The BIOARMOR Team has become the first high school team from Malaysia and Southeast Asia to be named a semifinalist in the US$101 million XPRIZE Healthspan, one of the world’s most prestigious biomedical innovation competitions.
Announced by QuestX Incubator, the student-led team emerged as one of 40 semifinalists selected from over 600 registered teams across 58 countries. The competition, co-sponsored by Hevolution Foundation and SOLVE FSHD, aims to discover groundbreaking therapeutics that can restore muscle, cognitive and immune functions, effectively extending healthy human lifespan by at least 10 years, with a target of 20 years.
Comprising 16 students from Dwi Emas, Sri Emas and MITstem International Schools under the ACE EdVenture Group, the team has been mentored by researchers from the University of Malaya and Cliniva Research. Their work integrates interdisciplinary approaches in tackling one of the most complex challenges in healthcare.
The BIOARMOR Team has been awarded US$250,000 to further develop its therapeutic solution. Their selection marks a rare feat, competing alongside top-tier university laboratories and biotechnology firms.
Their progress has been supported by the QuestX Incubator, which focuses on preparing youth for global STEM challenges through research and entrepreneurial training. The team’s journey is also backed by SpaceQuest Asia, an initiative by CyberArmour Sdn Bhd, with early-stage sponsorship provided by the Asia School of Business’ Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center.
