Members of AI4DH lab win "Best Overall" at Oxford x UCL Life Sciences Innovation Sprint

We are incredibly proud to announce that 2 members of our lab, Zi Cai and Noura Aqeeli, have obtained the "Best Overall" prize at the Life Sciences Innovation Sprint, a high-intensity hackathon hosted at Oxford Edge and sponsored by EnSpire Oxford. This competitive event brings together top talent from the University of Oxford and UCL, challenging participants to bridge the gap between scientific research and commercial application. Supported by leading venture capitalists and industry experts, the sprint demands that teams form rapidly and tackle critical healthcare and life science challenges, turning raw concepts into investable business propositions within an extremely tight timeframe.

Demonstrating exceptional agility and clinical insight, our member’s four-person team identified a significant unmet need in pediatric care: accessible speech training for children with speech impairments. In a remarkable sprint, the team conceptualised a startup solution, validated the market need, and built a comprehensive pitch deck—all within just six hours of development time. Their ability to distil complex problem-solving into a winning narrative impressed the panel of judges, securing them the top honour of the event and showcasing the kind of translational thinking we value deeply in our lab.