UNAIR NEWS – A team of students from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) has once again drawn international attention with its latest innovation, MouthEZ. The team secured a Silver Medal and a Stage Presentation Appreciation in the CLASS A category, Medicine and Public Health/Medical Technology/Pharmacy/Hygiene, at the Bangkok International Intellectual Property, Invention, Innovation and Technology Exposition (IPITEx).
The competition drew participants from 31 countries and was held from January 5 to 9, 2026, at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) in Bangkok, Thailand. The team includes Arifianti, Given Exaudi Girsang, and Zalfa Anindya Laksana from the Faculty of Medicine; David Mey Norton and Aura Tahta Imani from the Faculty of Science and Technology; and Muhammad Zaidan Fathirifansa and Nisriina Hilmi Rajiva from the Faculty of Advanced Technology and Multidisciplinary Sciences.
From concern to innovation: Developing MouthEZ
Arifianti, who led the team, said MouthEZ is an artificial intelligence–powered application designed to support early oral cancer detection. The system uses a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with automated hyperparameter tuning to identify potentially cancerous lesions. “Users only need to take a photo of the oral area, and the system quickly delivers an initial screening result along with follow-up recommendations in a non-invasive and affordable way,” she said.
The idea stemmed from the team’s concern over frequent delays in oral cancer diagnosis. “In Indonesia, many oral cancer cases are identified only at advanced stages. This is largely due to limited screening services, low public awareness, and the lack of integrated early detection within national health policies,” Arifianti explained.
During development, the team divided tasks between technical members, students from the science and technology faculties who built the application, and non-technical members from the medical faculty, who refined the concept and handled non-software aspects. Challenges were addressed through careful time management, routine discussions, and close collaboration. “Strong teamwork allowed us to overcome every challenge and ultimately strengthened our preparedness,” she said.
Future of MouthEZ
Arifianti said the project’s success was driven by its relevance to real public health issues, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and thorough preparation.
“Oral cancer is often overlooked despite its serious public health impact, which made this innovation both timely and necessary. MouthEZ offers a practical and realistic solution, with a simple user experience and clear potential for real-world use,” she said.
For the team, the recognition goes beyond winning a competition. It reflects a learning journey and the confidence to turn ideas into solutions with tangible benefits. Looking ahead, the team plans to pilot the application with primary healthcare facilities, expand its dataset, and enhance the system by adding features such as cancer severity classification.
“MouthEZ is currently accessible through its website and is slated for release on the Play Store and App Store. The platform will continue to be developed to support long-term implementation across a range of healthcare services,” she added.
She concluded by encouraging fellow students to take initiative and step beyond their comfort zones. “Do not wait until everything feels perfect. Achievements often begin not with flawless ideas, but with the courage to start, consistency in the process, and a willingness to learn from failure. Use the support of lecturers and faculties, and trust that every student has the potential to succeed,” she said.
Author: Bethari Sri Indrajayanti
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
