Biotech Futures Challenge

By Olivia Harvey (Year 11)

During the holidays, Meera Barani and I participated in a science competition called the Biotech Futures Challenge run by Sydney University, which is open to teams across Australia. We worked alongside Matilda Longfield, a student at Sydney University, and had weekly meetings throughout the holidays. In this challenge, Meera and I were given the topic of chronic diabetic foot ulcers. Our task was to formulate and design a topical treatment that would address the market need and answer criteria. During our research we found that Australia has the second highest rate of diabetic foot ulcers in the developed world, and that this number is rapidly increasing. We decided to aim our treatment at rural populations who have limited access to medical facilities. Our treatment is home-based and consists of three main phases. A sensor strip, that sits over the wound to monitor progress, connected to a Bluetooth app from which the patient can receive advice from a healthcare professional. This sensor strip sits in a sock made from four layers, into which different healing solutions will be pumped depending on the sensor readings. This treatment will hopefully lower the need for hospitalisations while providing equal access for people across Australia.

The first stage of this competition involved the submission of a poster, prototype, slide and 2,000 word report. From here we were lucky enough to be selected into the top 40 teams. We then did a three-minute presentation in front of a panel of judges during an online symposium. Once again, we were selected into the top ten and did a second presentation followed by a Q and A session by the judges. We found out that we were awarded winner of the Health and Medicine category at the conclusion of the symposium. This award involves an internship at Sydney University where we develop our treatment. This is an incredible opportunity and Meera and I are extremely excited to see where this will lead. We are very grateful to the school and to Sydney University for all their support and are excited to continue working in this area.