From August 21 to 23, 2026, Faculty of Medicine Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and Bachelor of Pharmacy students were part of a multidisciplinary student team (MUST-Space team) from Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) which has won a Silver Prize at the SynBio Challenges competition in the highly competitive “Biomedicine Track” for their proposal to develop a synthetic biology-based approach to address bacterial biofilms in space environments.
The MUST-Space team and their “AstroShield” proposal
The team brought together students from medicine, pharmacy, engineering, and business, reflecting the wide range of expertise required to translate an innovative scientific concept into a feasible research and development plan.
The award-winning project, entitled “AstroShield – An integrated detection and treatment approach to biofilm control and addressing bacterial resistance in space stations”, addresses the challenge posed by biofilms during long-duration space missions. Biofilms are structured communities of microorganisms that adhere to surfaces and can be more difficult to remove or control than free-living bacteria. In spacecraft and other closed environments, biofilm formation could contribute to equipment contamination, material degradation, and risks to crew health.
The students proposed an “Integrated Detect-Treat” device which includes an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered image detection device for bacterial biofilms and the use of synthetic biology to disrupt and destroy the biofilms. They then developed a structured plan to test the concept, including methods for establishing and measuring bacterial cultures and biofilms, evaluating strategies for disrupting biofilms or killing the bacteria within them, and testing relevant candidate compounds or biological approaches.
The Silver Prize was awarded on the strength of the team’s idea, scientific hypothesis, and proposed experimental plan. A particular strength of the project was its multidisciplinary character. Medical and pharmacy students contributed perspectives on microbiology, human health, antimicrobial strategies, and therapeutic development. Engineering students considered the application of AI in the analysis of biofilm images and the design of delivery modules, while business students contributed expertise in project development, feasibility, communication, and potential translation.
Faculty of Medicine Assistant Dean and one of the project supervisors, Associate Professor Daniel Baptista-Hon, stated that this achievement demonstrates what students can accomplish when they work across disciplinary boundaries. The team combined biomedical science, engineering, and commercial thinking to develop a creative response to a complex problem. Winning the Silver Prize is a strong endorsement of the quality of their hypothesis, scientific rationale, and proposed plan.
He added that the achievement highlights MUST’s commitment to interdisciplinary education, student-led research, and innovation. It also demonstrates the value of bringing together students with complementary expertise to address emerging challenges at the intersection of health, biotechnology, engineering, and space exploration. The team’s next step will be to refine the experimental methods and begin generating preliminary data to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed approach.
About SynBio Challenges
The SynBio Challenges is an international synthetic biology competition bringing together young innovators and leading scientists from China and overseas. Hosted in Shenzhen, it promotes original, project-driven innovation through knowledge development, problem analysis and continuous improvement. The competition is recognised by UNESCO as part of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024–2033).
The MUST-Space Team
Faculty of Medicine (MBBS): Li Zhuoru, Wang Tianyi, Pan Yue
Faculty of Medicine (Pharmacy): Li Lezhi, Yan Jinyu
Faculty of Innovation Engineering (Automation and Systems Engineering): Dong Shuyuan, Zhou Zisheng, Fan Junjie
School of Business (Business Administration): Niu Jingqi, Peng Yichen
