Winners Announced for 2nd Annual Biotech Bridge Hackathon

Congratulations to the winners of the second annual Biotech Bridge Hackathon, hosted by the Schmidt College of Science’s Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (CMBB) from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. The three-day event, themed “Beat the Clock: Follow your Mind, Heart and Gut,” attracted 60 students from across disciplines to create innovative solutions to extend the human health span.

Unlike traditional hackathons that focus primarily on software development, the CMBB Hackathon’s biotech-focused format emphasized scientific relevance, real-world application, as well as teamwork.

“I am exceptionally proud of the students who demonstrated the initiative to step outside their comfort zones and participate in a hackathon for the first time,” said Shailaja Allani, Ph.D., director of the CMBB. “They successfully formed cross-disciplinary teams spanning from high school through graduate level, demonstrating confidence in their abilities and commitment to innovation. Most remarkably, within a span of less than 48 hours, they acquired proficiency with cutting-edge technology tools, developed functional applications and generated creative solutions to relevant healthcare problems.”

All 12 teams delivered their final presentations on the third day. Based on innovation, feasibility, and potential impact, a panel of judges voted for the top three projects. The winning teams were recognized for their ability to integrate scientific understanding with technology-driven solutions.

The winners of the hackathon are:

First Place: Q-Beam - $1,500 cash prize
Project: A quantum computing-optimized surgical planner for brain tumor ablations.

Second Place: Health Lens - $ 1,000 cash prize
Project: A solution to spot Parkinson’s disease earlier through the detection of hidden symptoms.

Third Place: CogniAware - $ 500 cash prize
Project: A method to passively monitor digital user behavior to understand changes in cognitive health.

This year, Florida Atlantic partnered with Palm Beach State College for the Hackathon. By engaging students from Palm Beach State College’s STEM programs, the university aims to help expand access to high-impact innovation opportunities, while strengthening regional workforce pipelines.

The event was sponsored by FAU’s Division of Research, the FAU Jupiter Campus Office of Academic Affairs, the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at FAU, TriAxis Works, Prolindox, Fisher Scientific and Studio Solian.

Established in 2023, CMBB’s Biotech Bridge program aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry to give students insights into the wide array of non-academic career options in the rapidly growing biotechnology field. CMBB’s Biotech Bridge draws on the expertise of 47 FAU faculty from various disciplines, including cancer biology, biochemistry, computational chemistry, neuroscience and aging, as well as 34 affiliate faculty representing research institutes and the biopharmaceutical industry. For more information on the Biotech Bridge program, visit fau.edu/science/cmbb.