control system in Indonesia.
Although the prevalence of malaria in the Sumatra region is relatively lower compared to Eastern Indonesia, USU's strategic position remains a vital asset on the health research map. The innovative outcomes developed through this partnership are projected to be applied across endemic areas nationwide to accelerate the national target of eliminating malaria cases.
This collaborative step not only expands international research networks for USU but also marks a concrete move in digitalizing the healthcare system. Through the integration of expertise between local academics and international health experts, it is hoped that technological solutions capable of reducing future disease transmission rates will emerge.
