Hong Kong students win gold at iGEM awards with AI-powered cancer drug
The team impressed judges with their research, showcasing their scientific prowess and commitment to tackling global health challenges.
A team of secondary school students from Hong Kong won a gold medal at the prestigious International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition. Photo: HandoutA team of secondary school students from Hong Kong have won a gold medal and multiple special awards at the prestigious International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition.
The team, composed of students from various secondary schools, impressed judges with their innovative project on developing an AI-powered cancer drug. By leveraging the power of artificial intelligence, they were able to identify and synthesise peptides that could effectively target lung cancer cells.
The iGEM competition was founded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2003. The annual event invites students from all around the world to design and build biological systems. This year, over 400 teams from 44 countries took part.
The Hong Kong team, comprised of students from Baptist Lui Ming Choi Secondary School, Carmel Pak U Secondary School, Kowloon True Light School, TWGHs Mrs Wu York Yu Memorial College, Hoi Ping Chamber of Commerce Secondary School, and Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College, stood out among the global competitors.
The team focused on developing an AI-powered cancer drug. Leveraging the Nobel Prize-winning AI programme AlphaFold, they predicted peptides that could inhibit lung cancer cells.
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They introduced these genes to E coli bacteria using genetic engineering to produce the anticancer peptides. Through rigorous testing in their school’s biotechnology laboratory, they identified the most effective peptide.
The competition took place in late October when they travelled to Paris to participate and compete against other secondary school teams worldwide.
The team delivered a compelling presentation, designed scientific posters, and manned a booth to showcase their research.
Their ability to answer questions from judges, other teams, and media showed their excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
Ultimately, they won the highest honour, a gold medal, and secured a top-five spot in both the “Best Educational Outreach” and “Best Model” categories, bringing praise to Hong Kong.
They also designed various materials for their outstanding educational outreach efforts, including board games, card games, picture books, and brochures, to introduce biotechnology to students of all ages. They also organised several synthetic biology workshops for the public, including those with hearing impairments.
Inspired by their success, the students expressed their desire to pursue research careers and contribute to society through technological innovation.