HUN MIT SOLVE

The problem we aim to solve is how to prevent viral pandemics in the future. Our solution is the use of CRISPR gene-editing technology to detect up to 160 different viruses over 1000 samples. Our goal is to spread technology globally so that medical institutions will be able to use the technology to detect any viruses, harmful or not. This way, medical institutions, and research facilities can predict virus outbreaks and can be better prepared for a pandemic. 

The specific problem we are trying to fix in the Challenge is how to prevent future pandemics from occurring. Our plan is to scale the problem only in the United States but we plan to go globally if we have success. Our solution would affect research and medical facilities all over the country as it would provide us with the ability to predict a pandemic and save millions of lives. Almost 4 million lives were taken by the Covid pandemic, so administering CRISPR technology could help save so many lives in the future from new pandemics.

Essentially, we want to use CRISPR technology that searches through biological samples(one chip can search through up to 1000 samples at once) for up to 160 different kinds of viruses. The technology can be used to detect numerous biological compounds that lead to different viral infections and can thus predict if a new virus has spread or mutated among a species of organisms. Hence, research facilities will then be able to warn others about the viral mutations and the scientific community will have an advantage in coming up with a vaccine for the virus. Furthermore, we plan to input mental health awareness into our solution. During a pandemic, to combat loneliness, we could set up an online zoom connection where people could make appointments and could meet with advisors who talk to them and help them feel secure. We could also introduce people to different kinds of online communication services so that people won't feel lonely or depressed.

Our solution serves the American people and will influence their lives by helping them be safe and have an advantage in predicting a viral pandemic. This way, people can know when to start social distancing and can protect themselves. Our target population is the entirety of the United States. The American people aren't necessarily undeserved but should be helped at a time of a pandemic. To help these people, our solution will provide them with warnings and advice to keep themselves safe but will also provide them emotional security so that they do not suffer from loneliness or mental health problems. 

The main dimension our solution follows is the first one because our solution orients around providing medical facilities in America with the technology they need to detect a virus and then eventually warn the American people so that they can effectively respond in a safe way. As our solution uses CRISPR, health care providers will have access to its technology and can help prepare for an upcoming pandemic. Our solution does also follow along with mental health as it provides a basis of how to help people during a pandemic emotionally but the first prompt is our main focus.

As of right now, we only came up with the idea. We haven't actually tested out the product or delved into the solution.

This solution allows us to use a very powerful tool in the field of genetics to eliminate hundreds of viruses regardless of novelty. The use of CRISPR Cas-9 would definitely change the future of public health. Diseases like HIV/AIDS and cancer could be treated. The life expectancy of the average human being would increase, and virus outbreaks could be stopped much faster with the efficiency of CRISPR and its variants. Along with the health benefits of CRISPR, it costs less than using other gene editing softwares. If it were to become widespread, it would definitely better the health of humankind as a whole. 

We are not currently serving anyone, since this is an amateur technology. However, in the future we are capable of serving thousands of people in a community. 

We are going to use data collected from the general population in the areas we have implemented our ideas to gauge our progress and success. For example, percentage of people who consider themselves lonely. If the number stays the same or increases overall, that indicates to us that our solution is not working. Likewise, perhaps we might use cases of deaths due to a certain viral outbreak. If the number of deaths decreases due to our use of CRISPR, then we know our solution is working. 

All team members who worked on the solution are full-time.

Abhijay, Shaotai, and Oscar all have years of working experience at local environmental institutes and hospitals. Oscar was also a team leader who led his team winning the gold medal plus two nominations in the iGEM competition; Their experience and knowledge in all the related fields will better guide the team to collaborate with local research institutes and hospitals in solving the problem. Our team represents everyone at the Hun School of Princeton, and we highly value Hun's idea of community comes first. By working together with the encouragement of our teachers and fellow classmates in times of the pandemic, we further realize the importance of having a caring and supportive community. Hence, our aim in this competition is to repay our community, protecting them and even the entire world from potential pandemics in the future. 

When we were forming our team, we tried to incorporate as many different people who were interested as possible, regardless of sex or nationality. We have no problem including different people into the group, nor do we oppose input from other people. This is a democratic group, free from bias and prejudice. Whatever ideas we can incorporate, we utilize them and credit the people responsible for creating them regardless of their background. 

A barrier that Solve can help me overcome is the monetary burden of commencing this solution. Expenses such as the headquarters, the CRISPR patent, and the wages for employees, require millions of dollars to fund. Hence, the $10,000 that is provided to every selected team and the additional $2 million in pre-committed funding will be enough to cover the expenses in the short run until, more donations are earned by interested benefactors. 

As stated in the previous question, finance is a crucial area that requires partners because recording transactions and conceptualizing effective business pitches requires several employees. Our employees can also review the transactions and suggest changes to make better use of the money to fund our expenses. Legal and regulatory matters are also important because CRISPR, an integral element of our solution, has already been patented, so money needs to be put aside to purchase this patent. Public relations also require support because this solution contains CRISPR, which is not a well known invention, and its idea is brand new so, advertisments are crucial to entice potentional donators. The last area that needs support is probably the most important one because it is the backbone of both the CRISPR solution and the solution that overcomes loneliness. Both of the them require large sums of money which is why the prize money would be beneificial for this solution.

We would like to partner with the CDC, other governmental health institutions, and medical tech companies to advance our solution. We want to work together to fund and support the use of CRISPR, as well as conduct further research. The CDC is a vital player during an outbreak of any kind, as they handle these types of cases. We want to get the government on our side because we want the use of CRISPR to be more widespread. We also need the assistance of medical tech companies to help us power the CRISPR technology and help us perform with it. 

My team is qualified for this prize because our solution is designed to enhance the well-being of everyone. Analyzing areas for prevalent diseases will prevent any future diseases because scientists who use this solution can discover cures for the illnesses. Similarly, a solution that provides people who suffer from loneliness a zoom conference to seek help can improve their self-esteem. My team will use the money provided by RWJ to pay money for the CRISPR patent and employees who will analyze the prevalence of a certain disease. 

The team is qualified for this prize because we will use our solution to support the well-being of everyone-including refugees. No social, economic, racial, or sexual barrier stands in the way of medicine-our solution stands to serve the people. We will spend the prize money towards our solution, technology, and systems. We will ensure to serve every human, including refugees. 

My team is qualified for this prize because data science will be used to understand if a certain disease is common in a certain area. My team will use the money that is provided by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation to purchase computers that can process large amounts of data about the prevalence of a certain disease. 

My team is qualified for this prize because my solution uses Zoom to allow doctors and there patients to interact with each other. We will use the money that is provided by The Global Prize Fund to construct the necessary infastructure to allow doctors to interact with patients who might live in impoverished areas of the United States. The infastructure will be made up of several routers or electronic devices.