13 November 2025
Sunaryo S.Kom
USU FACULTY OF PHARMACY PR — The spirit of innovation was once again demonstrated by students of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), through an outstanding achievement at the Indonesian Students Researcher Festival (ISRF) 2025 organized by Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI). In this national scientific writing competition, the USU Pharmacy student team succeeded in securing 3rd Place thanks to their innovative idea in developing herbal-based therapeutic technology for mental health.
Carrying the grand theme “Resilience for Humanity: Innovation and Global Collaboration Toward Sustainable Well-Being,” ISRF 2025 brought together hundreds of students from various universities in Indonesia who are committed to realizing real solutions for society. Amid the intense competition, the team from the Faculty of Pharmacy USU consisting of Ronny, Arfian Adri Hartopo, and Tiyen Indah Harati Waruwu successfully impressed the panel of judges with their work titled “Tranquilux Patch: Innovation of Nanoherbal-Based Patch Therapy and Real-Time EMG Sensor to Manage Anxiety and Prevent Psychosomatic Disorders.”
The work originated from concerns over the increasing cases of anxiety and psychosomatic disorders in a fast-paced modern society. With a background in pharmaceutical science and the spirit of cross-disciplinary collaboration, the USU Pharmacy team created Tranquilux Patch, a smart patch that integrates nanoherbal technology with real-time electromyography (EMG) sensors. This sensor is capable of detecting muscle tension levels as an indicator of anxiety, then automatically activates the release of calming herbal compounds in micro-doses through a nano-based system.
This innovation not only showcases the ability of USU Pharmacy students to integrate science, technology, and health, but also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Through this research, the students aim to support mental well-being while introducing an environmentally friendly and technologically efficient therapeutic model.
“This research was developed as an initial step toward mental health therapy that is more accessible, safe, and tailored to user needs. We want to show that pharmaceutical innovation is not only focused on drugs, but also on technologies that improve quality of life,” said Ronny, the team leader, during an interview after the announcement of winners.
Meanwhile, the USU Faculty of Pharmacy expressed appreciation for the students’ achievement. In its statement, the faculty emphasized that this accomplishment is concrete proof of the contribution of USU Pharmacy students in shaping the future of pharmaceutical science that is humanistic and adaptive to global challenges. “We are proud of the students’ spirit in combining scientific innovation with humanitarian values. Works such as the Tranquilux Patch are a real manifestation of SDGs implementation within academic circles,” stated a faculty representative.
In addition to supporting SDG 3 and SDG 9, this work also reflects the spirit of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), as it was developed through active collaboration between students, supervising lecturers, and various parties committed to interdisciplinary research. This approach demonstrates that the best innovations are born from cooperation and concern for broader social impact.
Through this achievement, USU Pharmacy students not only bring honor to the university at the national level, but also show that the younger generation of pharmacists can be agents of change in the field of mental health and therapeutic technology.
This achievement is expected to inspire other students to continue creating, conducting research, and producing sustainable scientific solutions for society. The Faculty of Pharmacy USU will continue to encourage the growth of a culture of research, innovation, and collaboration so that the campus remains a pioneer in producing globally competitive scientists and innovators.
Congratulations to Ronny, Arfian Adri Hartopo, and Tiyen Indah Harati Waruwu on this remarkable achievement! May the spirit of innovation and contribution to sustainable development continue to inspire the entire USU Faculty of Pharmacy academic community.
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