UNAIR NEWS – The Diktisaintek Berdampak program reflects the government’s commitment to delivering tangible benefits to society through education. For universities, it provides a platform to help communities address various challenges through teaching, service, research, and innovation.
During the 2025 Indonesian Science, Technology, and Industry Convention (KSTI), held Thursday to Saturday (Aug. 7–9) in Bandung, universities from across the country showcased innovations designed to offer practical solutions for the public. Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) was among the institutions making a notable contribution at the event.
Introducing device to treat newborn jaundice
Renowned for its expertise in health sciences, UNAIR presented AirBiliNest (Airlangga Bilirubin Nesting), a portable smart phototherapy device created to treat hyperbilirubinemia, or newborn jaundice. The innovation addresses the persistently high rate of jaundice in newborns.
Data from Indonesia’s 2007 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) shows that 60–80% of newborns experience hyperbilirubinemia in their first week of life, making it the fifth leading cause of infant mortality in the country. Without proper treatment, excessive bilirubin can cause nerve damage, leading to neurotoxicity.
Phototherapy remains the primary treatment for newborn jaundice. However, conventional devices are typically costly, lack flexibility, and often require infants to be separated from their parents during care. AirBiliNest was designed to overcome these limitations.
“This device’s advantage over standard infant incubators is its dual light exposure, from both above and below, which we hope can accelerate the therapy process for newborn jaundice,” said Syah Reza Budi Azhari, one of the AirBiliNest researchers, on Friday (Aug. 8).
Offering range of advantages
AirBiliNest is an advanced phototherapy device integrated with Indonesia’s Panduan Nasional Praktik Kedokteran (PNPK), or National Medical Practice Guidelines. The device’s application includes a feature known as BiliNorm, an early detection tool containing a clinical pathway to guide healthcare workers in determining appropriate treatment for newborns with jaundice, ensuring compliance with current PNPK standards.
AirBiliNest uses two blue LED light sources with a wavelength of 470 nm, positioned above and below the infant, to deliver faster, more comfortable, and more affordable therapy. It also features a blanket-like design with five LED panels arranged in an 8×27 light-point grid, producing a 40×30 cm illumination area on both sides. Light intensity can be adjusted via the AirBiliNest mobile app, which also enables real-time monitoring of the baby’s temperature and humidity.
Azhari noted that the phototherapy dosage can be tailored to the infant’s needs and adjusted throughout treatment using a smartphone. The use of textile materials prioritizing infant comfort is another key strength of the device.
Cross-faculty collaboration
The device is now in the commercialization phase through a partnership between PT Astra Komponen Indonesia (ASKI) and PT IDS Medical System Indonesia, with the goal of making it widely accessible across various healthcare facilities. This innovation is the product of cross-faculty collaboration at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) and its hospital partners. Contributors include Dr. Mahendra Tri Arif Sampurna, SpA SubspNeo(K), PhD (Faculty of Medicine); Dr. Andi Hamim Zaidan, SSi, MSc, PhD (Faculty of Science and Technology); Prof. Dr. Muhammad Nafik Hadi Ryandono, SE, MSi (Faculty of Economics and Business); Zida Husnina, SKM, MPH (Faculty of Public Health); Syah Reza Budi Azhari, STrKes (Alumnus, Faculty of Vocational Studies); and Valentinus Mahendra Aron Quendangan (Alumnus, Faculty of Science and Technology). The project also involved Airlangga University Hospital and the university’s Business Start-up Development and Incubation Agency (BPBRIN), both of which played key roles in advancing the development of this medical device.
At KSTI 2025, AirBiliNest exemplified the importance of translating research into real-world applications and integrating science to address societal challenges. The device supports the development of Indonesia’s healthcare system through advanced, research-based medical technology, aligning with the Asta Cita vision of the President of the Republic of Indonesia. It is expected to play a role in improving the quality of life for infants across the nation.
Author: Yulia Rohmawati
