Double Victory for NU’s Biotechnology Students at UGRF 20

Our students from Nile University’s School of Biotechnology secured both first and second place in the Biotechnology category at the 20th Undergraduate Research Forum (UGRF), earning a total of $700 in awards. 

The first-place prize of $400 was awarded to Gel Mate: From Casting to Imaging – Automating the Gel Workflow, supervised by Dr. Maha Salah with TAs Mahmoud Mohsen and Mayar Mostafa. The project developed a robotic system that automates gel electrophoresis. With only the initial sample input required, the system completes all steps from gel preparation to imaging, making the technique faster, more accurate, and reproducible. 

The second-place prize of $300 went to Metagenomics Studies of Diabetic Wound Healing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis to Identify Unique Microbial Signatures for Therapeutic Interventions, supervised by Dr. Raghda Ramadan. The project studied the microbiome of diabetic foot ulcers, identified microbial signatures linked to healing, and used drug discovery tools to suggest new therapeutic options. The team also designed a prototype hydrogel patch aimed at improving diabetic wound care. 

This success highlights the talent and dedication of NU students and the strong support of the School of Biotechnology’s faculty and teaching assistants.