The Faculty of Medicine of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) has a strong commitment to health, technology and life sciences research. UNS aspires to grow continuously and being part of the solution of various national health problems. One of the efforts for solving health problems is that the organization of the International Conference on Health, Technology and Life Sciences (ICO-HELICS) with special emphasis on medical technology and life sciences for the advancement of human health.

The rapid advancement of technology and sciences is now transforming research in health. Artificial intelligence together with genomics and biomarker discoveries are providing promising avenues to deliver truly individualized therapies. It is this dynamics convergence of technological advances and their potential that had been the subjects of the talks given at the 1^st ICO-HELICS. The first ICO-HELICS has brought together researchers, clinicians, and students to share their experiences, ideas, and findings and to discuss recent updates and practical challenges related to human health. The conference attendees also had an opportunity to develop a strong relationship and networks amongst each other, particularly those sharing the same research interests.

The 1^st ICO-HELICS was held in Solo Baru, Indonesia on 17–18 October 2018. About 200 participants and 8 keynote speakers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Sweden, and the USA joined the event; 86 articles and 4 posters were presented by the conference participants, and 40 papers were selected to be published in the present conference proceedings.

Conference topics:

Sub-topics of Physics and Materials Science: Biomaterials, Biophysics, Medical physics, Nanomedicine
Sub-topics of Medical Technology: Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Biomedical engineering, Drug and vaccine discovery, Health informatics, Medical internet, Translational research
Sub-topics of Life Sciences: Biodiversity, Biomedical science, Ecology, Immunology, Microbiology, Infectious diseases, Molecular biology, Neuroscience
Other fields of study related to the advancement and innovations in Medical Science: Health education, Psychology, Women and children health, Public health, Non-communicable diseases

Conference dates: 17–18 October 2018
Location: Best Western Premier Hotel, Solo Baru, Central Java, Indonesia 
Editors: Tri Nugraha Susilawati, Widana Primaningtyas, Nur Arifah Drajati, and Ellisa Indriyani Putri Handayani
Sponsors: Kairos Jaya Sejahtera, Elo Karsa Utama, Sciencewerke, Kromtekindo Utama, Gestrindo, PT Teja Sinar Mas, Oriflame, Mahadewi Batik Indonesia, and Universitas Lambung Mangkurat
Organizer: Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS)
Published: 25 March 2019
ISSN: 2413-0877