Student Team "Next Wave" Becomes Country Winners of AstraZeneca Project iDEA 2025 Challenge
Kuala Lumpur, 10 September 2025 – A team of 188体育网址_188体育在线-【唯一授权网站】@ of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM) students has made waves on the national stage, clinching victory in the AstraZeneca Project iDEA 2025 Challenge with their inspiring campaign, #MoreThanJustASpot.
The winning team, Next Wave, is made up of:
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Mariah Binti Azmir Faizal (BSc in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence)
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Coey Low Wei Xin (BSc in Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences)
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Lim Ya Wen (Bachelor of Pharmacy)
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Amy Kho Yien Xing (Bachelor of Pharmacy)
Together, they rose above more than 160 teams nationwide to champion a cause that often goes unnoticed, a rare genetic condition called Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1).
From left: Amy Kho, Coey Low, Lim Ya Wen and Mariah Azmir Faizal
Innovation Meets Compassion
The 3 students, Amy Kho, Coey Low, and Lim Ya Wen from the School of Pharmacy provided medical expertise, patient insights, and community engagement strategies. Mariah from the School of Computer Science designed the team’s campaign identity, digital collaterals, and presentation materials. Together, they proved how technology and healthcare can intersect to create real-world impact.
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RareLink Map – an online platform connecting rare disease patients and caregivers across Malaysia.
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TikTok Filter – simulating café-au-lait spots, one of the early signs of NF1, to raise awareness in an engaging and relatable way.
With this national win, Team Next Wave went on to the Regional Finals on 11 September, where they placed in the Top 5. Their achievement not only shines a spotlight on the importance of rare disease awareness but also places UNM students at the forefront of interdisciplinary innovation.
About Project iDEA 2025
Run by AstraZeneca, the Project iDEA Challenge is an annual initiative empowering students to design innovative solutions that address critical healthcare challenges. The challenge is open to university students from various Asian countries, including Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore and more.
Congratulations to Team Next Wave for proving that with creativity, compassion, and collaboration, students can make an impact far beyond the classroom.
