INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY SUCCESSFULLY HOSTED “ONE HEALTH CONTEST 2023” COMPETITION
On September 15th, the Research Center for Infectious Diseases, International University – VNU-HCM (RCID) successfully hosted the Final round and Poster Presentation session of the “ONE HEALTH CONTEST 2023” scientific competition on Wellbeing. 2 months since its launching, the competition received many innovative ideas and research projects from teams of high schoolers and university students in Ho Chi Minh City.
The “ONE HEALTH CONTEST 2023” competition, with the theme “Igniting Innovative Ideas for a Radiant Future”, was organized by the Research Center for Infectious Diseases – VNU-HCM (RCID). The competition not only created opportunities for students to showcase their creativity, but also assisted them in joining discussions, connecting with experts who shared the same research goals in the field of biomedical science.
During his opening speech, Prof. Le Van Canh – Vice-President of IU – shared the history of RCID and the meanings of “ONE HEALTH CONTEST 2023” competition: “RCID was established amid the COVID-19 pandemic’s outbreak in Vietnam and the world to conduct research on infectious diseases and prepare for any similar scenarios in the future”. Prof. Le Van Canh also talked about IU’s research orientation and how the University always supported its students, graduates, Ph.D. candidates, and lecturers in doing research. Therefore, he also hoped that: “The competition can become the much-needed preparations for any academic research activities of the high schoolers and students in the future”.
Prof. Le Van Canh – Vice-President of IU – shared his opening speech.
On behalf of the Organizers, Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thi Thu Hoai – Vice Director of the RCID – was delighted to welcome teams of high schoolers and university students in Ho Chi Minh City participating in the competition. Even in its first season, the competition received the interest and participation from many students. 2 months since its launching, the Organizers selected 20 projects qualified for the Poster Presentation. Moreover, 05 Innovative ideas and 05 Research projects were carefully chosen for the Poster Presentation session, with chances of winning major prizes.
Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thi Thu Hoai – Vice Director of the RICD – welcomed the competitors.
The Board of Judges were experts in the field of biomedical science, namely Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thi Thu Hoai – Vice Director of the RICD, Assoc. Prof. Drs. Pham Anh Vu Thuy – Head of the Office of Undergraduate Training and Office of Graduate Training, School of Medicine, VNU-HCM, Dr. Do Thi Thu Hien – Researcher at the RCID, Dr. Jonathon McPhetres – Assistant Professor at Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, Durham University.
A team from Ton Duc Thang University presented their project in the Research project category.
The Judges listened carefully to the presentations and gave constructive feedbacks and questions to participants.
Participants and guests visited and talked about the works in the Poster Presentation.
The intense competition lasted for more than 3 hours with many impressive presentations and excellent rebuttals. Between the presentations, the Organizers also set aside more than 30 minutes for participants to visit the Poster Presentation of 20 groups in the first season.
A team from Fullbright University presented their project in the Innovative idea category.
A team from International University presented their project in the Innovative idea category.
After careful evaluation of the presentations from 10 team of 2 categories, the Judges decided to award the First Prize of the Innovative idea category to the work titled “Prospects of the biodegradable magnesium alloys as next-generation biomaterials for bone plates“. The project was conducted by the group of students from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (VNU-HCM).
The Second Prize belonged to the idea “D-limonene extracts in Limnophila aromatica, and its effect on relieving kidney stone formation in oriental medicine”. The authors of this idea were from Fullbright University Vietnam.
The Thrid Prize was awarded to the project of “Delivering Chemotherapy to Cancer Sites via Minicells Engineered with VAR2CSA Targeting” with the intention to create cells that can precisely locate and attack cancer cells to alleviate other side effects such as hair loss during chemotherapy. The group came from University of Medicine & Pharmacy HCMC.
The Judges posed for a photo with winners of the First, Second, and Third Prize of the Innovative idea category in the “ONE HEALTH CONTEST 2023” competition.
Moreover, for the Research project category, the Organizers award the First Prize to “Bacillus subtilis endospores as a safe and eco-friendly platform for oral vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus”. This project was by the group of students from the University of Science (VNU-HCM). The project “Preparation of bio-mimetic scaffold based in silk fibroin/chitosan/β-tcp containing methylprednisolone and samon calcitonin for promotion of alveolar bone regeneration after tooth extraction” excellently won the Second Prize in the Research project category. This project was conducted by the students from Ton Duc Thang University.
The Organizers awarded the Third Prize to the project titled “Prediction of metastasis in breast cancer patients using big data analysis and machine learning” by the students from the School of Medicine (VNU-HCM). The project was highly regarded for its integration of big data analysis and machine learning in diagnosing breast cancer, which is a big concern of great social interest nowadays.
The Judges posed for a photo with 03 winners of the First, Second, and Third Prize of the Research project category in the “ONE HEALTH CONTEST 2023” competition.
Finally, the Organizers awarded the People Choice’s Award to the two projects, “Double “cheese-noni” production through co-culture yeast and bacteria probiotic strains bioprocessing” and “Extracellular Matrix Membrane Utilizing One-Day-Old Porcine Cartilage-Derived Stem Cells for Cartilage Repair”.
The Judges posed for a photo with the 02 groups winning the People Choice’s Award in the “ONE HEALTH CONTEST 2023” competition.
The Organizers posed for a photo with all participants and audience at the end of the “ONE HEALTH CONTEST 2023” competition.
Box:
List of presentations:
1. Innovative Idea category
| No. | Author(s) | Title |
| 1 | Nguyen Anh Xuan, Ta Ngoc Minh Chau, Le Nhat Huy | Prospects of the biodegradable magnesium alloys as next-generation biomaterials for orthopedics |
| 2 | Ho Bao Tran | D-limonene extracts in Limnophila aromatica, and its effect on relieving kidney stone formation in oriental medicine |
| 3 | Nguyen Minh Thao | Delivering chemotherapy to cancer sites via minicells engineered with var2csa targeting |
| 4 | Pham Minh Trung | Six sigma in improvement of complete blood count test quality control |
| 5 | Kieu Nguyen Phuc Thuan, Vy Nguyen Cat Khanh | Double “cheese-noni” production through co-culture yeast and bacteria probiotic strains bioprocessing |
2. Research Project category
| No. | Author(s) | Title |
| 1 | Thai Nguyen Kim Luong, Nguyen Thi Bich Phuong, Nguyen Yen Nhi | Preparation of bio-mimetic scaffold based in silk fibroin/chitosan/β-tcp containing methylprednisolone and samon calcitonin for promotion of alveolar bone regeneration after tooth extraction |
| 2 | Nguyen Ngoc Yen Nhi, Nguyen Tien Anh | Bacillus subtilis endospores as a safe and eco-friendly platform for oral vaccine Against Staphylococcus aureus |
| 3 | Vo Trung Nhan | Extracellular Matrix Membrane Utilizing One-Day-Old Porcine Cartilage-Derived Stem Cells for Cartilage Repair |
| 4 | Nguyen Tuong Van | Prediction of metastasis in breast cancer patients using big data analysis and machine learning |
| 5 | Nguyen Duc Tai, Nguyen Tran Nhu Phuong, Tran Thanh Dung | Screening for 12.1KB deletion within HMGA2 gene sequence in the Netherland dwarf rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) |