The NUS Medical Grand Challenge (MGC) is a student-led innovation programme by the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine aimed to encourage students to come up with solutions for real-world healthcare problems. This year, two undergraduate students from the Department teamed up with students from other faculties to take part in the competition. Mr Vedant Sandhu (Pharmaceutical Science Class of ‘22) and his team, Project Eve, worked on a project on drug delivery system while Mr Rustam Shariq Mujtaba (Pharmacy Class of ‘22) and his team, ARMAS, devised a solution targeted for nurses. The project, ARMAS, eventually clinched the Grand Prize in the open category and also won the People’s Choice Award.
We spoke to both of them to find out more about their journey in the competition.
Hi Rustam and Vedant, can you tell us how you found out about MGC2020 and what motivated you to join?
Rustam: I first heard about MGC2020 via the NUS telegram channel. As I was curious, I went on to the MGC website to find out more and saw the past projects featured. The MGC goal to stimulate innovation in the healthcare sector perfectly complemented my interests. Additionally, I was also looking for more opportunities that would allow me to learn more about entrepreneurial and multidisciplinary thinking and MGC provided that platform to enrich myself in those areas.
Vedant: My friend and I are always on the search for opportunities that would augment our university experience; this search includes hackathons, case competitions, and other competitions. One day we came across the MGC and thought it would be a great opportunity to solve current issues that plague our society.
Rustam Shariq Mujtaba (Pharmacy Class of ’22)
Vedant Sandhu (Pharmaceutical Science Class of ’22; bottom left) and his teammates of Project Eve
That is a great start to make a change in the healthcare scene! Can you briefly describe your project and tell us how it was conceived?
Rustam: ARMAS Robotics is a soft-fabric exoskeleton suit that functions as a nursing aid, allowing our dedicated nurses to be able to cope with physically demanding tasks such as transferal of patients, carrying of equipment etc. To be very honest, our biggest factor for this idea was our Tech Mentor, Mr Rainier Natividad, who was already working on this project. He had an idea of implementing such a suit in the healthcare setting and we helped him advance his project further.
Image of the soft-fabric exoskeleton suit designed by ARMAS Robotics
Vedant: We worked on the development of a drug delivery system that leveraged microneedles in order to deliver medications subcutaneously. The reason we landed on this project was because we thought the process of injecting medication, a process that is meant to alleviate pain, is often the cause of a lot of pain and suffering especially for chronically ill patients who need to inject medications regularly. Thus, we thought we can improve the way we deliver drugs to make it pain-free.
Those are really creative solutions! Can you share with us your biggest takeaway from this experience?
Rustam: My biggest takeaway is that I learnt to always adopt new perspectives, Being a healthcare student, I am not shy to say that I lack a strong foundation in entrepreneurial, business and engineering methodologies. However, after working on the ARMAS project, I found myself learning more about the mechanics behind the suit, the business/marketing strategies for a product as well as the key components in negotiating and making a persuasive pitch.
Vedant: My biggest takeaway was a recognition of the fact that multiple different individuals from a variety of different backgrounds need to work together for a successful idea or a project. This is also reflective of the real world when coming up with solutions to modern problems. Thus, this project was crucial in imbibing greater respect for interdisciplinary work.
Beyond the competition, how has the experience changed your perspective and approach in your studies?
Rustam: I have always found the healthcare sector to be unique and ephemeral in its needs and the approaches required to engage it. As someone who is interested in health and medical technologies, this experience has further cemented my interest and passion in this field which I hope to pursue. This competition showed me that I should continue strive to incorporate this paradigm of multi-disciplinary thinking in greater degree in future endeavours.
Vedant: This project has made me more aware of the things I am studying. For example, we actively considered the area of pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of drugs in the design process of our drug delivery system. It gave me a greater appreciation of the subject I am learning as I was able to see real-life application.
I am heartened to hear that both of you benefitted a whole lot from this MGC. Would you recommend other Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Science students to participate in future iterations?
Rustam: I highly recommend more Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science students to embrace such opportunities given (not just MGC) as they provide a very different learning experience compared to our normal curriculum. It would be a good way to broaden your horizons and learn different kinds of soft skills.
Vedant: I would strongly suggest other students to participate in the MGC too. It is a unique learning experience that not only tests your skills but the ways in which you can apply them to solve critical problems.
The MGC is such a great platform for our students to venture out and collaborate with other students in different disciplines. What are some tips or advice that you can share with students who may be interested to participate?
Rustam: I would say that you should go in with an open mind. The nature of MGC is that it will group people from different disciplines together hence you are bound to meet people with different perspectives and experiences.
Vedant: Think of day-to-day problems that patients might face in the modern world. It is often the small things such as pain while injecting medicine that is overlooked.
Before we end, any other thoughts that you would like to share with our readers?
Rustam: Pharmaceutical courses are demanding but that should not dissuade anyone from seeking opportunities outside. Even now, I look for opportunities to refine and broaden my perspectives on matters and I highly encourage you to do the same. Although we are pharmacists, we should strive to be versatile and diverse in our thinking.
Vedant: Be open to a tough journey full of challenges and hardships – a journey that would lead to a fruitful gratification when you are able to provide a meaningful solution to the people who need it the most.
Thank you Rustam and Vedant for your heartfelt sharing. We hope to see more students like you playing a part to address unmet healthcare needs through innovation. This is a wonderful opportunity to build a better healthcare in the future for all.
Article by Ms Ng Shi Ying (NUS Pharmacy Staff)